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Without Exception Newsletter

July 2025

Without ExceptionNewsletterJuly 2025

⭐ Project in Ministry ⭐ ⭐ Project in Ministry ⭐

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Over the past five years, I've been working on a pastoral initiative to support the well-being of LGBTQ+ students in Catholic secondary schools. This project offers a professional development series that equips Catholic school educators to accompany and advocate for our students with faith, care, and courage. The project includes a five-session virtual training grounded in Catholic beliefs and pastoral practice (Tuesdays, July 15 - August 12). This work is part of my Doctor of Ministry degree at The Catholic University of America and reflects countless hours of research and conversations with Catholic educators, church leaders, and pastoral caregivers.


After a strong response to the first announcement, there are limited spots remaining for registration. The "audience" criteria are drawn broadly, so please look more closely if you are interested. Thank you for your wonderful support!

Registration closes 8PM ET Wednesday, July 9 Registration closes 8PM ET Wednesday, July 9

Click Here for More Information

Reflections & Responses Reflections & Responses

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This section is an open forum for members to share reflections or responses connected to our mission.


🚩Please respect the privacy of the authors. These reflections are intended only for the private forum of our network. Public sharing or reprinting is not permitted without permission.

✅ US vs. Skrmetti

This plain-language summary of the Supreme Court ruling was written by Andrea Brustein, a friend of Without Exception and licensed attorney practicing in the State of New York.


In 2023, Tennessee passed SB1, a law which bans gender-affirming care for minors being treated for gender dysphoria, including the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-related surgery. This law was challenged by three transgender minors, their parents, and a doctor, who argued that it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because the law treats transgender people differently than non-transgender people, and because it treats people differently based on their sex. The Equal Protection Clause provides that no State shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”


The Equal Protection Clause prevents unreasonable discrimination based on the use of classifications (categories) like race, religion, sex, and national origin. The standard of review, or how the Court evaluates equal protection claims, depends on the type of classification used.


The most stringent review, called “strict scrutiny”, is applied when a “suspect classification” or fundamental right is at stake. “Suspect classification” refers to a class of individuals who have been historically subject to discrimination. For example, race and national origin are two agreed-upon classes where strict scrutiny applies. When the Court applies the strict scrutiny test, the State must demonstrate a compelling interest and prove that no less discriminatory means are available to achieve the same objective. If it fails to do so, the law is unconstitutional.


The middle level of review is called “intermediate scrutiny” (or sometimes “heightened scrutiny”). It applies to cases involving “quasi-suspect classes,” like laws that treat people differently based on sex. Under this standard, the State must show that the law serves an important government interest and that the law is closely connected to achieving that interest. For example, in Craig v. Boren (1976), the Supreme Court struck down an Oklahoma law that let women buy certain beer at 18 but required men to be 21. The Court said sex was not a reliable way to regulate drinking and driving, so the law did not meet the standard.


All other equal protection challenges that do not involve a suspect or quasi-suspect class are subject to the most lenient level of review, known as “rational basis” review. This means the State only has to show that the rule makes sense and is connected to a real government objective. For example, rules based on age usually fall into this category.


When reviewing SB1 under the equal protection challenge, the Supreme Court had to decide the appropriate standard of review. The question presented was very narrow: should SB1 be subject to heightened scrutiny because of a classification based on sex? In other words, does the law deny someone access to a desired medical treatment specifically because of their sex?


The Court ruled by a vote of 6-3 that sex was not the basis for denial of medical treatment, so SB1 was only subject to rational basis review. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, stating that SB1 involves classifications based on age and medical use, neither of which requires heightened scrutiny by the Court. The law was written so that transgender youth are not denied treatment because they are transgender, but because the law prohibits medical treatments for specific diagnoses (like gender dysphoria) while allowing them for others (like precocious puberty or excessive hair growth). The Court reasoned that since a transgender youth can still receive puberty blockers for an approved diagnosis like precocious puberty, the restriction is based on the diagnosis, not the transgender identity.


