Today—December 1—we join millions across the globe in remembering the lives lost to HIV and AIDS, honoring those living with HIV, and recommitting ourselves to justice, compassion, and public health. This year, federal agencies were instructed not to publicly commemorate World AIDS Day—ending a bipartisan tradition observed every year since 1988.

But this year, for the first time since 1988, the United States federal government has declined to recognize World AIDS Day.

This silence is not neutral.

This silence communicates something dangerous.
This silence tells people living with HIV and AIDS—and those who love them—that their lives are not worth naming, mourning, or fighting for.

And it comes at the very moment when:

• HIV/AIDS nonprofits are struggling due to federal cuts, demoralizing delays, and disrupted grants.
• Women-led and community-based HIV organizations are reporting severe impacts, with many reducing services or closing programs.
• Millions of Americans face skyrocketing health insurance premiums, threatening their access to lifesaving care.
• Millions more could lose SNAP benefits, forcing many to choose between medication and food.

This is not a time for the church to sit quietly inside our cozy buildings.
This is a moment for public witness, prophetic love, and embodied solidarity! 

For those living with HIV: We see you. You matter. You deserve joy, dignity, and abundant life.

For caregivers, families, activists, and advocates: Your work is holy.

We remember those we have lost, and we honor their lives and their legacy.

And for all of us in faith communities: silence is not our calling. Love is! 

Ways You Can Support the ONA Coalition on World AIDS Day 

1. Individuals: Join the Sustaining Circle. Monthly giving provides steady, year-round support. It helps us respond quickly to crises, offer coaching to churches in hostile environments, and build long-term resilience across this movement.

We didn’t unlock the full matching grant last week (all donations of up to $250 matched)—but  we were close ($195) and there is still time to join before the end of the year. Click Here to become a Sustaining Supporter.  

2. Congregations: Become a Sustaining Church.  

Congregations can give once or twice per year (June/December are common), or more if able. Many churches give at least $1 per active member, though any amount strengthens the work.

Sustaining Churches help us offer training, resources, and coaching at low or no cost to the ministries that need us most. Click here to fill out the form to commit to being a sustaining church.  

3. Give Through Our 2-for-1 Matching Grant (Now thru12/31/2025): We are excited to share that the Coalition has received a 2-for-1 matching grant: for every dollar donated, a generous supporter will give two dollars, up to a total of $10,000 raised. If our community contributes $10,000, the donor will add $20,000—providing $30,000 to strengthen this movement!

Every dollar you give becomes three:

$25 becomes $75

$100 becomes $300

$1,000 becomes $3,000

If our community raises $10,000, a generous donor will contribute another $20,000—bringing $30,000 to support this movement at a time when it is urgently needed.  Click here to help us raise funds towards this matching grant!

A Final Word

World AIDS Day has always been a testament to community—especially queer, Black, brown, poor, trans, immigrant, and disabled communities who refused to be erased.

If the federal government chooses silence, then the church must choose courage.

If the administration will not honor this day, then we will honor it—with our voices, our prayers, our dollars, our activism, and our love.

SILENCE = DEATH.
SOLIDARITY = LIFE.

Let us choose life, loudly and without apology.

In the struggle and the hope,

Rev. Derek Terry, Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition United Church of Christ

Let’s keep this movement alive and strong.

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Back in July, while many of us were at the United Church of Christ’s General Synod in Kansas City, Missouri, I delivered a speech to mark an important milestone: the 40th anniversary of the Open and Affirming movement. What began as a courageous declaration of affirmation four decades ago has become one of the most transformative faith movements in the world. Today, nearly 1,950 congregations have publicly committed to affirming the dignity, worth, and belovedness of LGBTQ+ people.

Whether you are a pastor, a lay leader, a lifelong church member, or someone who supports this work from the pews or beyond, you are part of this powerful, justice-seeking movement.

