Gay Community Links +

(This page will never be complete, but gives some hints, tips, ideas, where to go... for help, info, etc.)
Many of the websites in the following links have their own page of community links to visit;
many of then are very interesting, informative, and action oriented...

(DISCLAIMER NOTICE - Please be advised that we do NOT necessarily agree with everything presented at the following websites,
or wiki sites, and we are NOT responsible for their content.
Content of other sites visited through these embedded links are NOT necessarily endorsed by THIS church website,
nor The Rock MCC church. Linking to these sites does NOT imply recommendation of, or endorsement of,

the information or commercial products, services being sold. )

{If links don't work at times, just type (copy & paste) the link name into the address bar}

(In Internet Explorer, to get website address behind a link, right-click link & choose "Copy Shortcut" & paste in the address bar.)

(If Some Links No Longer Work: that website either not online anymore, or changed web address.)

A) Sites of Interest to Local Gay Friendly Communities

Chattanooga CARES - Provides valuable HIV/AIDS support and education throughout 23 counties in Southeast Tennessee

(Join the Chattanooga CARES Gay Advisory Board e-list. Send an email to chattanoogaGAB@yahoo.com)

Tennessee Valley PRIDE!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TVPride (must join this group)
and, visit their website:   www.TennesseeValleyPride.com (two separate different entities)

Chattanooga GLBT Forum and Chat
Meeting place for Chattanooga GLBT
Chattanooga-GLBT Forum is Celebrating Pride Month and invites you to
join in on the Celebration. New copy of THE FORUM here

Tennessee Equality Project (TEP)
Statewide Political Watchguard for GLBT Community

Equality Ride
MCC Soulforce group for gay rights

Human Rights Campaign "Religion and Faith" page
Very interesting Gay news, stories, and resources on Family, Religion, and Faith.
The HRC also has e-newsletters you can subscribe to.

Human Rights Campaign "Out In Scripture"
An Honest Encounter Between Our Lives and the Bible

Gay News Blog
All kind of news concerning GLBT folks

Gay Religion: news of religion and GLBT folks
All kind of news concerning GLBT folks and the Bible and the church

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B) Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) sites

1) Our MCC Denomination Homepage: MCC World Center in Abilene TX : Metropolitan Community Churches {many links on this site to local churches to beliefs to coming events...) - An inclusive worldwide fellowship of Christian congregations with a special outreach to the world's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) communities.

Also take a look at these links (just a few from the many more that's) available on the UFMCC website at www.mccchurch.org. Also, click on the Resource Center to receive important information from the Fellowship.

LayLink…..established as part of the ministry of the Commission on the Laity to allow lay members of the fellowship a place post questions and discuss topics that are of interest to laity throughout the denomination.

MCC Kids Pages ...these pages were created and are maintained with MCC kids in mind, by Beverly Mitzel of MCC Charlotte, North Carolina (USA).

MCC Disability Forum ...this is a group for fellowship, support, and "network" on issues of special interest to persons with disabilities.

http://www.mccgham.org/ ...specifically for people who wish to share information regarding HIV/AIDS.

http://www.mccchurch.org/interactive/musiciansforum.htm ...devoted to the posting and sharing of information by musicians involved with MCC Churches. More Links to MCC here

2) The Rock MCC The Rock Metropolitan Community Church (Chattanooga, TN) (site you're looking at now)

(For work/volunteer opportunities at The Rock MCC, Church Ministry Opportunities) using Hidden fonts

C) Websites of Gospel Singers who Visited The Rock MCC

Rev. Delores Berry http://RevDeloresBerry.com/

Shawn Aaron Thomas http://www.shawn-thomas.com/

Jason & DeMarco http://www.jasonanddemarco.com

Ray Vester http://www.RayVester.com

Fred Francis http://www.faithoutloud.com/
Justin Ryan [Vaughn] www.JustinRyanOnline.com

Marsha Stevens http://www.balmministries.net/index.cfm
Carolyn Marshall, Pat Grant http://www.marshallgrantministries.org/
plus others whom I don't remember...

D) Other Local Gay Friendly Churches,
Religious Organizations

1) Living Faith Fellowship (LFF)
        5868 Lee Hwy SW, Cleveland TN 37353
        Pastor Pam Hefner
        Ph# 423-614-6511
        [Formerly known as:]
        Covenant of Hope Fellowship (COHF) (Pastor Dolly retired & disbanded this church)
        Formerly known as: Hope For All Ministries (HFAM)
        Ministers: Apostle Dolly & Pastor Kay E-Mail: pastorhamby67
        (Living Faith Fellowship has taken over the ministry.)

2) Pilgrim Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
        400 Glenwood Drive
        Chattanooga TN 37404
        (Near Memorial Hospital, in front of Notre Dame High School)

3) St Elmo United Methodist Church
        4626 St Elmo Ave
        Chattanooga, TN 37409
        (423) 821-2101

4) Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga
            3224 Navajo Dr.
           Chattanooga, TN 37411

(This church is where we, The Rock MCC, met before we bought our own place.)

