When I shared Slacktivist’s links to LGBT Christian bloggers a few days ago, I promised to add my own suggestions after a little time for thought.

It’s a much more complex issue than it might at first seem: just what is meant by “LGBT Christian bloggers”? Some on Slacktivist’s own list, or suggested by his readers as additions, are not in fact LGBT at all, but important straight allies. Some are known to be LGBT, but do not write from that perspective specifically (and might not want to be labelled as such). Others write specifically from that perspective - but not specifically on faith - and may not want to be pigeon-holed as ”Christian” bloggers.

If we are to include straight allies, where does this stop? In addition to some who are explicit and focussed on supporting LGBT caused in faith, there are others who promote a more general progressive approach to faith, in which support for queer inclusion is implicit and assumed - but not necessarily or frequently spelt out.

Then we have to consider the term “blog”. Does this exclude the value of content- based websites, which my not be updated too regularly, but may offer extensive invaluable resource material? Even among those sites which are clearly blogs, not content -based sites, there are problems concerning quality and frequency of posting. Some are obviously better than others - but sometimes, such evaluations are very much in the eye of the beholder, depending on denominational background or temperament of the readers. Some are updated regularly, daily or weekly - others very infrequently.

Should a listing attempt to make judgements on any of these criteria?

Something of these considerations applied when I began attempting to set up my own links listing, here at QTC. I once had an extensive list at my original site. After migrating the domain from WordPress to a self- hosted site, I lost my original list, and had to begin again to set one up. The attempt to do systematically and comprehensively in the end defeated me, and I never did complete the exercise. This is why some of the sites that I most like and refer to most often, just did not make it onto my list of links. This current exercise, prompted by Slacktivist’s listing, has forced me to look at it all again: one outcome will be to dramatically expand and organize my current list of links, to include all those that I am familiar with - and all the new ones that this exercise has introduced to me.

Any listing furthermore can never be either complete, or fully up - to - date. I make no claim to be either. I simply list below some additional sites that I have used, not already included by Slacktivist or his readers, in alphabetical order to avoid the dangers of trying to rank them. Not all are necessarily and explicitly LGBT: some are specifically straight allies, some are more generally “progressive” and supportive - but not particularly focussed on queer issues. I have made a broad distinction between “blogs” and “websites” - but the distinction is not nearly as clear and sharp as the names might suggest. There is definite overlap, with very blurred edges.

Finally, this listing is not to be interpreted as a stamp of approval: that would be a very personal, subjective judgement. In the spirit of the original list, this is intended simply as a listing. My next step will be to publish a consolidated listing of suggestions from all sources (my own, that of Slacktivist, suggestions by his readers, and those recommended by the explicitly LGBT bloggers on their own sites). Thereafter, I will select from the comprehensive list, those I am willing to recommend for inclusion on my own blogroll - and feature some of the best in a series dedicated, introductory posts.

Here are my own suggestions (some with explanatory notes. More will be added later) for adding to the existing list, incorporating those I named in my post from a few years ago. For now, you’re on your own. Explore, at your leisure:

Blogs

• Bible Thumping Liberal, a straight ally and father of a gay son.
• Bondings 2.o (New Ways Ministry Director’s Blog)
• Confessions of a Liturgy Queen, an ex-ex- Catholic who returned to the Catholic Church after 40 years of “lapse.”
• Counterlight’s Peculiars
• Episcopelican
• From Eternity to Here.
• Gay Mystics, which is mostly about spirituality, as a “a gay Buddhist/Christian/Catholic/ pilgrim and seeker.”
• Grace on the Margins Jamie L Mason, at National Catholic Reporter
• Hell’s teeth
• I’m Christian. I’m Gay. Let’s Talk
• Jesus in Love (Blog), which focuses on LGBT spirituality, especially as reflected in art and literature - and with a strong interest in LGBT saints (Christian and other)
• OTHER SHEEP BLOG A blog on “faith and LGBT concerns” worldwide
• Other Sheep in Africa
• Out and About with Tony
• A Piece of My Mind Roman Catholic Priest, still in reasonalby good standing; aka: eminence, the emeritis cardinal archbishop of HGN
• Queer Saints and Martyrs My own satellite site, exploring the place of LGBT people and allies in church history.
• Queermergent An Emergent Safe House for the LGBTQ Community, Allies, and All Interested People Seeking Understanding.
• Rainbow Sash Movement: Director’s Blog
• Spirit of a Liberal Lutheran straight ally. He has not updated since May, but the archives contain a great deal of useful material on the path to full inclusion in the ELCA and other mainline Protestant denominatons.
• Spiritual Transformations, by the eminent Jesuit theologian and psychotherapist John McNeill, who was one of the early pioneers of gay and lesbian theology.

• Enlightened Catholicism “A place for Catholics who don’t find their Catholic identity in the standard definitions”.
• Faith in the 21st Century
• Iglesia Descalza
• This Cultural Xtian
• Brian D. McLaren
• Women in Theology

Websites (Organisations, and some personal sites)

• Accepting Evangelicals
• Bridge Across the Divide
• Catholic Association of Lesbian & Gay Ministries
• Chris Glaser
• Courage
• Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians
• Fortunate Families
• Gay Catholic Forum
• Gay Christian Europe
• Jame Alison Website
• GCN
• Inclusive Church
• LEFT
• LGCM
• Living it Out
• Love Is An Orientation
• MCC Newcastle
• MyOutSpirit
• New Ways Ministry
• Outerspace
• QLGF
• Quest
• Reluctant Journey
• The Sibyls
• YLGC

I know I have overlooked some – if that includes you, I apologise. I will add the omissions as I remember them.

- or, as you point them out to me. All corrections will be very gratefully received.

Related articles

• The Queer Pewroots? (queeringthechurch.com)