The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Black Church are rightly lauded for molding young black men into adult leaders. BSA troops have produced distinguished African-American Scouts like retired four-star general Colin Powell, six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

African-American participation in the Boy Scout movement dates to 1911, and its impact has not only forced the integration of young black males into the organization, but also continues to address many of the challenges these young males confront today.

I’ve been reading about these Christian parents who believe they have somehow failed as a parent because their child is gay. These are inevitably the parents who have disowned their child for being gay.

Christian parents who disown their children do so because they are told that homosexuality is an abomination, and Scripture does permit parents to have a wayward son put to death by stoning and for simply being a drunkard or immoral. (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21). This whole stoning thing isn’t allowed in the 21st century, at least in the western world, so the parents disown the child.

Just hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his unexpected resignation, a bolt of lightning struck St. Peter’s Basilica.

Many say it's unequivocally a sign from God.

If so, I'm hoping it's an Amen moment signaling the end of an oppressive era of LGBTQ bashing as the church now moves forward.

I had a friend from what seems a lifetime ago get in contact with me last week. I was thrilled to see her name pop up, and I immediately returned a little note. We've been writing back and forth catching each other up on our lives.

Unlike me, this friend had the courage to come out, leave our home town and live her own life away from the prying eyes and three-party phone lines and family living on every corner or town. She has been with her partner since 1977, living openly and not worrying about what the world thought or felt or did. She was simply living her life.