As hostility rises across the country, LGBTQ+ people—especially trans and nonbinary youth—are facing unprecedented attacks. Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are being dismantled. Laws restricting our rights and our bodies are spreading. Many national LGBTQ+ organizations have withdrawn from entire regions, leaving local churches and ministries to fill enormous gaps.

When someone reaches out seeking help, hope, or an affirming place to land, they are not only calling your local church— they are calling on ALL OF US, together! 

That is why, as we approach the end of the year, I invite you to support the Open and Affirming Coalition with a special year-end gift—and to prayerfully consider joining the forms of ongoing support that sustain this movement.

The mission of the Coalition is simple: to strengthen, equip, and support churches and leaders who embody God’s inclusive love.

With a small staff and a modest budget, we work every day to:

• coach congregations and conferences beginning or deepening their affirming journey
• train pastors, leaders, and teams to meet this moment with courage and clarity
• create and share resources grounded in Scripture, justice, and liberation
• stand with churches facing backlash for their public welcome
• defend LGBTQ+ inclusion across the wider church and public square

We cannot sustain this work without your partnership.
As you consider your end-of-year giving—whether as an individual or a congregation—here are three ways you can support the movement:

1. Individuals: Join the Sustaining Circle

Members of the Sustaining Circle commit to a monthly gift that provides steady, year-round support. Monthly giving helps us plan ahead, respond quickly to urgent needs, and build the long-term resilience our movement needs.  Click here to join!

2. Congregations: Become a Sustaining Church

Sustaining Churches commit to giving once or twice per year—typically in June and/or December—and some give more often as they are able. These anchor gifts allow us to continue offering coaching, training, resources, and support at low or no cost to the churches that need us most.

We also encourage your congregation to remember the Coalition in your annual budget, and to include us in your bulletin, newsletter, and website as a ministry your church supports.

Becoming a Sustaining Church is simple: fill out this brief form, and we will add your congregation to the growing list of churches committed to supporting this work. A suggested gift is at least $1 per active member a few times a year—though many congregations give more as they are able. Whatever your church can contribute makes a real and lasting difference.

If your congregation has a grant, mission, or gift program for ministries like ours, please let us know how we can apply. Every avenue of support strengthens this movement and equips us to serve more churches across the United Church of Christ.

3. Give through our 2-for-1 Matching Grant

We are excited to share that the Coalition has received a 2-for-1 matching grant: for every dollar donated, a generous supporter will give two dollars, up to a total of $10,000 raised. If our community contributes $10,000, the donor will add $20,000—providing $30,000 to strengthen this movement!

Because this is a 2-for-1 match, every gift is tripled.
A gift of $25 becomes $75.
A gift of $100 becomes $300.
A gift of $1,000 becomes $3,000.

This matching grant multiplies the impact of every contribution and directly fuels the coaching, training, resources, and support that churches across the country depend on.

Click Here to Donate to help us unlock this sustaining Grant.

Every contribution—large or small—strengthens the ministry that strengthens all of us.

Will you join us?
Will you help sustain a movement grounded in God’s radical welcome, justice, and love?

When fear rises, Open and Affirming ministries rise higher.
When marginalized people are pushed aside, we open our doors wider.
When the world tells LGBTQ+ people they are less than, we declare what God has already named them: beloved.

Thank you for your witness.
Thank you for your courage.
Thank you for your leadership, your prayers, and your generosity.

With deep gratitude and hope,

Rev. Derek A. Terry, Acting Executive Director

The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Feel free to share these graphics and links on your social media to help us expand our impact!

Heres the link to share about the Sustainers Circle: https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/264217-faithful-resistance-the-sustainers-circle

Here is the link to sign your church up to be a sustaining church: https://openandaffirming.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/open-and-affirming-coalition-sustaining-church-form

Here is the link to give to the 2 for 1 matching grant: https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/265515-the-beloved-fund-2-for-1matching-grant

Right now, as hatred and fear rise, the Open and Affirming Coalition continues to stand firm as a beacon of faithful resistance. This year has stretched us in every way. Our small team—just one full-time and two part-time staff—has carried a bold and vital ministry: showing up at World Pride in Washington, D.C.; hosting a powerful National Gathering; celebrating 40 years of the Open and Affirming program at the General Synod; supporting churches and conferences in their ONA journeys; and responding to the growing number of communities seeking guidance, training, and resources.

