The percentage of Americans who believe only two fixed genders exist is steadily increasing, and more than a quarter claim young people are being coerced into being transgender, according to new polling data from Public Religion Research Institute. Faced with…
Five U.S. Congressmen ask DOE to clarify Baylor’s ‘religious’ exemption
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and four other members of Congress wrote to the U.S. Department of Education Sept. 5 seeking clarification on the recent waiver granted Baylor University allowing discrimination against LGBTQ students on campus. The renewed exemption granted…
BGCT nominates first Hispanic to lead convention as executive director
The current president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has been nominated to serve as its executive director, ending a 14-month search process. Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas, is the first Hispanic ever…
1,000 Baylor alumni call on school to ‘end unequal treatment’ of LGBTQ students
More than 1,000 alumni, faculty and staff members of Baylor University have signed on to a letter calling on the Baptist school to “end the harmful, separate and unequal treatment” of LGBTQ people in the Baylor family and to ensure…
Joseph and Baylor: Deceiving ourselves
The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis is a common one many of us learned in church or through the popular musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While it may be an ancient story, it bears relevance…
How any pastor, even if they’re not affirming, can love queer people
In recent news, a massive exodus of the church has come into focus. A New York Times series by Jessica Grose tracks and analyzes why “the largest and fastest religious shift is under way,” and back in the fall, Pew…
Baylor asks for — and gets — new exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ students
This article was updated Monday evening, Aug. 14, to include new comments from Baylor President Linda Livingstone. Baylor University recently asked for and was granted a federal religious exemption from charges of sexual harassment against LGBTQ students under Title IX…
Transgender community living in fear, two trans pastors testify
The American transgender community is becoming increasingly panic-stricken by the surge in anti-trans legislation and rhetoric sweeping the nation, a trans minister said during a webinar hosted by the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. “All the trans folks I…
It’s not like there’s trans surgery happening everywhere, doctor explains
Trans medical expert Fan Liang said there are way too many misconceptions about gender-affirming health care to share during a single panel discussion about the mistreatment of transgender people in the United States. “So, I’m just going to hit on…