Although not addressed in the majority opinion, the concurring opinions expressed skepticism about recognizing transgender individuals as a protected class and supported deference to legislative authority. Justice Thomas questioned the safety, effectiveness, and ethics of gender-affirming treatments for minors, arguing that the State—not medical experts—should decide what is permissible. Justice Barrett, joined by Justice Thomas, added that even if the law did use transgender identity as the basis for denial of treatment, she does not view transgender people as a suspect or quasi-suspect class, citing a lack of legal history of discrimination. Justice Alito agreed that transgender status should not trigger heightened scrutiny, arguing the group does not meet the legal standards for protection because the meaning of “gender” has changed over time.


Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Jackson and Kagan, dissented, arguing that SB1 clearly discriminates based on sex and should be subject to heightened scrutiny, which it would not survive. She criticized the majority for ignoring that the law permits the use of puberty blockers and hormones for some diagnoses but bans them for gender dysphoria, making the law inherently discriminatory against transgender youth. Sotomayor challenged the use of a precedent downplaying sex-based classifications and pushed back against claims that transgender individuals are not subject to systemic discrimination, noting the numerous anti-transgender laws which states have enacted over the past decade. Justice Kagan agreed with Sotomayor’s reasoning but did not take a position on whether the law would ultimately fail under heightened scrutiny.

✅ Ann Franczyk (Suffield, CT)

This letter to the editor appeared in the June 22 edition of The Republican, a newspaper published in Springfield, MA. It is reprinted with Ann's permission.


The Supreme Court’s 6 to 3 decision upholding a Tennessee law that bars gender-affirming care for minors reflects, yet again, the ignorance which surrounds trans persons.


With decades of LGBTQIA activism I am expressing my sincere, heartfelt, Mama Bear understanding of this issue. It is described by many as a culture war. Perhaps more accurately, a political cudgel. I would argue that this SCOTUS decision simply speaks to the unease and ignorance about the scientific evidence for the legitimacy of gender fluidity and gender dysphoria.


Trans persons and gender dysphoria are to 2025 what gay persons were to the 1980’s and millennia prior. LGBTQIA persons, which includes those who are transgender have always existed and will always exist, and any efforts to discredit their knowledge of themselves will not erase them. What is needed is education. People are afraid of what they don’t understand, just as my family was ill prepared for our son’s “coming out” 27 years ago.


There was a time when gay people were considered pariahs and in some circles still are. They were not spoken of. They lived in the shadows. Thankfully over time the acquisition of greater civil rights gave more and more persons the courage to “come out” and attitudes changed. Since we humans always seem to have the need to target and scapegoat some group, trans persons are now the focus of this same general unease, discrimination and not infrequently hate.


Trans persons are those whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. It encompasses a spectrum of identities beyond the traditional binary of male and female. Among youth ages 13 to 17 in the US, 1.4% (about 300,000) identify as transgender (Williams Institute, UCLA School Law).


Unfortunately misconceptions about trans persons ABOUND. Among them that being transgender is a fad, that children can only be trans after puberty, that all want hormone therapy and extensive surgery, that they hate their bodies, that their parents did something wrong, and most importantly, that they were taught to be trans. All these notions have been debunked.


Consider the work of Dr. Kristina Olson of Princeton University who is now 11 years into a 20 year longitudinal study entitled, the TransYouth Project. Dr. Olson, along with the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrine Society and the Endocrine Society all advocate for a gender-affirming model of care and oppose legislative efforts to limit access to gender-affirming care.


This SCOTUS decision does not reflect the scientific evidence. It can hurt families. It impedes the right of parents to support their children. And most importantly, it hurts kids. I implore you If your son or grandson comes to you and says “I am not a boy” or a daughter or granddaughter says “I am not a girl”, don’t immediately shut down or discredit the child. Listen to children, take their lead and LOVE them. Most importantly, if the child is distressed seek help not only for the child but also for yourself. The help is out there!


I concur with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor who so forthrightly stated from the bench, “In sadness, I dissent!"

