Mary Lambert to Headline Largest LGBT Christian Conference

The Gay Christian Network will host singer-songwriter Mary Lambert in a private concert for attendees at its 12th annual conference. The gathering will take place in Houston, Texas on January 7 through 10, with a projected 1,500 LGBT Christians attending from a variety of denominations.

Founded in 2001, The Gay Christian Network is an interdenominational nonprofit organization educating and equipping Christians worldwide to support LGBT people and their loved ones. The organization offers an online community with nearly 30,000 members along with other videos, articles, and resources on the intersections of sexuality, gender, and Christianity.

“Through workshops and keynote presentations, attendees are as likely to discuss ways to biblically strengthen their same-sex marriages as they are to learn about ways to live out celibacy, tackle homophobia in their church, provide much-needed support to their LGBT children, or live a fulfilling faith life as a transgender Christian,” explains a news release from The Gay Christian Network.

The organization hosts voices from both “Side A” — those who believe God blesses same-sex relationships — and “Side B,” those who believe marriage is strictly between a man and a woman.

Despite hosting voices that argue for "traditional" marriage, the conference doubled last year from 700 attendees in 2013 to 1,400 attendees in 2014. Last year's conference was protested by hate group Westboro Baptist Church after The Gay Christian Network announced Vicky Beeching, the newly out lesbian Christian theologian and singer, would keynote the conference.

The rising number of attendees corresponds with the latest statistics from Pew Research that shows half of LGB Americans identify as Christians. Gay Christian Network executive director Justin Lee recognizes there are many LGBT Christians sitting in church pews.  

“Christians continue to be strongly divided on LGBT issues, but there are LGBT people in every denomination, including those with the most anti-LGBT reputations,” said Lee. “The GCN Conference is a unique opportunity for families, church leaders, and individuals on all sides of this debate to listen to and get to know one another. This is where we learn to love each other in spite of our disagreements and work together for a better world for everyone. In our polarized climate, there’s nothing else like it.”

After three days discussing “What’s Next?” for the LGBT Christian movement, Lambert will perform at the conference on Friday night. Registration for The Gay Christian Network Conference is now open.