Susan Cottrell's Blog, page 13

Would Unconditional Love Change Things?

It’s women’s gymnastics time again! It is my favorite Olympic event, of all time, period. I feel the adrenaline as I watch them. Those young women perform skills so hard they shouldn’t be possible! They work years to develop their ability–and they make it look easy! Consider the balance beam: the commentator says the gymnast’s boldness is [Read More...]

It’s Baaack! The Nightmare of Ex-Gay Reparative Therapy

So-called “reparative therapy” is in the news again! Yippee! Nevermind that those who have been through it report the horrific abuse involved, the lifelong scars sustained, the devastating self-loathing that results. Don’t worry that the medical and psychiatric community has decried it as not only failed as a practice that doesn’t deliver the hope-for result of a [Read More...]

The Biggest Mistake I Made as an LGBTQ Ally & Advocate

At points in my journey as the Dad of two LGBTQ children—coming from being a leader in the Evangelical church for 25 years—my privilege as a straight white male was pointed out to me. I didn’t get it. And so I denied it. That’s how privilege works. Privilege is invisible to those who have it. [Read More...]

11 Things I Would Tell You If You Were My LGBTQ Child

I was heartsick that a Pastor – claiming to speak for God – called his Christian teenage son ‘disgraceful, demon-possessed poison.’ Many of you have been called words like this – by strangers, friends, people in your church, family, and maybe even your Dad too. And you carry deeper wounds than anyone even knows. Well, [Read More...]

Obergefell & Orlando, From Joy to Grief… What Do We Do Now?

The world is grieving the horrific mass murder of so many innocent LGBTQ people and family. Hearts are wrecked, wondering where we go from here. Moms in my secret Facebook support group are afraid for their kids, wondering how to help them navigate when a place of sanctuary can be destroyed in one disastrous night. [Read More...]

“Uh, No, We Don’t Have Gay People Here!”

So many people in power are completely out of touch with the people they are supposed to serve. This is another reason to be wary. You see it in the recent rape cases making national news. And perhaps you’ve seen Upworthy, a YouTube channel full of uplifting and eye-opening videos. Rachel Maddow interviewed State Representative [Read More...]

11 Reasons You Should Absolutely Go to Your LGBTQ Child’s Wedding

One of the most spectacular weekends of my life was the time of my daughter’s wedding! I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Here’s what I got to enjoy: a Friday night crawfish boil with both families eating, drinking, and enjoying each other. Saturday morning of beignets and coffee, and a walk [Read More...]

God is NOT a Bully… Though Some Christians Are

Here is the great tragedy of the church: it has distorted God’s message for humanity to be all about behavior. The “astoundingly good news” (that’s what gospel means) is NOT that we can now be well behaved. In fact, Jesus never talked about being well behaved but about how lavishly God loves you. God doesn’t [Read More...]

Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith

I took my laptop with me to the kitchen for a lunch break from writing — I like to enjoy TED Talks as I cook — and today it was “10 Most Inspirational Ads.” It was ad number eight, I think, that got me. I won’t do it justice here but essentially: the little boy [Read More...]

Life is Short Enough. Don’t Give Yours Away.

Time flies whether you’re having fun or not. Mary Engelbreit. Mother’s Day. My sweet husband had posted this picture of me when my children were young, and I marveled at my youthful face… I received Skype calls from four children and a phone call from the fifth one whose Skype didn’t work. [Read More...]