✅ All Saints Church (Syracuse, NY)

This "Statement Against Hate" was released by All Saints Roman Catholic Parish on June 7, 2025. It is reprinted with the pastor's permission.


Last night, someone removed the Pride Flag at our church and lowered the U.S. Flag to half staff. This act of vandalism is not only childish and disrespectful but also a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face in this political climate.


However, let it be known—All Saints Church will not stand idly by. We refuse to let fear and intolerance dictate our space and our values—values rooted in the Gospels of Jesus. In response, we are taking a firm and public stand. This weekend [June 14], we will proudly raise the Pride Flag once again in front of our church as part of our Parish LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration.


We invite all members of our community to join us for this public Pride Flag raising on Saturday, June 14, at 11 AM as we recommit ourselves to love, acceptance, and unity. Hate may try to shake us, but it will never break us. Let’s stand together against bias, hatred, and fearmongering. Join us as we raise the flag—not just as a symbol, but as a declaration that love, and inclusion will always prevail. This is not a time to sit on the sidelines.

✅ Gordon Nary (Profiles in Catholicism)

The following reflection appeared in the June 1, 2025 newsletter from Profiles in Catholicism. It is reprinted with Gordon's permission.


I went to West Aurora High School in my sophomore year. At lunch one day, I sat across from a girl and we were talking when she said “You should be a psychologist." So when I went to Loyola University, I majored in psychology. While I was doing my graduate work in psychology evenings at DePaul University, I worked at Michael Reese Hospital and spent some time in their psychiatric unit. When one of their patients [died by] suicide, I decided I could never take the risk of caring for a person who might [die by] suicide, so I gave up my plans to be a psychologist.


According to the North America Information Hub, US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024. The World Heath Organization reports that "While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.


In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behavior. Suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt."


We should all be deeply concerned about the increasing rate of teen suicides. Teen suicide is a serious and growing concern, with suicide being the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. Approximately 20% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. In the United States, around 9.5% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year. Females are more likely to attempt suicide than males. Males are four times more likely to die by suicide than females.


Suicide rates are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. AI/AN youth are more likely to seriously consider or attempt suicide compared to other racial or ethnic groups. Suicide rates among Black youth have also significantly increased. LGBTI youth are at a significantly higher risk of suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts compared to their heterosexual peers.


  • Mental health conditions: Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are significant risk factors.


  • Substance abuse: Alcohol and drug abuse can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.


  • Trauma and adverse experiences: Bullying, and cyberbullying, abuse, family conflict, and exposure to violence are associated with increased suicide.


  • Social isolation and lack of support: Feeling isolated and lacking social connections can contribute to suicidal ideation.


  • Stressful life events: Significant life changes, such as family disruption or relationship problems, can increase vulnerability.


We all have a moral responsibility to help prevent suicide - and teen suicides may be more effectively preventable.

✅ Stephanie Ives (Beit Rabban Day School)

The following reflection appeared in the June 6, 2025 newsletter from Stephanie Ives, head of school at Beit Rabban Day School, a K-8 Jewish day school in New York City. It is reprinted with Stephanie's permission. You can learn more about Beit Rabban's approach to gender here.


Just a few minutes ago, the entire school gathered for Shabbat B'Yachad [Sabbath Together], our last pre-Shabbat full community assembly of the year. This Shabbat B'Yachad is special, honoring our now annual Pride Shabbat tradition to celebrate all our Beit Rabban LGBTQ+ community members and allies. Dressed in our rainbow finest, we read Torah, sang, recognized birthdays, and watched a special video. The video is a compilation of short recordings from staff, students, alumni, board members, and parents explaining what Pride means to them.


Assemblies are interesting moments for schools. An assembly is not the time for deep reflection or nuance. Big ideas and historical events are not conveyed in sound bites at assemblies. We are committed to teaching with complexity, encouraging children to wonder, question, and reflect. In fact, oversimplifying things when teaching is ineffective and often counterproductive. So, why would we mark something as complicated as sexual and gender identity in a twenty-minute block of dancing in rainbow clothing?