While some national LGBTQ+ organizations have pulled out of entire regions, ONA churches remain—rooted in Christ’s inclusive love and steadfast in the work of justice.

To keep showing up where we’re needed most, we’re launching Faithful Resistance: The Sustainers Circle with one bold goal:

Raise $2,000/month in sustaining support.

And this is absolutely within reach:
• 20 people giving $100/month
• 40 people giving $50/month
• 100 people giving $20/month
• 400 people giving $5/month

Every monthly gift—large or small—moves us closer.

And as a thank-you, anyone who gives $20/month or more will receive a free gift after 3 months of sustaining support.

Click here to Become a Monthly Sustainer! 

Your support helps us:
• Equip churches on their ONA journey
• Strengthen our national network
• Support ministries hurt by cuts to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion funding
• Keep ONA congregations shining as places of hope, safety, and belonging

Together, we can build a resistance that refuses hate and boldly declares that God’s love is for every body—no exceptions.

Join the Sustainers Circle today and help us reach our $2,000/month goal.

Let’s keep this movement alive and strong.

Rev. Derek Terry

Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition
of the United Church of Christ

Click here to Become a Monthly Sustainer! 

Use this QR Code to Share this campaign with others

P.S. If a monthly gift isn’t possible right now, please know your presence and prayers still matter. You can Click Here to make a one-time donation or simply share this campaign to help us reach others who can give.

Across our nation, LGBTQ+ people are under attack. Trans and nonbinary youth are being targeted by cruel legislation. Inclusive books and curricula are being banned. Families and faith communities are being silenced for affirming love and dignity.

In moments like these, the Church must rise — not with fear, but with faith. Not with silence, but with love in action.

That’s why the Open and Affirming Coalition is launching A.C.T OUT: Advocacy, Community, and Transformation — a national, faith-rooted movement committed to resisting hate, protecting our neighbors, and organizing for a just and inclusive future.

Now we need your help to build the foundation for this work.

Please take 5–10 minutes today to complete our A.C.T OUT Inventory & Interest Survey:
https://forms.gle/Ci4nA6kPwMGKyXXNA

Your responses will help us understand what’s happening in your congregation and community — what justice issues you’re facing, what gifts and skills you bring, and what support is needed most. This will guide how we connect churches, mobilize advocacy, and train leaders for collective action in 2026 and beyond.

After you complete the survey, please share the link in your church bulletin, newsletter, or social media, and invite others to participate. The more voices we hear, the stronger our foundation will be.

Finally, as you plan your end-of-year giving, please remember the Open and Affirming Coalition. Your generosity sustains this vital work — equipping churches, nurturing leaders, and fueling movements of faithful resistance and hope.

Donate at OpenandAffirming.org and help us continue building a movement rooted in courage, compassion, and the liberating love of Christ.

In solidarity and sacred hope,
Rev. Derek Terry
Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition
of the United Church of Christ

Please use this QR Code to share the survey with folk in your church:

Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth is a moral failure and a heartbreaking injustice. This ruling abandons vulnerable children and their families to the political whims of state governments, disregarding the lived realities, medical consensus, and human dignity of transgender youth.

As people of faith committed to justice and radical inclusion, the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ grieves this ruling and the harm it inflicts. We reject the idea that any government has the right to deny life-saving, evidence-based healthcare because of a young person’s gender identity. We reject a theology that would permit such cruelty. And we reject the misuse of power that seeks to control, erase, and endanger trans lives.

This decision is not just a legal setback—it is a spiritual wound. Trans and nonbinary youth are beloved children of God, created in the divine image, worthy of care, protection, and the fullness of life. Every attack on their rights is an attack on the sacredness of creation itself.

