This panel will look at the biblical references used to justify the discrimination of LGBTQ people, give some historical and contextual background, and look at what people of faith are doing now to make congregations welcoming and affirming. Panelists include: Rev. Irene Monroe, theologian and coordinator of the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS) at the Pacific School of Religion, a Huffington Post blogger, and a syndicated religion columnist; Rabbi Laurence Edwards, rabbi of Congregation Or Chadash, book review editor of the Newsletter of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and an adjunct faculty member at Catholic Theological Union; and Ann Louise Haak, Associate Minister, Lake Street Church, Evanston.