Guest Voices - Other views on faith and its impact on the news.

Posted at 01:57 PM ET, 12/31/2012

Keeping the faith: 2012 in gay rights victories

By Becky Garrison

Advances made in religious circles towards LGBT equality would have been deemed wish lists even a year ago, says writer.

By Becky Garrison | 01:57 PM ET, 12/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Becky Garrison; gay marriage; same-sex marriage; Episcopal Church; GLAAD; LGBT equality; LGBT; religious circles; faith communities; discrimination; same-sex couples; transgender rights

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 12/16/2012

Can the First Husband talk about marriage?

By Elizabeth Marquardt and W. Bradford Wilcox

Researchers offer America’s leaders, including President Obama, a marriage agenda.

By Elizabeth Marquardt and W. Bradford Wilcox | 05:01 PM ET, 12/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Elizabeth Marquardt; W. Bradford Wilcox; President Barack Obama; President Obama; Obamas; marriage; families; same-sex marriage; gay marriage

Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 12/10/2012

A holy impatience: Supreme Court must right a great wrong on marriage

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

Now is the time for the court to act, not wait when it takes up same-sex marriage cases, says theologian.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | 01:01 PM ET, 12/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite; Advent; Christmas; same-sex marriage; gay marriage; Supreme Court; marriage equality; gay; lesbian; bisexual; transgender

Posted at 09:54 PM ET, 12/02/2012

Uganda, AIDS, God and gays: Rick Warren and a punch in the nose

By Nancy Wilson

It is time to speak out against this violence perpetrated in the name of Jesus, says MCC moderator.

By Nancy Wilson | 09:54 PM ET, 12/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Uganda, AIDS, God and gays: Rick Warren and a punch in the nose; Uganda gays; Uganda homosexuals; LGBT; lesbian gay bisexual transgender; megachurch pastor Rick Warren; Saddleback Church Rick Warren; Purpose Driven Life Rock Warren; evangelical; World AIDS Day; HIV/AIDS; HIV; AIDS; Piers Morgan; anti-homosexual bill; Uganda Parliament; Uganda Parliament; LGBT people; the Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson; faith communities; churches; Ugandan Christian leaders; faith leaders; anti-LGBT politics; Speaker Rebecca Kadaga; Rebecca Kadaga; Desmond Tutu; Nelson Mandela; AIDS in Africa; people of faith; Hope in Uganda; marriage equality; same=sex marriage; gay marriage; religion; Civil Society Coalition in Uganda; Ruth Messinger; American Jewish World Service; Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel; AIDS rate; AIDS activist; HIV/AIDS infection; Canon Gideon Byamugisha; condoms; Metropolitan Community Churches; moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches; Joel Osteen; Bishop T.D. Jakes; Joyce Meyer; Bible

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 11/20/2012

Marriage equality campaigns: The difference faith makes

By Sharon Groves

Religious engagement was a key to victories in Maine, Md., Minn., and Wash., says a Human Rights Campaign leader.

By Sharon Groves | 02:01 PM ET, 11/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: You will know them by their fruits; Matthew 7:16; gay marriage; same-sex marriage; marriage equality; Maryland; Maine; Minnesota; Washington state; African American; Latino; Protestants; Catholics; gays; lesbians; LGBT community; LGBT; Sharon Groves; Human Rights Campaign; HRC; religion; faith; communities of faith; churches; congregations; LGBT community; LGBT activists; Rev. Rebecca Voelkel; conservative religious leaders; religious leaders; communities of faith; Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison; Religious Coalition Against Discrimination; RCAD; people of faith; campaigns; boots on the ground; faith communities; President Obama; President Barack Obama; Obama; Rev. MacArthur Flournoy; Rev. Delman Coates; Delman Coates; straight and LGBT clergy; African American community; pro-equality; Roman Catholic; Catholics for Marriage Equality; Auburn Theological Seminary; HRC Religion and Faith Program

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 11/05/2012

‘With Liberty and Justice for ALL’

By Delman Coates

Md. pastor says the state should not codify discrimination because of who people choose to love.

By Delman Coates | 01:11 PM ET, 11/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Question 6; same-sex marriage; Delman Coates; gay marriage; faith; politics; election 2012; campaign 2012

Posted at 05:38 PM ET, 11/02/2012

My mom’s gay wedding

By Robert V. Taylor

Author wishes she were alive to witness the developments around the gay marriage ballot initiatives.

By Robert V. Taylor | 05:38 PM ET, 11/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: same-sex marriage; Maryland; Washington; Maine; gay marriage; Robert V. Taylor

Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 10/19/2012

Religious implications of N.Y. federal appeals court striking down DOMA

By J. Manny Santiago

Decision says religious institutions will be free to act according to their beliefs, says a Wash. pastor.

By J. Manny Santiago | 01:01 PM ET, 10/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: DOMA: J. Manny Santiago; gay marriage; religion and politics; marriage equality; religion and sexuality; same-sex marriage; religion; Supreme Court; Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Posted at 02:54 PM ET, 10/10/2012

Liberty and justice for all in Maryland

By Gene Robinson

The state is in no way muzzling religious freedoms by allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.

By Gene Robinson | 02:54 PM ET, 10/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Maryland marriage equality; same-sex marriage; gay marriage; Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley; Bishop V. Gene Robinson; Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 07/31/2012

With Chick-fil-A fight, progressive mayors get their ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ moment

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald

By rolling out unwelcome mat, mayors are also laying down an idea with ominous implications for faith groups.

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald | 07:30 AM ET, 07/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, G. Jeffrey MacDonald, marriage equality, gay marriage, culture wars

Posted at 07:06 PM ET, 05/20/2012

Is gay marriage a crisis for the black church?

By Rahiel Tesfamariam

The black church’s struggle over gay marriage reflects the nation‘s evolution.

By Rahiel Tesfamariam | 07:06 PM ET, 05/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: black church, obama, gay marriage

Posted at 09:08 PM ET, 05/15/2012

On gay marriage, is Obama ‘imposing his religion’?

By Matthew J. Franck

Obama proved to the left that religious claims have a rightful place in the public square.

By Matthew J. Franck | 09:08 PM ET, 05/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: obama, gay marriage

Posted at 02:47 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Proposition 8 and the new religious reality

By Ross Murray

More and more religions are recognizing that God created and loves the whole world, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

By Ross Murray | 02:47 PM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: gay marriage, prop 8, homosexuality

Posted at 12:02 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Prop 8 unconstitutional: The sanctity of marriage equality