Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International
Creating understanding and acceptance for LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual. transgender, intersex) people, empowering community members and build bridges with religious organisations and leaders. This will be achieved by providing education, consultancy, resources and utilising social and media networks.
Background
Anthony Venn-Brown’s journey to find resolution of his Christian faith and homosexuality spanned 28 years and included ‘ex-gay’ programs, marriage, children and being a high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches. When his autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning' was released in 2004, he became the first contact point for thousands of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people from religious backgrounds. He often says ‘It was like my inbox became a microscope into a hidden world as many isolated and alienated people reached out to someone they could relate to; many for the first time’.
Anthony Venn-Brown’s journey to find resolution of his Christian faith and homosexuality spanned 28 years and included ‘ex-gay’ programs, marriage, children and being a high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches. When his autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning' was released in 2004, he became the first contact point for thousands of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people from religious backgrounds. He often says ‘It was like my inbox became a microscope into a hidden world as many isolated and alienated people reached out to someone they could relate to; many for the first time’.
Common themes emerged from the emails Anthony received and revealed the enormous suffering caused by misinformation and ignorance about sexuality and gender identity. What also became abundantly clear was that, LGBTI people of faith and religion, not only experience the normal issues of resolving their sexuality, coming out and finding their place in the community, they often experience these things with greater intensity and have additional issues to deal with. Because of the intense cognitive dissonance caused by their faith/sexuality conflict, they are one of the highest risks groups of suicidality, mental health issues and other areas of harm.
Moved by the many heart wrenching stories and great needs, a passion was ignited in Anthony to create change. In 2005 he co-founded Freedom 2 b[e]; a support network for LGBTI people from Christian backgrounds. Over the last 6 years, under Anthony’s voluntary leadership, Freedom 2 b[e] has become Australia’s leading organisation for LGBTI people from religious backgrounds. There are now chapter meetings and youth groups around Australia, an online community with over 4,000 visits per month and 30 volunteers and leaders.
Anthony has also become a respected community leader and was twice voted one of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians (2007 & 2009) and was a finalists for ACON’s 2011 Community Hero Award. In June 2011 Anthony resigned as leader of Freedom 2 b[e] enabling him to use his experience and expertise to broaden his work of creating a better world for LGBTI people of faith. Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI) was launched in November 2011.
Ambassadors & Bridge Builders
International's mission is to create understanding and
acceptance for LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual. transgender, intersex) people, empower community members and build bridges with religious
organisations and leaders.
Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International - three areas of activity
1. Distribution of information
a) Bring together Anthony’s 7 current blogs under a central website
c) Articles and newsletters
d) Speaking engagements & lecturing
e) Encourage and promote academic research about LGBTI people from religious backgrounds
f) De-construct the myth, that homosexuality is dysfunctional and change is possible, currently being promoted by 'ex-gay' organisations such as Exodus
2. Education & dialogue
a) Deliver seminars and workshops focusing on the specific needs of LGBTI people from religious backgrounds for service providers and LGBTI community workers,
b) Public speaking engagements for dinners, conferences and clubs
c) Develop resources for gay and lesbian people in heterosexual marriages as well as LGBTI people from faith backgrounds
d) Provide consultancy services for church and denominational leaders and individual churches desiring to become welcoming and affirming churches
e) Pro-actively engage church leaders and denominations in dialogues
f) Create resources (Ebooks and MP3's)
g) Bridge building projects with churches & the LGBTI community
3. Media & networking
a) Monitor topical and relevant gay, mainstream and religious news for comment
b) Press releases and actively develop media contacts
c) Promote positive changes as they occur
d) Be a connector/maven (The Tipping Point)
e) Develop a supportive network of church leaders questioning traditionally held beliefs on homosexuality
f) Develop connections in Asia, Oceania and Africa