These gatherings, however long or short, are moments to convey our communal values to our children in effective ways. These are times when we implicitly and explicitly showcase our priorities and let our children know what their grown-ups believe. By having children read Torah each week at Shabbat B'Yachad, we convey to them that our people's texts and traditions are in their hands; they are the stewards of Torah going forward. When we name each student and teacher's birthday, we communicate that each person in our community is essential. When we dance together at the beginning and end of each assembly, we remind our children and ourselves how critical it is to celebrate and to "worship God with joy" (a saying and song based on Psalms 100). These are the experiences that memories are made of.


During Pride Month, we hold a particular type of heavy burden and holy responsibility as educators. We know that countless children have suffered and continue to suffer because they are not confident that who they are is affirmed by their grown-ups. As Jewish educators, we know it can be excruciating not to feel you belong in your religious community. This is true for LGBTQ+ kids and other children who do not fit neatly into the identities expected of them. As we all know, there are drastic consequences to this. There are also lifelong benefits to growing up with an anchoring sense of belonging, and religious communities have a unique capacity to provide this. In our 20 minutes of Shabbat B'Yachad today, we will affirm to our children that their grown-ups love them for who they are because each of them is created in the image of God.


We affirm something else in this short gathering. We demonstrate our commitment to optimism, to Jewish optimism. We are a people who prays for a Messiah who we are not intellectually confident will arrive. We are a people who prayed for thousands of years to return to a Jerusalem that was more of a metaphor than a literal place. We are a people who have internalized the maxim from Pirkei Avot [Chapters of the Fathers]: "It is not on you to finish the work, but neither are you released from the obligation to do the work." We work to make the world better because we believe it can be improved, and we believe it is our responsibility to try. We do this work even if we will not see the entire "tikkun" (repair) in our lifetimes, even if we see more breaking than repairing.


Even in the current climate, when I reflect on the impact of LGBTQ+ activism over my lifetime, I see it as an optimistic reminder of what we are capable of achieving. The work of LGBTQ+ human and civil rights has been long fought, and it has a ways to go. Needless to say, none of this did or will happen overnight. Instantaneous miracles are of a different time when God was obviously manifest from moment to moment. Today, we are responsible for manifesting God's work. It turns out that we work a lot slower than God, need to work a lot harder than God, and need many more partners than God needs. It also turns out that our advancements are more susceptible to undoing.


Celebrating Pride as a school community affords us the ability to talk about all those who have worked hard to bring change and to name so many things that have improved in our lifetimes while affirming that there is much to be done and also pointing out how important it is to actively protect all advances that have been made. It still should give us and our children hope and optimism and make us feel deeply responsible.


I hope and pray that Beit Rabban engenders a deep sense of belonging for each child and that this foundation inspires them toward optimism. It takes work, just like all social change. It is holy work, and we are grateful to do it in the community.


Watch our Beit Rabban Community Members share what Pride Month means to them!

✅ Tim Shriver (The Dignity Index)

The following reflection appeared in the June 24, 2025 newsletter from The Dignity Index. It is reprinted with permission from The Dignity Index. To receive their weekly newsletter you can subscribe here. To read past newsletters from Tim Shriver and the Dignity Index team, click here.


Last week, I gave a talk about our dignity movement to a conference of higher education leaders. I shared our core beliefs: that how we treat each other is the new issue of our time, that the Dignity Index helps us see that we’ve all become more contemptuous than we realize, and that with a little effort and new skills, we can all do better.


After my presentation, I raced for the door to catch a flight, but one woman caught me. “Just a quick question?” she asked. “Of course,” I answered. “Your presentation… Isn’t what you presented just the Bible? Isn’t it just the great commandments—love God and love your neighbor?”


I paused for a beat. I’ve never wanted to run the risk of mixing religion with social change because I fear that “religion” by itself can turn off people we want to reach. And I further worry that the Bible itself has become a political tool—a weapon politicians use to advance political agendas that often have nothing to do with faith or hope or love. I don’t want us to be part of politicizing religion.