We are clear: Our trans and nonbinary siblings are not alone. We will not abandon you. The church, when it is truly living into the Gospel, must stand with the marginalized, defend the oppressed, and speak boldly against unjust laws. We remain steadfast in our commitment to creating sanctuaries of love, safety, and affirmation—especially in states where this care is now banned.

This ruling does not end the fight. It intensifies our call to action.

We call on every Open and Affirming congregation to:

• Preach and teach boldly that trans lives are sacred.
• Create concrete safety plans for supporting trans youth and families.
• Partner with local advocacy groups working on legal, medical, and emotional support.
• Proclaim without apology that our faith compels us to resist hatred in all its forms.

To our transgender and nonbinary youth: You are not a political issue. You are not a debate. You are loved, needed, and holy. We see you. We fight for you. We will never stop.

Let justice roll down. Let love rise up. And let the church be known not for silence, but for sacred resistance.

Rev. Derek Terry
Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

It is time to have an honest conversation about what Christian nationalism really is, the harm it causes, and how we can resist it.

That is why the Open and Affirming Coalition is hosting a special book study and conversation with April Ajoy, a former evangelical who uses humor to challenge Christian nationalism and advocate for an inclusive faith.

Before diving into the details of the event, let’s take a closer look at the problem we are facing.

What Is Christian Nationalism?

Christian nationalism is not about personal faith or religious freedom—it is about power. It is the false belief that America was founded as a Christian nation and should be governed according to a narrow, exclusionary interpretation of Christianity.

Those pushing Christian nationalism seek to merge religious identity with political control—often at the expense of democracy, civil rights, and religious diversity.

• It is not about protecting faith
• It is not about personal religious beliefs
• It is about forcing one religious ideology onto everyone

The Core Beliefs of Christian Nationalism

Christian nationalists believe:

• The United States should be governed by their version of “Christian values”
• Church-state separation should be weakened or erased
• LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and racial justice threaten “God’s order”
• Schools should teach a whitewashed version of history that aligns with their ideology
• Their faith should dictate government laws and policies

The movement claims to uphold morality, but in reality, it prioritizes control over compassion and exclusion over justice.

The Harm Christian Nationalism Causes

Christian nationalism is not just rhetoric—it has real consequences that shape laws and culture:

• Threats to democracy, including voter suppression and election denialism
• Attacks on marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, and racial equity
• Book bans and censorship in schools and libraries
• Disinformation campaigns that manipulate voters and spread fear

Faith should be about love, justice, and inclusion—not fear, control, and exclusion.

Who Is Behind Christian Nationalism?

This movement is well-organized and well-funded. It is not just coming from churches—it is backed by:

• Billionaire funders and corporate interests
• Right-wing media and disinformation networks
• Politicians using faith as a tool for control
• Extremist groups pushing anti-democratic policies

These forces are working together to reshape America’s political and cultural landscape, and they are gaining ground.

How Do We Fight Back?

Resisting Christian nationalism is not just about opposing bad policies—it is about defending religious freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

Here is what we can do:

• Educate ourselves and others by learning the signs and challenging misinformation
• Defend democracy by supporting policies that protect voting rights and civil liberties
• Uplift inclusive faith voices by amplifying diverse Christian perspectives
• Protect church-state separation to ensure religion is never used as a weapon of oppression

The good news is that we are not alone in this fight.

Join the Conversation: A Book Study and Chat with April Ajoy

“Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith”

April 9, 2025 | 7:00–8:30 PM ET
$30 for individuals | $50 for small churches | $70 for large churches
Click Here to Register Now!

April Ajoy, a former evangelical, will share her experiences and insights on how Christian nationalism distorts faith and how we can reclaim a Christianity rooted in justice, inclusion, and love.

This is a conversation we all need to have. If you care about protecting faith from political extremism and defending true religious freedom, do not miss this event.

