LGBT-affirming religious groups

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) affirming religious groups (also called gay-affirming) are religious groups that welcome LGBT members and do not consider homosexuality to be a sin. They include entire religious denominations, as well as individual churches and synagogues. Some are composed mainly of non-LGBT members and also have specific programs to welcome LGBT people, while others are composed mainly of LGBT members.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Judaism 1.2 Christianity 1.3 Islam 1.4 Unitarian Universalism 1.4.1 Denominations 1.4.2 Denomination-sanctioned programmes 1.5 Buddhism 1.5.1 Denominations 1.6 Other 2 See also 3 References

History

The Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have traditionally forbidden sodomy, believing and teaching that such behaviour is sinful.^[1][2] Today some denominations within these religions are accepting of homosexuality and inclusive of homosexual people, such as Reform Judaism, the United Church of Christ and the Metropolitan Community Church.

Judaism

Christianity

• Episcopal Church (United States)
• Metropolitan Community Church
• United Church of Christ
• United Church of Canada
• Old Catholic Church
• The Swedenborgian Church

Islam

The Qu'ran has no term that describes homosexuality, only terms that describe certain sexual acts; there are few references to lesbian sex, and none to transgender or transsexualism. Muslim countries tend to prohibit homosexual acts and relationships; many Muslim countries allow reassignment surgery for intersex people, and since 2004 Iran has allowed reassignment surgery for transsexual people.^[3]

• Al-Fatiha Foundation
• Imaan - UK support group for LGBT Muslims, Muslims questioning their sexuality or gender identity, and their friends and allies.

Unitarian Universalism

Denominations

• Unitarian Universalist Association
• Canadian Unitarian Council

Denomination-sanctioned programmes

• Welcoming Congregation

Buddhism

Denominations

• Soka Gakkai International

Other

• Dianic Wicca
• Radical Faeries

See also

• List of LGBT-related organizations, including religious organizations

References

1. ^ Bishop Soto tells NACDLGM: 'Homosexuality is Sinful' catholic.org, accessed 29 September 2008
2. ^ Help topics Assemblies of God (USA), accessed 6 July 2009
3. ^ Imaan FAQ

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender topics and religion Overview: Homosexuality and religion · Transgenderism and religion Religions: Abrahamic: Bahá'í Faith · Christianity (Anglican · Baptist · Latter-day Saints · Lutheran · Methodist · Presbyterian · Quaker · Roman Catholic) · Judaism (Conservative) · Islam Indian: Buddhism · Hinduism (Hare Krishna) · Sikhism Other: Scientology  · Unitarian Universalism · Vodou · Wicca · Zoroastrianism Other: LGBT-affirming religious groups (Judaism · Christianity) · Ordination of LGBT clergy (Judaism · Christianity) · The Bible · Hijra · Two-spirit · Xanith

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