Justin R. Cannon

Justin R. Cannon (b. July 9, 1984) is the founding director of [http://www.TruthSetsFree.net TruthSetsFree.net] , an affirming outreach ministry to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Christians centered around his booklet "The Bible, Christianity, and Homosexuality" (ISBN: 978-1438249612) [Amazon listing for [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1438249616 "The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality" ] ] , which is described by the Los Angeles Times as "an illuminating...analysis that argues the Bible doesn't condemn faithful gay relationships." (Michael McGough, July 18, 2005). He also is the founder of Rainbow Christians, the internet’s first gay Christian personals website and a contributor to the Gay Christian Network online forum.

Justin graduated from Earlham College where he received his B.A. in French and Francophone Studies. During his studies at Earlham College, he served on the editorial board for The Earlham Literary Magazine and started up the school's poetry appreciation group, Poetheads Anonymous. He is the editor of "Sanctified: An Anthology of Poetry by LGBT Christians" (ISBN: 978-1438247854), released July 2008. [Amazon listing for [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1438247850 "Sanctified: An Anthology of Poetry by LGBT Christians" ] ] .

In 2007 he re-launched his ministry website under the name "Inclusive Orthodoxy." According to his website, "Inclusive Orthodoxy seeks a revitalization of the faith, which is both orthodox in theology and grounded in the progressive message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—a message of love, a proclamation of hope for the oppressed, an invitation towards all regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We are calling for the Church to extend its inclusivity upon the foundation of Christian orthodoxy, and to embrace the radical implications of the Gospel message, not despite Scripture and Tradition, but in light of it." [http://www.truthsetsfree.net/about.htm] His ministry affirms the divine inspiration of the Bible, the sacredness of Tradition, and affirms "...that there is a place within the full life and ministry of the Christian Church for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians, both those who are called to lifelong celibacy and those who are partnered." [http://www.truthsetsfree.net/index.html]

Cannon was featured as a "Future Gay Hero" in the prominent gay newsmagazine The Advocate (July 5, 2005) [Adovcate, The. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2005_July_5/ai_n14932555 "Future Gay Hero."] July 15 2005. Accessed June 18 2007] shortly before he graduated from Earlham College. He subsequently appeared on "The Michelangelo Signorile Show" on SIRIUS OutQ, and his work was cited in the New York Times [Banerjee, Neela. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/12/us/12evangelical.html?ex=1182312000&en=10237ee39f6eccec&ei=5070 “Gay and Evangelical, Seeking Paths of Acceptance”] , “New York Times”, December 12 2006. Accessed June 18 2007] , and has even been well-received internationally as he was cited in the French glbtq magazine Préf ("Ainsi Soient-Ils" January/February #12 Issue). March 29, 2007, ABC News' Sacramento affiliate, News 10, ran a feature on Cannon and his website Rainbow Christians. [Adams, Dan. [http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=26051 "A Place for God-Loving Gays -- On the Web"] March 29 2007. Accessed June 18 2007]

In 2006 Cannon was recognized as one of Out Magazine’s Top 100 most influential gay people of the year. [ [http://www.out.com/out100/alumni_2006.asp "Out100 Alumni 2006"] Accessed April 8 2008] Each year OUT Magazine, a national gay and lesbian general interest publication, honors one hundred individuals through a feature magazine issue and a special party/reception. Other honorees in 2006 included Rufus Wainwright, Anne Hathaway (actress), Michael Kors Iman, John Cameron Mitchell, and Lance Bass. In November 2007, he was honored as one of Instinct (magazine)'s2007 Leading Men of the Year for his activism in the gay community.

He is currently pursuing priesthood in the Episcopal Church through the Diocese of California.

See also

* List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality
* Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches
* Religion and homosexuality
* History of Christianity and homosexuality
* Queer theology
* The Bible and homosexuality
* Anglican views of homosexuality
* Homosexuality and Christianity
*

References

External links

* [http://www.truthsetsfree.net Inclusive Orthodoxy / TruthSetsFree.net] (Cannon's Online Ministry)
* [http://www.rainbowchristians.com RainbowChristians] (Cannon's Gay Christian Matchmaking Site)
* [http://www.cross.2freedom.com Cross2Freedom] (Cannon's Gay Christian Bookstore)
* [http://www.sanctifiedanthology.com SanctifiedAnthology.com] (Cannon is the Chief Editor)