Susan Cottrell's Blog, page 17

To Reject One’s Child is the Worst Transgression

Families really go off a cliff when they allow any disagreement to translate into: “You no longer belong to us. You no longer deserve to be here. We no longer want you.” Here’s the bottom line: to reject your LGBTQ child is among the worst transgressions a parent can commit. What is a family meant [Read More...]

From the Mom of Two LGBTQ Kids… A Little Motherly Encouragement

I’m a mother, through and through. I can’t help mothering those around me who can use it. I offer motherly advice freely to those who want it. I’m all about compassion. Perhaps the “motherly advice” you got growing up was only to correct or diminish you. If you will allow me, I will offer some [Read More...]

Ask Any LGBTQ Person if They Have Ever Felt Like This – The Answer Will be Yes

This body-slamming incident with the security officer and the student is a shocker. But, is it really? We’re almost not even shocked anymore. We’ve seen this kind of brutality go down again and again with those in authority, and it just doesn’t seem to be slowing down. If you think about it, it makes your [Read More...]

Acceptance of LGBTQ is a Slippery Slope

Perhaps you’ve heard this, that acceptance of LGBTQ, of “unauthorized” behavior is a slippery slope toward more acceptance. (And we can’t have that, can we?) I believe acceptance is a slippery slope toward acceptance, one Jesus modeled! Let me show where I have seen this slippery slope played out. Women were once considered subhuman, property, [Read More...]

Caitlyn, It’s Time to Truly Show Your Courage. It’s Time to Speak Up.

Have you noticed the growing number of anti-transgender posts on social media? I believe a vicious storm is coming. Especially now as some of the dangerous spotlight of bigotry, condemnation and hate is being refocused on the transgender community. Maybe it’s time for all of us to do more. I think this is why Facebook [Read More...]

Beware of Falling Scripture – It Can Really Hurt

Are you getting a little tired of people pulling out scripture to entrap you, tell you how wrong you are, and get you to change? I am! When people use scripture as a weapon, they’re using it wrong. To use the Bible correctly is to seek its overarching message: restoration, healing, hope, love, promise. Every [Read More...]

What Does It Mean to “Come Out” For Your LGBTQ Child

My beloveds, I want to express my heart to you. We had the idea for a National Parents Coming Out Day, but we have changed our plans and in the process, learned what it means to truly “come out” for your LGBTQ child. Our work and our heart’s desire is to free the hearts of [Read More...]

The story behind “National PARENTS Coming Out Day” – The Power of a Parent

So here’s what happened. I was at a conference last year with author and speaker Brian McLaren, telling him the story of FreedHearts. I said to him, “If all the parents of LGBTQ kids came out in their churches, the whole landscape of the church would change.” We had already been saying that if all [Read More...]

ANNOUNCEMENT: National Parents Coming Out Day – June 5, 2016

Get ready! On June 5, 2016 — nestled between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, to usher in Pride Month — will be the first National Parents Coming Out Day. If you’re a parent or ally of someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ), this day is for you! Parents are among [Read More...]

Dear Perfect Family… From Your Son (Or From Anyone Who Has Been Rejected)

I’m writing with a heavy heart about our family, the family I grew up in, which no longer accepts me. It’s so strange, this outside looking in. I’d never really considered that to be a possibility, that our family is negotiable—you can be born in it, but that doesn’t secure your place. What’s more, I [Read More...]