Hey Austin!!!
Ray Boltz and I will be bringing our "Living True: the tour" to Austin this Friday at The Gathering Place Worship Center at 7pm!
It's going to be an amazing time! I encourage you to bring your friends, parents and family.
Check out this recent article on Ray by the New York Times!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Her Name Was Stephanie
Every Sunday night was testimony night at our small Pentecostal church in Coldwater, Michigan. Every Sunday, the same people gave the same testimonies/prayer request. However, this Sunday night would prove to be different because Stephanie, a first time visitor, chose to share her testimony and prayer request.
I remember she had short brown hair and she wore a long floral print dress with tennis shoes. Even at 7-years-old I knew... those shoes... didn't go with that dress. I also noticed that Stephanie looked a little different than most women.
I don't remember what she shared, however, I remember several members of the church, including the pastor, surrounded her in the back after service. When this church did that, it was their attempt to convert the new person. This church was extremely unbalanced and unhealthy. For instance, the pastor was successful in splitting my Mom and her sister apart for 13 years because they said she was a "witch." Because of that, I didn't meet my Aunt until I was in the 4th grade. I can not stress enough how unbalanced and unhealthy this church was.
I can only imagine what they said to Stephanie because Stephanie was a transgender woman.
A few days later, I remember hearing my Mom talk about Stephanie. Mom said when Stephanie arrived at her home that night after church, there was an intruder waiting for her. This intruder then tied Stephanie to her bed and killed her.
The last night of Stephanie's life she went to the church... looking for love, hope and acceptance. She received everything but those things we all long for. Today, I know Stephanie experienced that and more when she met Jesus that night.
I share this story because it is my hope that the Evangelical church will acknowledge it's past of homophobia and transphobia and learn from it. It is my hope that the Evangelical church will learn to love again. It is my belief that it will be the LGBT community which teaches the Evangelical church to do just that... love it's neighbor.
Please consider sharing Stephanie's story with someone you know. Most of all, love the "Stephanie's" around you.
Be love,
I remember she had short brown hair and she wore a long floral print dress with tennis shoes. Even at 7-years-old I knew... those shoes... didn't go with that dress. I also noticed that Stephanie looked a little different than most women.
I don't remember what she shared, however, I remember several members of the church, including the pastor, surrounded her in the back after service. When this church did that, it was their attempt to convert the new person. This church was extremely unbalanced and unhealthy. For instance, the pastor was successful in splitting my Mom and her sister apart for 13 years because they said she was a "witch." Because of that, I didn't meet my Aunt until I was in the 4th grade. I can not stress enough how unbalanced and unhealthy this church was.
I can only imagine what they said to Stephanie because Stephanie was a transgender woman.
A few days later, I remember hearing my Mom talk about Stephanie. Mom said when Stephanie arrived at her home that night after church, there was an intruder waiting for her. This intruder then tied Stephanie to her bed and killed her.
The last night of Stephanie's life she went to the church... looking for love, hope and acceptance. She received everything but those things we all long for. Today, I know Stephanie experienced that and more when she met Jesus that night.
I share this story because it is my hope that the Evangelical church will acknowledge it's past of homophobia and transphobia and learn from it. It is my hope that the Evangelical church will learn to love again. It is my belief that it will be the LGBT community which teaches the Evangelical church to do just that... love it's neighbor.
Please consider sharing Stephanie's story with someone you know. Most of all, love the "Stephanie's" around you.
Be love,
Azariah Southworth
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
FORT WAYNE: Memorial Service for Paul J. Michalik
Paul was a 36-year-old man who attended a party, at a friend's home, over mother's day weekend. After an argument got out of hand, it ended with Paul losing his life. Friends of the victim, including his partner, are saying he was killed because he was gay.
Below is the letter I received with information for his memorial service. I encourage all who are able to attend. Please click HERE for more on this story.
_____________________________________________
Dear Friends of PFLAG,
I was contacted by a spokesperson for the family of Paul Michalik who asked that I pass along the information about his memorial service. In light all of the press coverage, I think it is important to remember that regardless of whether this was a hate crime or not, it is a tragedy when one person looses their life unnecessarily at the hands of another person. The family is requesting the community's support as they remember Paul.
Here are the details of the service:
Date: Tomorrow, May 13, 2010
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Midwest Cremation Society, 4602 Newaygo Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808. Map Quest shows that Newaygo Drive runs north off of Coliseum Boulevard between Lima Road and Executive Boulevard.
If you know of others who might be interested in supporting the family, feel free to forward this email to them. If you are available and feel like you would like to support the family, they would appreciate your presence in this difficult time.
Thanks,
Stan Pflueger, Chapter President
PFLAG, Fort Wayne
Below is the letter I received with information for his memorial service. I encourage all who are able to attend. Please click HERE for more on this story.
_____________________________________________
Dear Friends of PFLAG,
I was contacted by a spokesperson for the family of Paul Michalik who asked that I pass along the information about his memorial service. In light all of the press coverage, I think it is important to remember that regardless of whether this was a hate crime or not, it is a tragedy when one person looses their life unnecessarily at the hands of another person. The family is requesting the community's support as they remember Paul.
Here are the details of the service:
Date: Tomorrow, May 13, 2010
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Midwest Cremation Society, 4602 Newaygo Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808. Map Quest shows that Newaygo Drive runs north off of Coliseum Boulevard between Lima Road and Executive Boulevard.
If you know of others who might be interested in supporting the family, feel free to forward this email to them. If you are available and feel like you would like to support the family, they would appreciate your presence in this difficult time.
Thanks,
Stan Pflueger, Chapter President
PFLAG, Fort Wayne
Monday, May 10, 2010
Pics from Long Beach
Here are some pics from the show this weekend in Long Beach...
The set list for the show
Ray and I spent all day filming. More info on that coming soon!
View from hotel room
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