5) Unity Church of Chattanooga
          604 Black Street
          Chattanooga, TN 37405

6) Grace Episcopal Church
          20 Belvoir Avenue
          Chattanooga, TN 37411   (On the corner of Brainerd and Belvoir)

7) The Power Center: Real Church for Real People   (Started 2007)
          Power Center Christian Church
          Pastor Will Horn
          64 3rd St. NW.
          Atlanta GA 30308

8) City of Refuge United Church of Christ
          Bishop Rev. Dr. Yvette A. Flunder: Senior Pastor
          1025 Howard Street
          San Francisco, CA 94103

9) Gentle Spirit Christian Church
          Rev. Paul M. Turner: Senior Pastor
          601 West Ponce de Leon Avenue (Candler Park)
          Decatur, GA 30030

E) National Gay Friendly Churches, Religious Organizations

Metropolitan Community Churches   (MCC) 1968
Unitarian Universalist Church   (UU) 1970 (1987)
United Church of Christ (UCC) 2005

www.gaychurch.org is a gay affirming Christian web site that contains one of the largest world-wide gay "welcoming" Christian church directories (over 4,200 churches by the end of 2006, 51 churches listed in Tennessee, 69 in Georgia, 34 in Alabama) and gay Christian bulletin boards in the world. It is a web site dedicated to ministering to the gay and lesbian Christian community (GLBT) and to the friends of our community. The site includes a large section of articles dedicated to helping a gay person reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and a web magazine with articles on a wide range of subjects. Articles and features are offered in English as well as Spanish. In addition there is an online art gallery which meditatively focuses on various scriptures in the Bible. Check the site often as new material is added on an almost daily basis.

(Our local church is listed, although under our old MSN Groups Site. This is one reason I keep the old site; some folks have that, which now re-directs them to our new website.)

Ever wonder about former sister churches that once were a part of MCC, but pulled out, started their own groups, joined another denomination, or became independent? Below are a few links.
(I don't have website addresses of possibly others... If you know of others, let me know. Thanks.)

International Christian Community Churches (ICCC)

All Saints Christ’s Church United {???}

Covenant Community Church of Birmingham

Cathedral of Hope (now part of UCC) (Largest gay church in the world)

You know what? Maybe they left our denomination, but they all are still our sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ; we are still all part of the church body of Jesus Christ. It may have been painful at the time; there is healing of all wounds in Jesus Name. We can still fellowship in Jesus Name. We all worship the same one God and are all one in Christ.

What ever happened to: "MCC Cookeville" or "MCC of the Cumberlands"?
Their website link is broken...Are they no longer meeting as a group?

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F) On going Local Community Events

F) On Going Local Gay Community Events

(see The Rock MCC church Calendar & Coming Events: Gay Community Wide)

Gay and Lesbian Bowling Leagues
(see above link for more information on these two leagues)

Pride Bowling:
Sundays 1:45 PM - 4:45 PM Holiday Bowl, Hixson TN
E-mail PrideBowling@aol.com

2006-2007 Fall Pride Bowling League

The fall league will start on August 13, 2006. The league meets on Sundays
@ 2 PM at the Holiday Bowl in Hixson, TN. This is a sanction league. Sanction fee is $16.00 and weekly bowling fee is $14.00. Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Straights, Couples, Etc...Everyone is invited to join. Teams Are Now Forming. For more information about Pride Bowling or other upcoming events, then check the Forum
(http://forum.Chattanooga-GLBT.org).

Rainbow Bowling:
Wednesdays 6:00 PM - 8:15 PM AMF TriState Lanes,
3636 Ringgold Rd, East Ridge TN 37412
E-mail rainbowleague@comcast.net

2006-2007 Fall Rainbow Bowling League

WHEN? starts September 6, 2006 6:15 pm - 8:15 pm weekly for 12 weeks.

Cost: $12 per week plus annual $14 USBC fee

Spaces are available. No experience necessary. Just come to the bowling center & Sign up for the New Fall League. This is a FUN League.

We have a mix of men and women bowlers. We have lots of fun and
have become a good group of friends. The league offers a handicap
so you don't have to be a pro which NONE of us are, and we have a
couple of bowlers with averages under 100! So don't feel like you
wouldn't fit in because you're not a good bowler. PRACTICE IMPROVES
YOUR GAME.

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G) Misc Non-gay Places

H) Countries of the World that offer Gay Marriage

See also: Gay Marriage Around The Globe
                 Celebrate Gay Marriage

        Gay Marriage:

Netherlands    2001
Belgium    2003
USA   (Massachusetts   2004)
Canada    2005   (Ontario   2003)
Spain    2005

        Gay Civil Partnership:

United Kingdom (Great Britain)    2005
     England
     Northern Ireland
     Scotland
     Wales

        Domestic Partnership:

USA   (California)   200?
other places and/or states in USA also...

