Category: Inclusion

All couples like to bring the New Year in on a loving note. And what better way for two lesbian priests of the Episcopal Church to demonstrate their commitment to each other than in holy matrimony. Before a jubilant crowd of 400 guests on New Year’s Day, the Rev. Mally Lloyd, former pastor at Christ…

The holiday season is a difficult time of year many of us. Our culture’s egregious forms of commercialism always bother me — and its anemic recognition of other celebratory forms of this holiday season other than Christmas, like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, and the celebration of the winter solstice. Too often we see the glitz and…

Oprah is known everywhere around the world, and has touched nearly everyone. Her media stardom and public ministry make her omnipresent as well as omnipotent. Her converts would argue she is also omniscient, especially with her monthly oracle — “O, The Oprah Magazine” — pontificating the principles of self-help, self-love, and self-giving. Oprah’s principles empower…

The long awaited reality series “Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys,” highlighting the unconventional relationship between heterosexual women and gay men deputed on the “Sundance Channel” on December 7th. The show is produced by Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, the gay producers of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” And the show is going to be a…

To date, more than 230, 000 African Americans have died of AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 22 African Americans will be diagnoses HIV-positive in their lifetime. And, it’s the leading cause of death among African American women between the ages of 25-34, and African American men between the ages…

This weekend is the 12th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR,) and many of us across the nation will be memorializing transgender Americans murdered because of their gender identities or gender expressions. The purpose of TDOR is to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgendered people and to honor their lives that might otherwise…

If you’re looking for Madea (Tyler Perry in front of the camera in drag), or Black-faced versions of “Sex in the City” or “He’s Just Not That Into You” then Mr. Perry’s adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s 1975 womanist choreopoem, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” will gravely disappoint you. And…

This Halloween many of our American children will dress up as witches. And we’ll hear their laughter and see their smiles as they joyfully go door-to-door trick-or-treating. But not all of our children will. Due to homophobic bullying, some of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) children feel like they are looked upon…

Invisibility – 48% have been rejected and discriminated against, disclosing one’s identity in the workplace leading to exclusion from company events, and even termination. It’s clear the survey brings to the forefront information from a traditionally marginalized group, highlighting the needs and concerns defined by the community. But Zuna is the first to gather the…

When Will the Homophobic Bullying Cease? Inclusion By The Reverend Irene Monroe BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board When Sirdeaner L. Walker of Springfield spoke at a press conference in Massachusetts last year calling for effective and comprehensive anti-bullying legislation to be passed in response to the tragic loss of her 11-year-old-son, Carl, I had hoped I would…