But as I looked at this woman, I could tell she wasn’t asking me about politics or the conflict of religions. I sensed that she was asking me about the spirit that invites us to see each other as children of God. And she was looking for some clarity: Is the dignity movement really about seeing each other as children of God?


“Yes,” I blurted out. And then I quickly tried to explain. “We aren’t trying to convince anyone to join a religion.” “Of course,” she answered.


“But we are trying to awaken each other to the dignity that we’ve all been given,” I continued, “to the beauty of the human spirit that lies within each of us, no matter how badly we mess up. Is that what you mean?” I asked.


“Yes,” she said. “That’s what my faith is all about. Trying my best to love my Maker and my fellow human beings. I was just wondering if that’s what you’re really trying to teach.”


“I love the way you put it,” I said. “That’s what my faith is about, too. But it’s also a message for those who don’t share a faith because it’s completely practical and urgently needed right now, whether you’re a person of faith or not. Right?”


“I agree,” she said. “Thank you.”


And with that, I raced to the airport.


As I thought about my exchange with this woman, I realized she was probing the heart of what makes dignity important. And I think she was right: the dignity movement asks us to see beneath the surface of judgments and opinions. For some of us, that is what faith helps us do. “The Lord does not see as humans see” (1 Samuel 16:7) is an oft-quoted verse from the Hebrew scriptures.


And so too is teaching of Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8) Faith traditions at their best challenge us to see each other, not from the surface level, but rather from the heart—to see as God sees. And if today we want to treat people with dignity, especially people who’ve hurt us or done things that we abhor, we need to see from the heart too.


Faith traditions—at their best—will also remind us that contempt and violence aren’t the way to solve problems. After the tragic politically motivated killings of Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman in Minnesota, Amanda Ripley challenged political leaders to make a dramatic shift: "Condemning violence after the fact is not enough. We need a non-aggression pact that politicians can commit to for the future." It may take a little faith for a political leader to treat an opponent with dignity, but that’s exactly what the great commandments call for.


As my colleague Tom Rosshirt pointed out in this newsletter last week, we need to be reminded that if we have faith enough to treat each other with dignity, millions will respond positively.


A few days ago, my son Tim sent me an Instagram post from Capt. Bobby, a Baltimore-based disabled veteran who owns a charter boat. Earlier in the week, Capt. Bobby posted that he thought the money spent on the recent parade celebrating the Army’s anniversary could have been better spent on children and the elderly. In response, he received both hateful and supportive messages.


But what struck me about Capt. Bobby’s post was about how confident he was in the goodness of people. Notwithstanding the contempt that was leveled against him, he saw a deeper reality. “Whenever you’re feeling down and sad about America… just remember that the great, great, great majority of Americans out there are people… who will call just to say I got your back. That’s the America we live in.”


I agree, Capt. Bobby. And so does the Bible.


Where you get your inspiration matters less than the spirit of love and dignity that we’re all starving for right now. Maybe we all need a little faith to guide us in how to see with the eyes of that spirit and swear off the contempt and violence that threaten our families, our communities, and our country, too. The spirit of love and dignity doesn’t divide. And it’s the spirit that may well be the only thing that can heal the wounds of our time.

Featured Artwork Featured Artwork

This image is used with Jory's permission

Read more about Jory Mertens in this article from the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri! Jory is a Carthage, Missouri-based artist who works in digital fine art and illustration, often using cubist, geometric, and fauvist elements (ArtByJory). Many of his works are based on his view of Jesus as being radically inclusive. He enjoys creating works based on his family, theology, nature, and portraits of heroes of humanity. As a special gift for our community Jory offers a 30% discount on ALL his artwork with discount code WITHOUTEXCEPTION30.

Network Visibility Network Visibility

"I have a high school senior who is struggling to accept himself in light of his sexuality, and he is just starting to confide in a few peers and adults on campus. Last week he stayed after class to tell me he'd spotted a Without Exception sticker in his English teacher's classroom. That silent but clear affirmation made his day."

