YES! Coalition Reorganizes and Expands

Since it was founded in 2000, the YES! Coalition has been an organization of congregations in the Delaware Valley that are welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same-gender-loving people (LGBTQ/SGL). Volunteers have worked to educate religious communities on issues related to the full equality and acceptance of LGBTQ/SGL persons and reach out to LGBTQ/SGL people on their spiritual journeys. The leadership has been both straight and gay. Kathy Stayton of the Central Baptist Church in Wayne, a straight ally, helped to found the coalition and coordinated its activities until she and her husband, Bill, relocated last summer to Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to organizing all-day and weekend events and conferences, the Coalition published a Guide to LGBT-Welcoming Congregations in Greater Philadelphia.

Last December, the existing leadership of the Coalition convened a meeting of representatives of welcoming congregations to reexamine the Coalition’s mission and its organization. The Coalition is working to become much more diverse religiously, geographically, and racially. 

Since the YES! Coalition reorganization, the number of welcoming congregations listed in the Guide has significantly increased, from 120 to 250 congregations, reflecting an expansion into New Jersey and a concerted effort to invite additional participation. The Guide is available on the Coalition’s web site (www.yescoalitionphilly.org). Geographically, the Coalition now represents houses of worship and religious organizations in eastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, northern Delaware, and the northeastern tip of Maryland. While a listing in the Guide remains free, all congregations and organizations are urged to become members of the Coalition for only $100 per year (or a Supporter for $500/year). Member and Supporter congregations will be noted in the Guide and these donations will be used to fuel the Coalition’s new outreach efforts.

Organizationally, the Coalition is led by a board, representative of the welcoming congregations, with a part-time coordinator, whose compensation will be funded by annual dues and donations from member congregations. Chris Paige, who also works for the Interfaith Working Group and has designed the Coalition’s website, was unanimously selected to be the Coordinator. 

While the educational mission of the Coalition will remain the same, it will strive for greater outreach, more media coverage, and more opportunities offered to the welcoming congregations. For example, a speaker’s bureau will provide speakers on topics such as how to become a welcoming congregation.  Also being discussed are plans to provide training for speakers and for allies. In addition, the Coalition is considering collaboration with the Bryson Institute, which provides education for allied groups who interact with queer youth.

In the immediate future, the YES! Coalition will actively participate in Equality Forum’s National Rally for same-sex marriages on May 3. The Coalition will also host a reception on Thursday night (7 p.m.) at the Trans-Health Conference (June 11-13) in Philadelphia, which will have an attendance of over 1000 people. Everyone is encouraged to check out the YES! Coalition web site (www.yescoalitionphilly.org) for the expanded Guide and to see the breadth and scope of the newly reorganized YES!Coalition. Individuals can also sign-up at the website for an announcement-only email list to hear about events and activities in the region that are relevant to LGBTQ/SGL people of faith and our allies.