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This is where you can explore ideas from individuals who care about LGBTQIA+ people, faith and current affairs.
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The OTN blog is now third in the FeedSpot Top 15 Best Christian LGBTQ Blogs And Websites 'ranked by traffic, social media followers & freshness' in July 2023.
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Gathering around an open table - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Our Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs reflects on what it means to be an ‘open table’.
That's my history - A reflection on LGBT+ History Month by OTN Trustee Neil Rees
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this month. Our Trustee Neil Rees, who is an ally, reflects on why LGBT+ History is a history we need to share.
In The Name - A poem on the theme of Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Patron Pádraig Ó Tuama
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Here is a poem by Pádraig Ó Tuama, first published in his autobiography In The Shelter: Finding A Home In The World.
When you are not invited to the table - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Trustee Augustine Tanner-Ihm
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Here our Trustee Augustine Tanner-Ihm challenges the Church to walk with those who are rejected, not be a source of rejection.
Love and anger - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Patron Paul Bayes
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Here is a reflection first published in 2016 on Via Media News by our Patron Paul Bayes. The message is still timely.
Gottmik, that little black dress and another 'new normal' - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Our Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young challenges society and church concepts of what is ‘normal’.
'You are my child, my beloved' - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Patron Cherry Vann
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Here is an extract from a sermon for Open Table Manchester by our Patron Cherry Vann.
Well, You Made Us, Didn’t You? - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Trustee Lucy Berry
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is #BodyMindSpirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Here is our Trustee Lucy Berry's response in poetry.
Anatomical revelation - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Patron John Bell
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme. Here is our Patron John Bell’s offering.
Feeling flat - A reflection on Body, Mind, Spirit by OTN Patron Barbara Glasson
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & non-binary history. This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit - We’ve asked our Patrons and Trustees to share their thoughts on this theme, starting with Barbara Glasson, former President of the Methodist Conference in Britain.
LGBT+ History Month - Meet world champion athlete Mark Weston who gave up titles won 'in good faith'
Here is the fifth of five ‘Faces of 2021’ for LGBT+ History Month, to illustrate this year’s theme, Body, Mind, Spirit: Intersex athlete Mark Weston, who represented Britain at the Olympics but had career achievements revoked when his gender identity was revealed.
LGBT+ History Month - Meet medical pioneer Michael Dillon, who became a buddhist monk
Here is the fourth of five ‘Faces of 2021’ for LGBT+ History Month, to illustrate this year’s theme, Body, Mind, Spirit: Michael Dillon, the first trans man to transition medically and the first Western European to be ordained as a Buddhist monk.
LGBT+ History Month - Meet writer Maya Angelou 'who teaches by being'
Here is the third of five ‘Faces of 2021’ for LGBT+ History Month, to illustrate this year’s theme, Body, Mind, Spirit: Bisexual multi-talented actress, writer, public speaker and poet Maya Angelou, a champion of equality and diversity for all.
LGBT+ History Month - Meet social justice activist Mark Ashton, founder of Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners
Here is the second of five ‘Faces of 2021’ for LGBT+ History Month, to illustrate this year’s theme, Body, Mind, Spirit: Gay social justice activist Mark Ashton, who died from an AIDS-related illness in the early days of the HIV pandemic.
LGBT+ History Month - Meet footballer Lilly Parr, 'the most brilliant female player in the world'.
This year's LGBT+ History Month theme is Body, Mind, Spirit, spotlighting five people to illustrate this theme. Here is the first: Lesbian football pioneer Lily Parr from St Helens.
Signs of welcome - A poem by OTN trustee Lucy Berry
On the outside of churches, signs often proclaim ‘All Are Welcome’. Lucy’s poem reflects on what church signs might say if they reflected the reality inside.
Declaration of gay survivors of the Holocaust 50 years after their liberation
ln 1995 - for the first and only time - a group of gay survivors of the Holocaust issued a declaration demanding recognition as part of a project of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. Here is what they wrote.
Be the light in the darkness - Why Holocaust Memorial Day matters to our LGBTQIA+ Christian community
HOLOCAUST Memorial Day is marked on 27th January each year in the UK, and we’ve chosen to commemorate it in our online service this month. But why? Our Network Coordinator Kieran Bohan explains.
Transgender. Christian. Human. by Alex Clare-Young - Review by Sarah Hobbs
OTN Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs reviews the life story (so far) of Alex Clare-Young, the first out transgender minister in the United Reformed Church, now also a Co-Chair of OTN.
What will your great realization be this year? #Epiphany
As we approach the 12th day of Christmas, we recall the arrival of the Magi (wise people from the East). The Bible does not say how many there were, or their gender, but traditionally they have become known as the three wise men or kings.