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Metal Keychain

1.25" round

$7.00 USD

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Vinyl Sticker

3" round

10 pack = $4.00 USD

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Epoxy Lapel Pin

0.83" round

5 pack = $10.00 USD

For LGBTQ+ young persons an affirming symbol can be a lifeline. It communicates "you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you" (Isaiah 43:4). The gesture is small, but it increases a young person's sense of value and supports their physical, mental, and spiritual health.


In some places rainbow colors are controversial and beyond the threshold for community leaders. That is why the Without Exception logo is designed to be an integrated Catholic symbol. The circle represents the universal (catholic) call to be witnesses to the gospel in all places, “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8); in all times, as symbolized by the colors of the liturgical year; and to all people, as we “look upon our neighbor (without any exception) as another self” (CCC 1931). The heart at the center of the logo is an interpretation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the colors of the liturgical year symbolize glory and celebration (gold); Mary and water (blue); blood and fire (red); penance and preparation (purple); life and growth (green); and joy and hope (rose).


These items are available at cost plus $6.00 for shipping. Payment can be made by Venmo.

Email David to place an order

Beyond our network, there are other organizations that offer signals of support for the mental health and wellbeing of young persons. Some examples are included below:

from Mental Health America from Mental Health America

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Daily Reminder

Order here

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Always Need Hope

Order here

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You are Loved

Order here

from NakedPastor from NakedPastor

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All Means All

Order here

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More Love Less Hate

Order here

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Love Everyone

Order here

Records & Reports Records & Reports

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  • NFCYM received a grant to create a resource that will help Catholic Schools integrate their service hours requirement into the total formation of their students. The writers are working hard on it -- and it's looking amazing. The grant gave NFCYM funding to send print resource kits to 150 schools FOR FREE! They are inviting members of Without Exception to help identify the best contact person at your schools to receive this resource. Just click the link and let them know should receive the resource.
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  • The Greater Boston LGBTQIA Catholic Collective launched their official website in June. The collaborative is a group of Catholic communities of faith throughout the Greater Boston area who gather in prayer to support, encourage, and celebrate their ministries of love, acceptance, compassion, and joy with the Catholic LGBTQIA community. The collective is recognized by the Archdiocese of Boston.
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  • On Tuesday, July 1, Second Presbyterian Church in NYC is hosting a book talk with Nico Lang. An award winning journalist and author, Nico will share moving stories from American Teenager about trans youth in the US. Doors open at 6:30 PM Eastern Time, and the event runs from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. More information and FREE tickets are available here.

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  • Fortunate Families is launching Trans & Catholic 101, a series of 13 free weekly webinars on the lives of transgender and non-binary Catholics. Topics include trans history, medical and pastoral issues, relevant Catholic teaching, spirituality, legal concerns, and parenting trans children, among others. Speakers include Sr. Luisa Derouen, O.P., Dr. Craig Ford, Fr. Charles Bouchard, O.P., Maureen Rasmussen and Michael Sennett (trans Catholics who met Pope Francis last year), and more. Webinars will run June 17th to September 9th, each Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time, and will be moderated by members of Fortunate Families' Trans Ministry team. More information and registration is available here.
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  • The Naming Project will hold its summer camp July 20-25, 2025 in Minnesota. The theme this year is "Beautiful Things." From enjoying the beauty of creation, to arts & crafts exploring beauty and wonder, to music and songs that help us enjoy each other’s company and talents, and so much more, this summer will be a time to discover just how beautiful this world can truly be, and how God has made us all uniquely beautiful as part of this beautiful creation! We will take time in Bible study to explore how beautiful God declared creation to be, and how everyone is a part of all things wonderful even when we can’t always see it ourselves! Even when we don’t see it and can’t feel it, there is so much joy, beauty, and wonder all around us, and we plan to spend our amazing summer exploring it! Campers will experience large and small group conversation, personal quiet time as well as campfires, crafts, swimming, games, and summer camp fun in the beauty of God’s creation! Find more information at The Naming Project.
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  • Building Catholic Futures is holding its first Confident Witness retreat for LGBT/SSA+ Catholics who want to take on leadership and mentorship roles in their local communities. This retreat will take place in Boston from Thursday evening, August 7 - Sunday afternoon, August 10. Through lectio divina, discussion, workshop presentations, prayer and fellowship, retreatants will discern their own gifts, explore the challenges of leadership in this area, and connect their own stories with broader conversations about pastoral care of LGBT/SSA+ Catholics. The retreat will be led by Eve Tushnet and Keith Wildenburg, who are seasoned mentors with experience as leaders in widely-varied Catholic contexts. If you’re able to join us in Boston, please go here to register. Allies, friends, and loved ones of gay Catholics can help support this ministry by passing along this information or making a donation to support the retreat and defray the cost for participants.
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  • Posture Shift is running an in-person program on August 20-21 in the Boston area. "Posture Shift Intensive" is a biblically sound, missiological training designed for church leaders, ministry teams, counselors, camp and school administrators and teachers, lay leaders, and family members. With almost 20 years of time-tested expertise, Posture Shift provides practical, tangible guidance for real-life inclusion and care of LGBT+ individuals and their families in your ministry context. More details and registration are available here. Additional in-person trainings are scheduled this fall in Los Angeles, Columbia (South Carolina), and Seattle.

