• We're marching in the Atlanta PRIDE parade!

    PFLAG Atlanta will be marching in the Annual Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday October 10th, 2010 ! Come join us or cheer us on from along Peachtree Street or 10th Street! Buy your PFLAG Atlanta PRIDE t-shirt for only $10! (Open till Sunday 26th 6pm ET) Where: Parade kicks off from the MARTA Civic Center Station When: Be with the PFLAG Atlanta Group by 12.30pm at the latest. Please note that there ...
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  • Monday Oct 4th – PFLAG Support Meeting 7:30pm UUCA

    Our "First Monday" Support Meeting @ 7.30pm on Oct 4 See Meetings for details All are welcome to our meeting! If you are picking up your PRIDE t-shirt - please make sure you pick it up from Diana between 7.00pm - 7.30pm at UUCA. {{UUCA GMAP}}
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  • Buy your PFLAG Pride 2010 T-shirt today!

    Show your PFLAG Pride and buy a PFLAG Pride T-shirt and come walk with us on October 10 as we march in the Annual Atlanta Pride Parade. After you pay for your t-shirt, you will have three opportunities to pick it up: On Monday, Oct 3 at the PFLAG First Monday Support Meeting between 7.00pm and 7.30pm from Diana Burdette at UUCA On Saturday, Oct 9 at the PFLAG Atlanta Booth at Piedmont Park On Sunday, Oct...
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Religion & Homosexuality

While PFLAG is not affiliated with any ethnic, religious, economic or political group, many of us have questions involving religion. The good news is that there is a wealth of information that can help you to understand homosexuality and keep you strong in your faith.

We also invite you to take this opportunity to learn about the many faith-based organizations which are welcoming gays and lesbians into their fold, just as God created them. Through faith, understanding and unconditional love, people across the country are realizing that religious faith and homosexuality are not incompatible. God’s love truly is for all of us just as we are.

Is homosexuality a sin?
No. Homosexuality is innate. Studies show it exists in every species God has created. It is not a choice nor the result of an abusive childhood nor a lifestyle. Just as heterosexuality is neither moral nor immoral, homosexuality is neither moral nor immoral.

What does the Bible say?
People throughout the ages have used particular passages of the Bible to support their viewpoints and have selectively ignored other passages. We highly recommend a succinct, downloadable guide in question and answer format that was developed for the Mt. Kisco Presbyterian Church called The Blue Book: What We Wish We Had Known. The table of contents starts on page 5. Books can be ordered at a minimal cost. We also have copies in our library along with other helpful resources.

Welcoming Religious and Spiritual Groups
Listed below are some of the many groups within the religious community that are gay welcoming and affirming. The first are groups within Georgia, followed by a list of national organizations representing most denominations. If you know of others, please help us keep this list current by letting us know.

Baptist

Episcopal

International Community Church

  • Christ First ICCC - Gainesville
  • Forgiving Heart Christian Community Church - Columbus
  • Good Shepherd ICCC - Atlanta
  • God’s Chosen Ministry - Atlanta
  • New Hope ICCC - Valdosta

Jewish

Lutheran

Metropolitan Community Church

Presbyterian

Religious Science

United Church of Christ

United Methodist

Unitarian Universalist Church

  • Unitarian Universalist Congregations - Statewide ( See website for local listings)

Other Welcoming Congregations and Ministries in Georgia

National Religious Organizations Affirming Gays and Lesbians

Interfaith Groups

  • Heartstrong (support for GLBT students and staff in religious schools)
  • Interfaith Working Group (support for religious diversity & social issues)
  • Soulforce (nonviolent advocacy for religious acceptance of gays)

What about the religious right?
For a comprehensive breakdown of various religious viewpoints on gay issues go to Religious Tolerance: Homosexuality. Also review the Religious Tolerance Table of Contents for additional articles such as religious hatred and intolerance. Information is also available at Religion and Gays. (www.religionandgays.org)

What about “reparative” or “conversion” therapy promoted by far right groups?
The American Psychological Association states that “scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good. Changing one’s sexual orientation is not simply a matter of changing one’s sexual behavior. It would require altering one’s emotional, romantic and sexual feelings and restructuring one’s self-concept and social identity.” Conversion therapy has also been repudiated by the American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.