# Which religious denomination has a very gay positive rep? In the US, anyway **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805 "2003-09-25T18:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/1 "2003-09-25T18:17:01Z")
I think it’s the Unitarians, but I’m uncertain. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/2 "2003-09-25T18:33:07Z")
Unitarian Universalism. Doesn’t matter who you are, or what you believe, it’s all good. > **[Unitarian Universalist Association | UUA.org](https://www.uua.org)** > > Live your values aloud, not alone. Our open-minded, open-hearted spiritual communities help people lead lives of justice, love, learning and hope. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/3 "2003-09-25T18:36:00Z")
They are the big Christian one. A lot of Quakers are also pro-gay as well. However, I think there are two sects of Quakers with the Liberal ones being who I am referring. There are probably a few other ones but I am no longer as well versed in the different sects of Christianity as I used to be. Most Wiccan covens are also pretty positive towards gay people but there are some who believe that the archetype of the Lord and Lady only refer to man and woman rather than a universal Yin Yang styled approach that most of the Wiccans I know adopt. Some of the Native American religions (I think the religion of the Navajo specifically) believe in two spirited (gay) individuals and have a large cultural role for them in their society. I don’t know how prevalent that is nowadays. I read a book a few years ago written by a Spokane man who wrote about the same thing and how his grandmother thought it was cool that he had two spirits as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/4 "2003-09-25T19:18:40Z")
I would also say the Episcopalian church (I am one) especially since they just confirmed an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/5 "2003-09-25T19:27:36Z")
Thanks for your thoughts, but Danalan gave me what I was looking for. (The Denomination that performs “commitment ceremonies”). ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/6 "2003-09-25T20:09:15Z")
As far as gay friendly churches go it is tough to beat the UCC (United Church or Christ). The demonination was the first to ordain a gay minister and the leader in welcome gay and lesbian worshippers. For more information see: [http://www.ucc.org/justice/lgbt/](http://www.ucc.org/justice/lgbt/) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/7 "2003-09-25T20:20:42Z")
As far as gay-friendly churches go it’s even harder to beat the [Metropolitan Community Church](http://www.ufmcc.com/). Founded by openly gay Rev. Troy Perry specifically as a Christian ministry for gay people. Perry recently married his long-term partner in Canada and is spearheading a drive for marriage equality. Needless to say MCC churches perform commitment ceremonies. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/8 "2003-09-25T20:39:33Z")
BTW, I’m hetero, but in the LGBTQA world I’m a HUGE “A” ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/9 "2003-09-25T21:11:33Z")
The Southern Baptists have shown a lot of interest in the gay movement. They have a program, I think it’s called Exodus, that helps people move away from a life of degradation and promiscuity and toward living in a heterosexual, loving relationship. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/10 "2003-09-25T21:29:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bri1600bv \* > \*\*The Southern Baptists have shown a lot of interest in the gay movement. \*\* Erm… yeah, right… “Interest”… Oh, and it’s a “gay movement” now? I thought the Baptists had it down as just an abomination 🙂 So does this movement have, like, rallies and stuff? Everyone gets together and sings the anthem “Look For The Purple Hanky”, or something? > [@](#): > > **They have a program, I think it’s called Exodus, that helps people move away from a life of degradation and promiscuity and toward living in a heterosexual, loving relationship.** Hmmm… Which smartass comment to use? That “Exodus” will “go over like a fart in church”? There’s so many. Once you tell someone that their lifestyle is one of “degradation and promiscuity”, it’s kinda hard to win them over to the Lord, ain’t it? must…resist…urge…use…gratituous…rolleyes… -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/11 "2003-09-25T21:30:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bri1600bv \* > \*\*The Southern Baptists have shown a lot of interest in the gay movement. They have a program, I think it’s called Exodus, that helps people move away from a life of degradation and promiscuity and toward living in a heterosexual, loving relationship. \*\* Will they still help with the degradation and promiscuity without requiring a guy to go straight, though? ---
