WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign announced the launching of Out In Scripture, a free weekly online resource for clergy and lay people of faith. The website will provide distinct insights into the Bible, week after week, from a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight-supportive perspective. The debut of the site marks the first and only major online preaching resource devoted to assisting clergy in planning their sermons and spiritual discussion groups. It will be especially valuable in building welcoming and inclusive congregations around the country.

"Ministers around the country have been asking for a resource just like this to help them prepare sermons that are faithful to the authentic lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their families while also true to the biblical text. This resource will offer them the tools to do just that. It will also be an empowering resource for people in isolated situations or for those who belong to unsupportive congregations," said
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

The resources on the site are developed, written and reviewed by teams of skilled and reflective scholars from leading theological schools around the country and across a variety of Christian congregations. Each weekly entry is conceived as a dialogue between GLBT and straight-supportive scholars who represent a rich cultural, racial and theological diversity.

"The Bible should not be used to beat up our community, but as a tool to lift us all up. Inside the Hebrew and Christian texts there are messages of liberation and justice. We hope 'Out In Scripture' provides inspiration and insight to a broad array of people and will help change the conversation we've been having in our churches on Sunday morning about GLBT people," said Harry Knox, director of the HRC Religion and Faith Program.

'Out In Scripture' is part of the Human Rights Campaign's larger Religion and Faith Program. The program seeks to assist religious leaders in speaking out for equality and inclusion, and to examine how religion can be a positive resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that GLBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.