#ResistChristianNationalism #FaithForAll #ONAWebinar #LoveNotFear #ChristianNationalism #ReligiousFreedom #FaithAndDemocracy

As a Black Queer person, I celebrate Black History Month with intention. It is a time to honor our ancestors, recognize our resilience, and reflect on the struggles that Black communities continue to face. But let’s talk about something that doesn’t always get the spotlight—Black Joy. In a world that constantly tries to wear us down, joy is not an escape; it’s a tool, a declaration that we are still here, still thriving, and still worthy of love, laughter, and rest. And this isn’t just a Black thing—this is a lesson for anyone who has ever been marginalized, for anyone who has ever felt like the world was trying to erase them. Joy is resistance.

Why Black Joy Matters

Black joy is about more than just happiness—it’s about survival. In the face of racism, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, economic struggles, and the criminalization of our very existence, our ability to love, laugh, and rest is an act of defiance. This isn’t about pretending oppression doesn’t exist. It’s about refusing to let oppression define us.

Our ancestors sang through their pain, found laughter in the midst of struggle, and built communities where love thrived despite everything working against them. That spirit lives on today in the way we create music, gather in community, dance, and tell our stories.

What This Means for the LGBTQ+ Community and Other Marginalized Groups

If you’ve ever had your rights threatened, your identity challenged, or your safety compromised, you know that just existing can be exhausting. But joy—queer joy, immigrant joy, working-class joy, disabled joy—is fuel. It keeps us going when the world says we should give up.

When we consider the current realities facing our trans siblings—who are being targeted in ways that are deeply insidious and harmful—we know that their joy is under attack. From laws designed to erase their existence to barriers preventing access to gender-affirming care, the assault on trans people is relentless. That is why their joy is sacred. When trans folks find laughter, love, and celebration in the face of oppression, they send a powerful message: they will not be erased. We stand with them in that truth.

Building Communities of Joy and Resistance

Resistance isn’t just about marches and petitions—it’s also about creating spaces where joy can thrive. That means supporting Black and queer artists, uplifting trans voices, and ensuring that all marginalized communities have room to breathe, rest, and flourish. It means showing up for one another, protecting spaces where we can exist freely and fully, and making sure that our movements include not just justice, but also celebration.

Immigrants, people of color, disabled individuals, the poor, the unhoused, and those living at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities continue to face systemic oppression, racial profiling, deportation threats, and targeted hate. Many are denied basic human rights and dignity. Their struggles are deeply connected to our own, and their joy is just as powerful a form of resistance. We must stand in solidarity with them, ensuring that our collective movements amplify their voices, honor their stories, and uplift their fight for liberation. Joy unites us, reminding us that we are not alone and that our survival is a testament to our strength.

A Call to Joy

This Black History Month—and beyond—let’s make joy a priority. Let’s reclaim it, protect it, and share it. Let’s dance, laugh, and rest—not because we’re ignoring the struggle, but because we refuse to be consumed by it. The executive orders, the attempts to erase us from history, the attacks on our trans siblings—these are all designed to hinder, stifle, or even steal our joy. Don’t let them! We used to sing a song in church growing up:
“This Joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me! The world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away!”

• To our Black siblings: Our joy has always been a revolutionary force.
• To our LGBTQ+ siblings: Our love and laughter are acts of defiance.
• To our trans siblings: Your joy is sacred and essential, and we will work to help you secure and protect it.
• To our immigrant siblings: Your joy is powerful, necessary, and worthy of celebration. We stand with you, support you, and uplift your right to thrive.
• To all people of color facing oppression: Your joy is resistance. It is vital, it is sacred, and it cannot be erased. We see you, we celebrate you, and we stand with you.

To everyone trying to exist in a world that tells them they shouldn’t—claim your joy. Celebrate yourself, your identity, and one another in the struggle. Because joy is not just resistance—it is the foundation of our liberation! 

Let that sink in.

The national monument that honors the Stonewall Uprising—the very birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement—has been rewritten to exclude the trans and queer people who led the fight. This is not just an oversight. This is a deliberate and cruel attempt to whitewash history, to push trans people back into the shadows, and to fuel the culture wars of an administration that thrives on hate.