**Author:** ![Papaveraceae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@Papaveraceae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papaveraceae)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/12 "2003-09-25T21:32:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bri1600bv \* > \*\*The Southern Baptists have shown a lot of interest in the gay movement. They have a program, I think it’s called Exodus, that helps people move away from a life of degradation and promiscuity and toward living in a heterosexual, loving relationship. \*\* Good Grief. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/13 "2003-09-25T21:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bri1600bv \* > \*\*The Southern Baptists have shown a lot of interest in the gay movement. They have a program, I think it’s called Exodus, that helps people move away from a life of degradation and promiscuity and toward living in a heterosexual, loving relationship. \*\* But they seem to have a lot of trouble keeping this program staffed, since their ‘ex-gay’ leaders seem to be constantly falling in love and running away together, or being caught hanging around in gay bars, or whatever. Guess that makes them ex-ex-gay. And Southern Baptist – that’s the Slaveholders Baptist church, right? ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/14 "2003-09-26T00:29:01Z")
Yeah, slaveholders Baptist, that’s it. I think they want to help gay people, though it does seem hard. Most of the gay people I know seem so sad, and I can’t help but think it’s the “lifestyle”. Maybe they can’t help it. They do seem a little “different”…most of them anyway. So I don’t agree with the Baptists that they “choose” the lifestyle, well many don’t anyway. But any lifestyle that has a focus on sex especially promiscuous sex (and many homosexuals seem to be all about that…maybe some aren’t though to be fair) is just geared for lonliness. I thought Exodus was working well, but I had heard some things like people “went back” and so forth, so maybe it isn’t. To be honest, I can’t imagine most of the gay people I know as straight people. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/15 "2003-09-26T01:39:14Z")
**bri600bv** , if you wish to convert homosexuals, do so in Great Debates, _not_ here. It is obvious what the OP was about, and your hijack is not appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/16 "2003-09-26T01:40:14Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by bri1600bv_ > > \*\*I think they want to help gay people, though it does seem hard. Most of the gay people I know seem so sad, and I can’t help but think it’s the “lifestyle”. Maybe they can’t help it. They do seem a little “different”…most of them anyway. So I don’t agree with the Baptists that they “choose” the lifestyle, well many don’t anyway. But any lifestyle that has a focus on sex especially promiscuous sex (and many homosexuals seem to be all about that…maybe some aren’t though to be fair) is just geared for lonliness. > > I thought Exodus was working well, but I had heard some things like people “went back” and so forth, so maybe it isn’t. To be honest, I can’t imagine most of the gay people I know as straight people. \*\* Um, one would think the reason most gay people are “sad” is because, perhaps, they’re vilified and demonized in our society as a whole today. I would assume, that if they were allowed the same rights and privileges of the rest of the heterosexual world (like marriage), then they probably wouldn’t focus so much on sex as you say, and certainly not on promiscuity. Also, if you’d like to see examples of plenty of fine, upstanding, wonderfully monogamous gay people, you don’t have to look any further than several members here on the Dope. Furthermore, the same folks are very knowledgeable and could direct you to countless links on “ex-gay ministries” and exactly what they accomplish. Lastly, most of the gay people you know undoubtedly couldn’t be straight anymore than, I’m guessing, you could just _choose_ to be gay. Worth some consideration and looking into. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/17 "2003-09-26T02:40:11Z")
The Episcopalian church where I sing has quite a few gay members in its congregation. All are welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/18 "2003-09-26T03:09:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bri1600bv \* > **The Southern Baptists have shown a lot of interest in the gay movement.** Right. And Hitler had “shown a lot of interest” in Jewish people, gay people and gypsies, among others. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/19 "2003-09-26T09:35:05Z")
Paging Mr Godwin. Mr Godwin, you have a call at the front desk. Paging Mr Godwin… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805/20 "2003-09-26T12:07:58Z")
I have asked **bri1600bv** not to hijack this thread, and now I’m asking the rest of you the same. Please. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religious-denomination-has-a-very-gay-positive-rep-in-the-us-anyway/203805.md?page=2)