Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Transformed by the path we walk together.

LGBTQ and Allies Resources

We are proud to be an inclusive organization. We believe that discrimination and intolerance against one is discrimination and intolerance against all. Join us in speaking up and standing up against intolerance and bullying, and help us educate ourselves and others.

We invite you to read the following web sites and information that we have found to be particularly meaningful, educational or comforting for us as LGBTQ people and allies:

Christian Organizations

ReconcilingWorks (formerly Lutherans Concerned/North America) works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church and congregation. They provide a place of comfort and safety. They reach out to teach that Christ's message, the Gospel, is for everyone equally.

Believe Out Loud is a collection of clergy and lay leaders, LGBTQ activists, and concerned individuals, working together to help the Protestant community become more welcoming to gays and lesbians.

Inspiration / Support

The It Gets Better Project has adopted the following pledge, "Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are. I pledge to spread this message to my friends, family and neighbors; I'll speak up against hate and intolerance whenever I see it, at school and at work. I'll provide hope for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other bullied teens by letting them know that "It Gets Better." The San Francisco Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Police Department, among thousands of others, have lent their support to the Project. To view their videos visit the It Gets Better Project web site.

Testimony - Music by Stephen Schwartz, Lyrics taken from and inspired by the It Gets Better Project. In writing Testimony, Stephen Schwartz collaborated with Dan Savage, creator of the groundbreaking "It Gets Better Project." Schwartz has set the heartfelt words from the "It Gets Better" videos to music, weaving them into a breathtaking, emotional new masterpiece that speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of place. The piece received its world premiere at Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, on March 20, 2012. It was performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, with Stephen Schwartz at the piano.

Anti-Bullying

The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)'s contributes to a safe and supportive environment for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and supports efforts to end bullying and harassment. Learn more about GLSEN by visiting their web site.

ReachOut is a confidential information and support service that helps teens and young adults facing tough times and struggling with mental health issues. For more information about ReachOut visit their web site.

The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to raising awareness of long-term damaging effects of bullying. Because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are often targeted by bullies the foundation gives particular attention to this community. For more information about the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, Inc. visit their web site.

Not In Our Town is a movement that started in Billings, Montana more than fifteen years ago highlighting communities working together to stop hate. They have films to promote acceptance and respect; connect individuals and groups to counter hate and to embrace the diversity in their communities; foster inter-group and interfaith dialogue and gatherings; and provide guidance to those seeking to take a stand against hatred.

Not In Our School Across the country, students and teachers are sharing stories, joining together and taking action to create safe schools, free from stereotypes, intolerance, and hate. They are a part of a movement called Not In Our School that has inspired students of all ages to develop and share innovative ways to resist bullying and promote an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion.

The Born This Way Foundation launched by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, focuses on anti-bullying initiatives. To learn more about the Born This Way Foundation visit their web site.

Ally Organizations

Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians And Gays, PFLAG, is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters promoting the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

There are two local chapters, PFLAG Oakland/East Bay and PFLAG Danville/San Ramon Valley:

PFLAG Oakland/East Bay
PO Box 21195
Oakland, CA 94620-1195

and

PFLAG Danville/San Ramon

PO Box 40
San Ramon, CA 94583

LGBTQ Community Centers

Rainbow Community Center (RCC) is the only organization in Contra Costa County that is solely focused on serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community. Their goal is to provide a safe, supportive and respectful environment for LGBTQ people of all ages, socio-economic status, races, cultures and religion. For more information about the RCC visit their web site.

The Pacific Center for Connecting the LGBT Community works to foster and enhance the well-being and self-respect of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals through professional counseling, groups, community events and advocacy. Learn more about the Pacific Center by visiting their web site.

San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Community Center connects our diverse community to opportunities, resources and each other to achieve a vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for LGBT people. To learn more about the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center visit their web site.

Final Thoughts

Finally, we offer an updated version of Martin Niemoller's poem "First they came..."

First they discriminated against the African Americans,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an African American.

Then they defaced a Jewish Synagogue,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they denied equal rights to gays and lesbians,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't gay or lesbian.

Then they started racial profiling Arab and Muslim Americans,
and I didn't speak up because I am neither Arab nor Muslim.

Then they cast their intolerant eyes at me and by that time no one was left to speak up for me.