National Coming Out Day

In preparation for National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, the Religious Institute is pleased to offer worship resources to assist clergy in speaking out in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens and young adults. Please feel free to modify any of these in order to better serve your faith community.

“All of us have teens and young adults who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender in our congregations, many who are suffering in silence and are at risk,” noted Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute. “One study found that 14 percent of teens in religious communities identify as something other than heterosexual. Almost nine in ten of them have not been open about their sexuality with clergy or other adult leaders in their faith communities.”

The resources include a litany, a prayer of the day and a responsive reading. They are available individually or combined into one file.

The recent suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy who was subjected to brutal anti-gay bullying after making a video to encourage other gay teens, demonstrates the sad urgency of this call to action, which remains as necessary as it was in the wake of multiple teen suicides in September 2010.

The Religious Institute, based in Westport, CT, is a nonprofit, multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education and justice in faith communities and society. More than 5,300 clergy, seminary presidents and deans, religious scholars and other religious leaders representing more than 70 faith traditions are part of the Religious Institute's national network.