Blessed by Difference is Directed by:
Rev. Marian Dr. Edmonds-Allen is the director of Blessed by Difference and the executive director of Parity, an NYC-based national nonprofit that works at the intersection of faith and LGBT concerns.
Marian has worked with youth and families in various denominations and settings throughout the country for more than 20 years, focusing on strengths-based interventions and supports to affirm beliefs and faith practices for LGBT persons. In 2013, Marian was named Person of the Year by Q Salt Lake for her visionary leadership, and in 2015 was named a Petra Fellow for her work with LGBT homeless youth.
Previous positions include Executive Director of OUTreach Resource Centers, the National Program Director of the Family Acceptance Project, Executive Director of the Utah Pride Center, Justice Ministry Supervisor at Auburn Seminary.
Marian attended Western Theological Seminary and Eden Theological Seminary and has served in many pastoral capacities, including church planting, parish ministry, and chaplaincy. She is the author of Covenantal Pluralism and Mission: Evidence for Healing the LGBT and Faith Divide. Marian is married, has four children, and is a passionate skier and outdoor enthusiast.
Email Marian: marian@parity.nyc
Selected Articles
CAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM HEAL THE LGBT+ AND FAITH DIVIDE? PUBLIC SQUARE MAGAZINE AND REALCLEAR RELIGION BY MARIAN EDMONDS-ALLEN
LGBT RIGHTS ARE NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH RELIGIOUS LIBERTY UNLESS WE MAKE THEM SO WASHINGTON EXAMINER BY MARIAN EDMONDS ALLEN & DEREK MONSON
THE REV. MARIAN EDMONDS-ALLEN: FINDING YOUR PLACE IN AMERICA DESERET NEWS
Selected Video / Audio
Faith Leaders for Fairness: A Virtual Summit (Video)
Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen, Executive Director, Parity
Shirley Hoogstra, President, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Walter Kim, President, National Association of Evangelicals
Justin Giboney, Esq, President, AND Campaign, Inc.
Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit Panel – “Overcoming Polarization of Religious Liberty” (Video)
Prof. John Inazu, Washington University in St. Louis
Ms. Asma Uddin, Religious Liberty Attorney & Scholar
Mr. Justin Giboney, AND Campaign
Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen, Parity
“Inclusive Freedom: Protecting Religious Freedom and LGBTQ” (Video)
Presentation at Brigham Young University Law School with Derek Monson, Sutherland Institute and Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen, Parity
RADICAL CIVILITY PODCAST BY BENJAMIN PACINI (Video)
“Marian Edmonds-Allen and I discuss “covenantal pluralism” which can fix LGBTQ+ and faith divides. We review her history, and religion helping LGBTQ+ rights.”
CONDUCTING HOLY DIALOGUES - WITH WELTON GADDY (Audio)
“Key to creating a more just, inclusive and prosperous world is solidarity among people of different backgrounds and beliefs. And how does one create solidarity? Through constructive dialogue — which is what the Holy Dialogues series seeks to do among people with very different relationships to LGBTQI+ identity and religion.”
THE GIVING COMPANY PODCAST: BLESSED BY DIFFERENCE (Audio)
It’s the “curious and collaborative bridging” in which she helps the LGBTQ+ community find and build relationships with the faith community, based on common ground. “I’m seeing God at work in it,” she says. “Everyone’s a winner when people come together and share core to core.”
Blessed by Difference is a project of Parity,
a NYC-based nonprofit that works to
bridge the LGBTQ+ and faith divide.
Many people view faith and LGBTQ+ as incompatible… some are told you can’t be both spiritual AND LGBTQ+ or gender nonbinary.
We disagree! And not only do we disagree, we want to help.
Parity helps congregations and faith organizations, clergy, seminarians, denominations and seminaries.
Parity also helps families, parents, youth, adults and elders to navigate what it means to be (or love) an LGBTQ+ person, and to have faith and flourish, too!