Susan Cottrell's Blog

When our child first claimed the word Queer 15 years ago, it sent shockwaves through our worldview. Rob and I had to grapple with our existing faith alongside unfamiliar words and understanding. Especially Queer. Why did my child so fervently claim it? Was it now a power word? Through fervent inquiry and our son’s kind […]

Queer isn’t the opposite of straight. Queer is the opposite of conformity. That is why this word matters. And that is why, now more than ever, it is worth defending. Recently, some have argued that the LGBTQ+ community would be better served by putting a little distance between itself and the word *queer*. The reasoning […]

I wonder. If Jesus spoke a new sermon on the mount, what might he say… Today, I come before you with a heavy heart, observing the state of the world and the actions of those claiming to follow me. I see hatred and discrimination prevailing in the name of religion. But let us remember the […]

For decades, many churches have taught that the Bible condemns LGBTQ+ people and same-sex relationships. This teaching has caused immense pain, division, and rejection. It’s time to set the record straight: this condemnation is based on false teaching, mistranslations, and misunderstandings. The truth of Scripture is one of love, inclusion, and no condemnation for LGBTQ+ […]

Why do I wear rainbow and affirming shirts? Because I want every parent—especially the ones whose child just came out—to know they are not alone. To know that there is someone in the world who understands, who listens, who cares deeply enough to stand with them. Coming out is hard. It’s full of fear and […]

For years, debates around LGBTQ+ identity and same-sex relationships have revolved around theology, ancient languages, and six or seven “clobber passages.” We’ve walked through those scriptures many times, and the conclusion is clear: they do not condemn LGBTQ+ people. But today, let’s set all of that aside. Let’s talk about something simpler.Something beautifully human.Something rooted […]

There’s a certain kind of religious message that spreads because it sounds humble. Reverent. Deeply spiritual. You’ve probably seen it before. Soft background. Elegant font. Devotional tone. Recently I saw one that said something like: “If we truly understood how offensive even the smallest sin is to a holy God, we would be utterly undone. […]

We’ve heard it for years now: Be the resistance. It sounds courageous. Necessary. Faithful, even.And for those of us working for LGBTQ dignity, human rights, and inclusion, it has become almost an identity. But there is a problem with that framing. Resistance is a posture a human nervous system cannot hold forever. Resistance means bracing.Clenching.Standing […]

Christian Nationalism is not about faith. It’s not about Jesus. It’s not even about family.It’s about power. And one of the primary ways it exerts that power is by targeting LGBTQ+ people—and the families who love them. While draping itself in the language of “God and country,” Christian Nationalism pushes policies and rhetoric that harm […]

Right now, across the U.S., politicians are working overtime to convince the public that gender diversity is something new—a dangerous “trend” or a threat to society. We hear it in school board meetings, on the campaign trail, and in legislation that seeks to erase transgender and nonbinary people from public life. But let’s be clear: […]