        Gay Civil Union:

USA   (Vermont)   2000
USA (Connecticut)   2005
USA (New Jersey)   2006
USA (New Hampshire) 2008

Other places soon will offer Gay Marriage as well, such as South Africa.

Many other places offer some sort of Gay Civil Unions, or Gay Civil Partnerships,
or, Domestic Partnerships.

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I) Misc Gay Sites of Interest

Can you be Gay and still be a Christian? ABSOLUTELY!!!

            See above website and find out how...

2) Black, Gay, Christian: Herndon Davis
                Very good links and resources...

3) GLBTQ: An encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & queer culture

        Gay Youth

4) Youth Resource

5) Gay-Straight Alliance

6) www.projectoutlet.org

        Hate Crimes

7) Matthew Shepard Foundation

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J) Misc Anti-Gay Sites

1) GLAAD      (since 1985)
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

2) Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund      (since ??)
Lambda Legal is the nation's oldest and largest legal organization working for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS.

3) Marriage Equality USA      (since 1996, 1998)
Organization dedicated to securing the freedom and the right of same-sex couples to enter into legally-recognized civil marriage

4) Out & Equal Workplace Advocates     (since 1996, 1999)
Out & Equal™ Workplace Advocates is the pre-eminent national organization devoted to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in the workplace.

5) SLDN     (since ??)
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the nation’s sole legal aid and advocacy organization assisting military members harmed by 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell'

6) PFLAG     (since 1972, 1973)
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

7) OUTfront     (since ??)
OUTfront is part of an international network of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) activists in over twenty countries that organize to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

8) OUT 4 IMMIGRATION     (Yahoo! Groups since 2006)
OUT 4 IMMIGRATION provides accurate information to educate the community and the general public about the U.S. immigration system and the impact it has on Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual, and HIV+ people. By increasing awareness we hope to enable those facing the unique challenges put forth by the law to understand their rights and legally navigate through the existing system. (see also here...)

9) NCLR's IMMIGRATION PROJECT     (since 1977)
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is committed to helping overcome the immigration hurdles faced by same-sex bi-national couples, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender immigrants. (Legal Advocacy for GLBT.)

10) IGLHRC     (since 1990)
The mission of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is to secure the full enjoyment of the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or expression, and/or HIV status. A US-based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), IGLHRC effects this mission through advocacy, documentation, coalition building, public education, and technical assistance.

11) HRC     (since 1980)
Human Rights Campaign - Provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues.

12) NCHRE     (since 1996)
National Center for Human Rights Education : To build a human rights movement in the United States of America by training community leaders and student activists to apply human rights standards to issues of injustice.
13) Fight OUT Loud     (since 2007)
Fight OUT Loud is a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering GLBT individuals and their allies to fight discrimination and hate.

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L) Gay Radio / TV

L) Gay Radio / TV (see also: Christian Radio / TV)

1) LOGO
Logo Online : can watch, download many things to your computer to hear or watch.

2)

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M) Informational Sites Promoting Freedom, Liberty,
& Back to Bible Basics

1) American Congress for Truth (ACT)

War has been declared on Christians, Jews, non-Muslims and secularists worldwide by Islamic extremists... simply because we are infidels according to their belief. As Islamic fundamentalism spreads its tentacles worldwide, it is crucial for the people of the Western world to understand the danger, know what to expect, and know what to do about it.

2) Discernment-Ministries

Discernment Ministries was founded in 1989 by Travers and Jewel van der Merwe.
They had been pastoring for a number of years and began to be deeply concerned with what they perceived within the [Christian] church as a radical shift away from the authority of Scripture. This shift wasn’t only affecting individual lives, but seemed to be steering the [Christian] Church away from its firm foundation toward experiential faith. Sadly, with the advent of signs, wonders and personal prophecy on a unprecedented scale, the church was using intuitive reasoning as a basis for faith rather than the immutable authority of the Word of God - the Holy Bible.

3)

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Transgender Issues

N) Transgender Issues

1) Tennessee Transgender Political Action Committee (TTPAC)

2) T-VOX   a wiki place for genderqueer, intersex, Transgender, transsexual people.

3) T-VOX -Places of Worship
            list of places of worship that are known to be welcoming Transgender people.

4) Transcenders Local Chattanooga TN group for Transgender people.

5) Tennessee Vals Nashville TN groups for Transgender people.

6)

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O) Other Folks wiki sites, or personal websites

My own (Bernard Wotton) wiki site (hasn't been updated for a long time)

Counseling Services

Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights
(By Islamic court & Afghan Senate)

Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights (By Islamic court & Afghan Senate)

Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights
(By Islamic court & Afghan Senate)