Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian

Susan Cottrell

Select a Category Church & Religion Dear Susan Family Support Gay Weddings & Marriage GCN Conference Jesus Blog LGBTQ Support Parenting Personal Stories Suicide The Real Jesus Theology Transgender Uncategorized X Archived Posts

Select a Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 June 2022 December 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 November 2018 March 2018 January 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

April 2014

April 03, 2014

She Needs Her Daddy

Yesterday, Susan wrote about what it was like when our daughter came out. I thought...

March 2014

March 31, 2014

Where Do We Go From Here?

Breathe. A whole year has passed since I came out as the parent of an...

March 28, 2014

My Year of Living Dangerously… as a Christian LGBTQ Ally!

Only one year ago today, I wrote my first post about LGBTQ issues. Hard to...

March 27, 2014

What Do You Do When Your Son Is Gay?

"Mom, I'm gay." Earth-shattering words to many conservative Christian parents -- tragically, many view it...

March 26, 2014

To Christian Parents Of Gay Children

You want to shove those words back in and put the lid on. But you...

March 25, 2014

World Vision Supporter? What Will You Do?

Are you a World Vision supporter? Have you brought hope and life to a child...

March 24, 2014

“Have a good life. Goodbye.” – Dad

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That's crap....

March 22, 2014

The ‘Monster God’ of Fred Phelps

Fred Phelps. I’ve been thinking of him these last days of his illness and death....

March 20, 2014

I Am a Mom of a Gay Teenager

Stacey has been facing untold challenges since her gay son came out in their small,...

March 19, 2014

Do You Remember When You First Came Out?

Do you remember what it was like when you came out? As gay, lesbian, bi,...

March 17, 2014

Would St. Patrick Let People Carry A Rainbow Flag?

Ah, St. Patrick's Day, with the tradition of wearing green, drinking beer, and excluding LGBTQ...

March 13, 2014

God’s Babysitters?

"Some people find fault like there's a prize for it." - Zig ZiglarI'm baffled at...

March 12, 2014

My Conversation With a Gay Man in Uganda

Uganda is in trouble. As we sit in the comfort of our homes debating the...

March 11, 2014

You Love Gay People? That’s great. Prove it.

"When conservative Christians find out I’m gay, they almost all say the same thing: 'I...

March 10, 2014

The Child You Hate May Be The One You Love

Today's post is from Rachel Hockett, someone who has become a dear friend to FreedHearts. ...

March 06, 2014

Moms & Dads… Are You Speaking or Listening?

Lent has never been part of my tradition, but I went to our church last...

March 03, 2014

Kids Are Dying – It’s Time To Speak Up!

"My son came out to his dad and I last night. His dad kicked him...

February 2014

February 27, 2014

Can Gays Be Christians – Yes or No?

"This morning in my adult Sunday School, someone said 'I don't understand how homosexuals can...

February 26, 2014

Don’t Lose Hope – We Are ‘Not All Like That’

When our adult child told us they had same-sex attraction, we were shocked. The usual...

February 24, 2014

Being “Right” is a Mistake – A Fresh Look at Arizona

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say,...

February 20, 2014

Pick me! Pick me!

When my daughter Hannah was little, she would raise her hand at the kitchen table...

February 19, 2014

It’s Time to Claim Your Power!

Beautiful people. The time has come. It's time to be you were designed to be....

February 17, 2014

Could We Just Delight In Who We Are?

I walked into an office one day and there she was - the cutest little...

February 13, 2014

He Changed When He Came Out

What is your secret? Come on, you have one. We all do. A secret we...

February 12, 2014

The Story of the Good Lesbian

How obligated are we to each other? Who is our neighbor? Jesus gives the last...

February 10, 2014

Are You “Frozen” With Fear of Being Gay?

“Conceal, don’t feel, put on a show, make one wrong move and everyone will know…” I just...

February 06, 2014

Unconditional Love for Gays is the Heart of God

What is stopping you from loving? Wholeheartedly, unconditionally, overabundantly? Not in some half-baked way of...

February 05, 2014

Can You Accept Your Daughter For Who She Is?

"We will be behind whatever choices our child makes, and nothing could make us love...

February 03, 2014

Free to Love Her Gay Son

Why didn't her son kill himself? "Because he suddenly saw how much we loved him!" ...

January 2014

January 30, 2014

This Is Our Church

“The singing was the most beautiful sound in the world! More than once, I had...