But history is not up for debate.

Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and so many other trans and gender-expansive people were the ones who put their bodies on the line at Stonewall. Their courage ignited a movement that has shaped LGBTQ+ rights in this country for over five decades. And yet, this administration wants to pretend they never existed. Without them, there is no Pride, no LGBTQ+ rights, no Stonewall history to honor at all.

And now, the government wants to pretend they never existed.

Erasing letters from a government website doesn’t change the truth. It does, however, send a dangerous message to trans youth, to our communities, and to the world: that our lives, our stories, and our contributions don’t matter. But we know better.

As people of faith, we have a moral obligation to resist.

If the government will not tell the truth, then our churches must. If the government will not protect trans and queer people, then we must go out of our way to create safe and brave spaces for all of God’s people. If the government will try to erase us, then we must show up louder, prouder, and more determined than ever.

Here’s what you can do:

• Call it out. Tell your community what’s happening. Speak truth in the face of lies.
• Take action. Show up to protests, sign petitions, and demand that the full history of Stonewall is restored.
• Make your church a true refuge. Advocate for trans inclusion, fight for justice, and be a beacon of love.

Stonewall was a rebellion. Stonewall was a fight. And we are still fighting.

#NoLGBWithoutTheT
#TransPeopleBelong
#StonewallWasATransRiot

A Death Sentence for the Most Vulnerable

PEPFAR has been one of the most successful global health programs in history, saving millions of lives by preventing and treating HIV/AIDS in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. By cutting off PrEP access to LGBTQ+ people and sex workers, the Trump administration has ensured that HIV infections will rise, leading to unnecessary suffering and death. This policy is not about fiscal responsibility or public health—it is about catering to a conservative, heteronormative worldview that sees certain lives as expendable.

As people of faith committed to justice and inclusion, we must call this policy what it is: an act of state-sanctioned violence. It is an extension of the same hateful rhetoric that demonizes LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. and beyond. It is a direct attack on the dignity and worth of God’s beloved children.

What This Means for LGBTQ+ People in the U.S.

Although this particular policy targets foreign aid, it sends a chilling message to LGBTQ+ people everywhere, including in the United States. If the government is willing to let queer people abroad suffer and die rather than provide them with access to basic healthcare, how long before similar policies are enacted here? We have already seen efforts to restrict access to PrEP domestically, including legal challenges to insurance coverage and conservative-led state efforts to defund LGBTQ+-inclusive healthcare programs.

This policy reinforces the idea that LGBTQ+ lives are expendable, that their well-being is secondary to the political agendas of those in power. It fuels stigma, emboldens discrimination, and puts more people—especially Black and Brown LGBTQ+ individuals—at risk of contracting HIV. It deepens the shame and fear that many queer people already feel when seeking medical care, pushing them further to the margins.

We must reject the false narrative that this is simply a political or budgetary decision. This is about control, about punishing people for who they are, and about erasing our existence.

What Can Churches and Individuals Do?

As Open and Affirming churches and justice-seeking people of faith, we must respond with action, not just words. Here are concrete ways we can push back against this harmful policy:

1. Advocate for Policy Change – Contact elected officials and demand that they restore PEPFAR’s full funding and PrEP access for all high-risk groups. Urge Congress to push back against these unjust restrictions.
2. Support Organizations Fighting HIV/AIDS – Donate to and partner with organizations providing PrEP, treatment, and education, such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AVAC (AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition), and local LGBTQ+ health centers.
3. Educate Your Community – Host forums, webinars, or discussions in your church or community to educate people about HIV prevention, the impact of these policies, and what we can do to help.
4. Provide Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ People – Ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals in your congregation and community know they are welcomed, affirmed, loved, and supported. This includes offering tangible resources, such as health referrals, support groups, and affirming theology.
5. Raise Awareness Through Social Media – Use your platform to amplify the voices of those impacted by this decision and to call for justice. Share stories, petitions, and updates to keep people informed and engaged.
6. Push for Expanded Domestic PrEP Access – Support local and national efforts to ensure PrEP remains widely available and affordable in the U.S. Push back against religious exemptions that allow healthcare discrimination.
7. Pray and Preach for Justice – Include prayers for those affected by these policies in your worship services. Preach boldly about the call to resist injustice and care for the most vulnerable.