💥 Our Bibliography has reached 50 pages 💥 💥 Our Bibliography has reached 50 pages 💥

Check it out!

Readings & Resources Readings & Resources

Augustine, Ansel. Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. Loyola Press, 2025.


Cieslik, Emma. Catholicism is at an LGBTQ+ Crossroads. Which Way Will Pope Leo Go? Sojourners, May 28, 2025.


Dever, Ray. LGBTQ Children in Catholic Families: A Deacon’s View of Holy Family Sunday. Bondings 2.0, New Ways Ministry, December 28, 2014.


David, Yuval, director. Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R(eligion) [documentary]. Yuval David Productions, 2022.


Flanagan, Linda. It’s Tough World. Here’s How Parents Can Raise Resilient Kids. KQED, May 27, 2025.


Fotsch, Bill. The New Pope Is a Great Reminder of the Value of Moral Leadership. Inc., May 11, 2025.


Ghorayshi, Azeen and Austin Mitchell. The Protocol [podcast series]. New York Times, June 2, 2025.


Horan, Daniel. What some call 'DEI,' the New Testament calls the kingdom of God. National Catholic Reporter, June 12, 2025.


Kuzma, Max and Emma Cieslik, hosts. Whiplash [podcast series]. YouTube, 2025.


Lang, Nico. American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era. Harry N. Abrams, 2024.


Lopes, Guilherme. What the Sacred Heart teaches a campus minister about pride month. Outreach, June 10, 2025.


Louallen, Doc. Older LGBTQ+ adults share their stories of coming out after 50. ABC News, June 6, 2025.


Maddux, Stu, director. Gen Silent [documentary]. Interrobang Productions, 2011.


Martin, James. LGBTQ stories are important, writes Father James Martin in wake of Supreme Court ruling. Outreach, June 27, 2025.


Mental Health America. Where to Start: A Survival Guide to Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mental Health Challenges. Rocky Pond Books, 2023.


Morris, Larry. Inclusivity with LGBTQ+ Youth [short video]. Springtide Research Institute, March 10, 2025.


Pew Research Center. Religious Landscape Study 2023-2024. Pew Research Center, 2025.


Rastogi, A., Menard, L., Miller, G. H., Cole, W., Laurison, D., Caballero, J. R., Murano-Kinney, S., & Heng-Lehtinen, R. Health and wellbeing: A report of the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey. Advocates for Transgender Equality, June 2025.


Scholl, Jim. How a gay Catholic nonprofit professional found the courage to come out. Outreach, June 4, 2025.


Simon, Luke. The Gen Z Worship War. Christianity Today, May 29, 2025.


