LOVEboldly Newsletter - August 2025
- Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
From the Executive Director
Dear Friends and Family,
I say it every year, during June we're going everywhere for Pride Month, but in July everyone disappears. This was just as true this July as any other. But even with the LGBTQIA+ community's slow down in July, LOVEboldly kept working. I spent the first week of July in Atlanta at the 2025 Holy Convocation of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) and had the opportunity to talk about LOVEboldly with many folks who were immediately interested in our work.
TFAM was celebrating our 25th anniversary which got me thinking: “Where's LOVEboldly in our history?” Friends, next year we will celebrate our 15th anniversary! No concrete plans just yet, but stay tuned because we are going to party! Remember, Queer joy is resistance and liberation theology is also party theology for anyone who has ever been marginalized!
During July, God also brought a new “super-volunteer” to us ready to help with marketing and reviving our on-the-ground presence in Cincinnati which in turn inspired us to think about growing our on-the-ground presence in Cleveland too. You can learn more about those efforts, which are still in the planning stages, below.
That's exciting, right? Amen!?!1
With the 15th anniversary in mind and thinking about expansion efforts, I have a challenge for you: I want 15 people to step up during August and contribute at least $75 each (you can definitely give more) as a jump start to our 15th year and the work LOVEboldly is doing in the world. Remember, we're Queer (and allied), we're here, and we love God and Jesus continues to invite us just as they have from the beginning!
As always, thank you for all you do for LOVEboldly!
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp +
An Exciting Development - Expanding Our Influence in Cincinnati and Cleveland
Recently, Ron Roark reached out to Ben and offered to help rebuild our on-the-ground presence in Cincinnati. LOVEboldly already sponsors a parents and families group (learn more about them here) in Cincinnati, but we haven't been able to offer other programs and in-person events in that area for a number of years.
That's about to change! We are busy working to recruit new partners and re-engage with past partners and old friends. Are you in Cincinnati or the tri-state area? We'd love to hear from you and make sure you get invited to any Cincinnati-specifc programs we develop! Please reach out to Ron Roark at ron@ronroark.com to learn more (you can also click here to learn more about Ron).
A similar program will be launching soon in the Cleveland area. Are you in Greater Cleveland and want to help us there? Email Ben at bhuelskamp@loveboldly.net.
"Queering the Message: Mitigating Political Violence Through Intentional and Strategic Communications" - September 11, 2025
Co-sponsored by LOVEboldly, Stonewall Columbus, and Over Zero, this training centers LGBTQIA+ leaders and allies working in the LGBTQIA+ space for time to learn how we can structure our communications to mitigate and prevent violence while defending our community.
The workshop will cover:
Narratives that are used to justify political and identity-based violence, and how to counteract them
How LGBTQ+ scapegoating operates and is connected to democratic backsliding, and what we can learn from counter-efforts worldwide
Messaging guidance for preventing and responding to attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, including how to inoculate against scapegoating
In addition to learning together, we will take time to collaboratively strategize around and practice crafting relevant communications that embody best practices.
Attendance is free and breakfast and lunch will be provided, but advance registration is required. Please register at https://www.loveboldly.net/queering-the-message.
Have questions? Feel free to contact Ben at bhuelskamp@loveboldly.net.
YouTube - Check Out Our Channel and Subscribe
Did you that LOVEboldly has a YouTube channel? We've been sharing content from “Coming Out Christian” and recordings of Monday Moments. We also still have some older content that's still relevant. Right now we only have 68 subscribers, could you help us increase that number?
Donor Advised Funds
Starting this month we're going to be highlighting different ways that YOU can contribute to LOVEboldly and other nonprofits.
Disclaimer - The information provided here is not financial, legal, or investment advice. Please consult a financial, investment, tax, and or legal professional in your locality for specific advice and requirements.
What are Donor Advised Funds (DAF)?
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is an investment account that is used for charitable giving. It allows individuals, families, or organizations to make charitable contributions and recommend grants to their preferred charities over time. These contributions are administered by a third party, called the sponsoring organization, such as a financial institution or community foundation.
Donor-Advised Funds combine the ease of a charitable savings account with the flexibility of strategic giving. They are considered the fastest-growing charitable giving tools in the U.S., offering donors a convenient, cost-effective way to manage donations while optimizing tax advantages.
What benefits do they provide for the donor?
Simple to establish: Setting up a Donor-Advised Fund is straightforward and often requires minimal paperwork.
Flexible funding options: Donors can contribute cash, stocks, or other assets.
Tax advantage: Some tax benefits of Donor-Advised Funds include tax-deductible contributions and tax-free investment growth within the Donor-Advised Fund.*
No minimum distribution requirements: Unlike private foundations, Donor-Advised Funds do not mandate annual payouts.
Allows for anonymous granting: Donors can choose to remain anonymous when recommending a grant.
Investment options: You can recommend an investment strategy for the assets in your Donor-Advised Fund, potentially increasing the funds available for future grants.
Do you have a Donor Advised Fund?
If you have already set up a DAF you can recommend contributions to LOVEboldly! Your advisor or sponsoring organization can find out more about LOVEboldly at www.loveboldly.net. You can also give them our EIN which is 81-1869501. If you or they have any questions, you can contact our executive director, the Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp, at bhuelskamp@loveboldly.net.
“Coming Out Christian” - A LOVEboldly Podcast
LOVEboldly's podcast, “Coming Out Christian,” has published all 13 episodes for our first season! Check out the podcast at www.loveboldly.net/comingoutchristian or wherever you get your podcasts.
Season Two is set to premiere on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
Are you an LGBTQIA+ person with a background (current or former) in Christianity? Would you be willing to share your experience? Let us know! Send Ben an email at bhuelskamp@loveboldly.net.
LOVEboldly Out, About, and In-Print
Note - Every year after the hectic schedules of Pride Month, a large portion of the LGBTQIA+ community and Queer people in general go into a general hibernation during July and sometimes even August. July 2025 was no exception.
Out and About
Ben attended the 2025 Holy Convocation of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) from July 2 to July 6 in Atlanta, GA. He had plenty of opportunities to talk about LOVEboldly and the work we're doing in Ohio and beyond.
In-Print
Ben was quoted in “Despite decision by ballot board, activists push ahead with equal rights amendment” written by Gabriel Scotto for The Athens Messenger on July 24, 2025.
Ben published “An invitation to speak prophetically but not endorse candidates” in Baptist News Global on July 16, 2025.
GreatNonprofits
If you love our work then tell the world! You have an opportunity to help us make an even bigger difference in our community. GreatNonprofits is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2025 Top-Rated List.
Won’t you help us boost visibility for our work by posting a brief personal story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes! Go to https://greatnonprofits.org/org/loveboldly-inc to get started!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this whole message. We appreciate your support, prayers, and dedication to LOVEboldly's mission to create spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can flourish in Christianity.
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