The decision to restrict PrEP access is an attack on the sanctity of life itself. As followers of Christ, we cannot remain silent while our siblings around the world suffer. Let us stand together in faith and action, refusing to let discrimination and indifference dictate who gets to live and who is left to die.

God’s love is for all people—unconditionally, unapologetically, and without restrictions. May we be the hands and feet of that love in this critical moment.

The past several weeks have laid bare the dangerous and escalating attacks on LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender individuals, as well as broader efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In Congress, Representative Nancy Mace unapologetically spewed anti-trans slurs, further dehumanizing an already vulnerable community. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has doubled down on executive orders aimed at erasing transgender rights and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government and military. These actions are not merely political maneuvers; they are calculated assaults on human dignity.

USAID and the Politics of Hatred

Perhaps one of the most insidious moves by the administration has been the attempt to cut off USAID funding—resources that provide critical health services, HIV/AIDS prevention, and humanitarian assistance around the world. Emails recently revealed that Treasury officials, under pressure from Elon Musk’s associates and Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), sought to block USAID payments, effectively endangering lives in marginalized communities both in the U.S. and abroad. This is not just an administrative change—it is an act of violence against the most vulnerable.

The Disappearance of Critical Health Data

In another alarming development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun purging health data related to LGBTQ+ health, racial disparities, and reproductive health. A recent memo ordered the removal of content linked to so-called “gender ideology,” leading to the disappearance of key datasets like the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and the Social Vulnerability Index. Journalists and health professionals report that even the National Center for Health Statistics files on mortality causes are now inaccessible or corrupted.

The implications of this data erasure are profound. Health data is not just numbers; it is a critical tool for understanding systemic disparities and advocating for policies that protect marginalized communities. The erasure of LGBTQ+ health and racial disparity data makes it easier for those in power to deny the realities of oppression and craft policies based on ideology rather than evidence. Without this information, it becomes nearly impossible to track health inequities, making communities of color and LGBTQ+ individuals even more vulnerable.

The U.S. has long been a global leader in collecting granular health data that exposes disparities in medical access and outcomes. The removal of such information aligns with the administration’s broader strategy of silencing marginalized voices and rolling back civil rights protections. This is an dangeous tactic: erase the evidence, then deny the problem exists.

The Church Must Not Be Silent

As Christians, we cannot look away. The same Christ who overturned tables in the temple in righteous anger calls us to resist systems of oppression. Liberation theology teaches us that God is on the side of the oppressed, and our faith demands action. We must:

• Speak Out: Silence in the face of injustice is complicity. Churches and faith leaders must publicly condemn these policies and reaffirm our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion and racial justice.
• Organize: Now is the time to mobilize our communities. Call your representatives. Demand protections for LGBTQ+ people. Support organizations that fight for equality.
• Provide Sanctuary: As laws become more hostile, churches must serve as sanctuaries for those under attack. This is what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ.
• Resist with Love: Hate cannot drive out hate. We must embody radical love, refusing to mirror the cruelty of our oppressors but instead demonstrating the transformative power of justice-rooted faith.

God’s Love is for Everyone

Jesus did not come to uphold the status quo—he came to turn the world upside down, to lift up the marginalized, to break chains, and to proclaim good news to the poor. The Open and Affirming movement is not just about welcoming LGBTQ+ people into the church; it is about tearing down the systems that seek to erase them. It is about declaring, with unwavering conviction, that all of God’s people are beloved, and none will be left behind.

This is our call. This is our fight. And in the words of Galatians 6:9, “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up.” Amen.