Smeltekop, H. & Catalano, D. J. A liberatory approach to allyship: LGBTQ+ Ally Training at a Catholic university. Journal of Catholic Education, Vol 28, No. 1, 2025.


Tueme, Nabil. Evaluating the Soundness of Research. Springtide Research Institute, May 20, 2025.

Ongoing Bibliography
Updated with each Newsletter

Replays & Reminders Replays & Reminders

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  • The Family Acceptance Project (FAP) is launching a new online family support program to help families that are struggling to support their LGBTQ teens. More than 20 years ago, FAP initiated the first research and developed the first family support model to decrease family rejection and health risks and to increase family support and well-being for LGBTQ children and youth. FAP’s work supports families from racially, culturally and religiously diverse backgrounds. FAP’s new online program is available free of charge for both LGBTQ youth of color, ages 14-20, and their parents and caregivers. LGBTQ youth and caregivers from across the U.S. are invited to apply and youth and caregivers will receive up to $260 to participate. Help us let LGBTQ youth and their families know about this program! Family support is needed now more than ever and family support can save lives. For information about the Family Acceptance Project and our training and family support services, contact Dr. Caitlin Ryan at caitlincryan@gmail.com. To apply for this program, email us at familyacceptanceproject@umich.edu or text (734) 203-0584.
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  • Fortunate Families and the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative are launching Trans Mutual Aid, a monthly faith-based Zoom drop-in group for trans adults starting Wednesday, May 28th, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time and continuing on the 4th Wednesday of every month. The purpose of the group is to pray for one another, share how each person is being affected by church policies as well as by the significant changes in local, state, and federal laws/executive orders over the past few months, and organize to support each other and the wider trans community. Registration is available here.
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  • Fortunate Families and the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative are also starting a support group for parents of transgender individuals. The group is titled Seeds of Hope and will be a safe and confidential listening space offering assistance for parents who wish to love and support their children. The group will meet on the 4th Sunday of each month starting on June 22, 2025 at 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Registration is available here.
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  • New Ways Ministry is sponsoring a retreat for EVERYBODY—LGBTQ+ people, family, friends, and pastoral ministers, and all interested people. Entitled "The Path of Desire: Adventures in Spirituality," the retreat will be held Friday to Sunday, September 5-7, 2025, at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, Connecticut. The retreat will be facilitated by Lisa Fullam, D.V.M., Th.D., professor emerita of moral theology at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. This retreat will explore spiritualities of desire—spiritualities that seek God in the longings of our hearts and the yearnings of our imaginations. The weekend will combine talks, small group discussions, silent meditation, communal prayer, and socializing. More information and registration are available here.
  • The annual Interfaith Weekend Retreat for LGBTQ+ Persons, Allies, and Family Members will be held on the weekend of November 7-9, 2025 at the Feliciana Retreat and Conference Center in Norwood, Louisiana. More information will be forthcoming. If you have any questions, then please contract Brad Leger at brad@balconsulting.org.

Network Resources Network Resources

School Guide
Last updated June 15, 2025
School Case Studies
Last updated November 12, 2024
Family Guide
Last updated June 5, 2025
Prayer Guide
Last updated December 16, 2024
Without Exception Synod Report
Submitted February 21, 2022
Catalog of Sexuality and Gender Identity Policies
Last updated May 27, 2025

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Privacy & Confidentiality Privacy & Confidentiality

Without Exception is a no-cost ministry network for people in Catholic secondary education and related fields of ministry. The goal is to offer helpful networking and resources to accompany our LGBTQ+ students and colleagues with the love of Jesus Christ and his church. Please respect privacy and confidentiality concerning the persons and schools connected to our network. The strength of this work is sustained by the trust among members.

Mission Statement Mission Statement

Without Exception is a global network of Catholic secondary educators dedicated to discerning the art of accompaniment for LGBTQ+ students in Catholic schools. Through a commitment to faithful dialogue and peer collaboration, we seek to understand what it means to share the love of Jesus Christ with every person, without exception.


Email: info@withoutexception.net

Website: www.withoutexception.net

Without Exception
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