Laura Flanders: Women of Faith Say “It Gets Better”

Author and GRITtv founder, Laura Flanders, recently brought visibility to the national “It Gets Better” video project started by Savage Love columnist Dan Savage, to support gay teens who have committed suicide as a consequence of bullying at school.

Flanders sought out two well-respected New York City theologians, Rev. Winnie Varghese of St. Mark’s Church on the Bowery and Rev. Jacqueline Lewis, Ph.D. of Middle Collegiate Church, for a joint interview to discuss why they are leading their Christian faith congregations to support Savage’s video project by helping congregants record “It Gets Better” messages.

Revs. Varghese and Lewis recognize how religion has been used as a weapon again LGBT people and wanted to play a constructive role, filled with hope, through their religious communities to support people who have suffered as a consequence of rejection for difference–whether it happens at school, in the home or at church. These beautiful women of faith are clearly highly-evolved human beings, filled with deep compassion for the suffering of LGBT youth in America. They recognize how discrimination and hatred have shaped the psychis of LGBT  people who have, for decades, lived in the shadows of American society. Indeed, the project has perhaps brought healing to members of their congregations by their direct participation.

Varghese and Lewis are wonderful examples to other people of faith, who should join with them in an inter-denominational effort to combat bullying and bigotry, once and for all. America can do better.  Ministers Varghese and Lewis are teaching everyone just why doing better is vitally important to those of us who are LGBT members of our society.