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Currently, trans people in America are being targeted in ways that are both chilling and familiar. The current administration and its allies are seizing on the tragic death of Charlie Kirk to justify labeling transgender people—and those who love and support them—as “violent extremists” and even “terrorists.”The Heritage Foundation—the same group behind Project 2025—has even proposed creating a new category of domestic terrorism called “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremism,” despite the reality that trans people are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

This is not about safety. It is about control. It is about creating fear so that people will shrink back, hide who they are, and silence themselves before anyone else has to. It is the politics of scapegoating and intimidation. And history tells us where that road leads.

But God does not call us to fear. God calls us to love. Again and again, Jesus embraced those the powerful tried to exclude and restored dignity to people pushed to the margins. When today’s leaders demand that we abandon our trans siblings, our neighbors, and even our own children, we must say no. We must tell the truth!

The truth is clear: Trans lives are sacred. Trans people are made in the image of God. Trans joy, creativity, resilience, and beauty are not threats to our communities—they are gifts. And those of us who are cisgender, or who carry other forms of privilege, are called to stand shoulder to shoulder with trans people. Because an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

This moment is designed to make us small, to make us silent. But we cannot surrender. We must speak, march, write, preach, vote, and live in ways that tell the truth: God’s love is stronger than hate, and God’s justice is stronger than fear.

As the Open and Affirming Coalition, our commitment is clear. We will not be silent. We will not give in to fear. We will continue to equip churches and communities to affirm LGBTQ+ people, to proclaim God’s expansive love, and to resist the powers of death with the power of life.

This is not the time to retreat. This is the time to rise up together and remember who and whose we are. Love will not be silenced.

The challenges we face are overwhelming, but we are not powerless. The Open and Affirming Coalition is creating space for us to respond together — not with fear, but with courage and community. That’s why we’re launching A.C.T OUT (Advocacy, Community, Transformation), a new initiative to help ONA churches move from affirmation to action.

Join the Conversation

The Open and Affirming Coalition will host a national online interest meeting and brainstorm session:

A.C.T OUT: First Interest Meeting & Community Brainstorm

As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies escalate, Open and Affirming churches are being called to do more than affirm — we’re being called to act. A.C.T OUT (Advocacy, Community, Transformation) is a new Coalition initiative, and this first gathering is all about listening and brainstorming together. We’ll share what our communities are facing, lift up what’s already working, and dream about what A.C.T OUT could grow into — with no pressure and no commitments, just a chance to imagine and connect.

Thursday, October 2, 2025
6:30–8:00 PM EST
Online (Zoom)

Who should attend:
Pastors, lay leaders, ONA teams, justice committees, youth/young adult leaders, chaplains, and anyone ready to move from statement to strategy.

What we’ll do (90 minutes):

• Brief framing: the moment we’re in and why A.C.T OUT
• Three short breakout rounds to share needs, practices, and first-step ideas
• Light theme clustering and ways to stay in the loop

You’ll leave with:

• A shared snapshot of urgent needs across contexts
• Starter ideas your church can explore in the next 30–60 days
• An optional way to stay connected as this work takes shape

Accessibility: Live captions provided; camera optional. Please share access needs in the registration form.

Community norms: Brave space; one mic at a time; step up/step back; honor names and pronouns; what’s said here stays, what’s learned here leaves; assume good intent and attend to impact.

register here: https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/events/91966-a-c-t-out-ona-brainstorming-session