At the preconference Women's Retreat on July 20, Candace Chellew-Hodge spoke about founding Whosoever.org because "there were simply no good Christian magazines to read that didn't bash gays at some point."

On the opening night of the combined ConnECtion conference July 21, keynoter Roberta Showalter Kreider, spoke about her “Personal Encounter with Truth.” One attendee described Roberta and her husband at the conference “like having your grandparents present, adding a nice warm and fuzzy nurturing element plus a fabulous message!”

Justin Lee’s keynote address on Friday, titled “GLBT Christian Ministry: The Next Generation,” showcased his wonderful sense of humor while giving everyone spiritual encouragement.

On Saturday, Dr. Ralph Blair’s message added a question mark to the ConnECtion 2005 theme in his keynote title, “Just As I Am?” challenging us to be more Christ-centered.

Other highlights of ConnECtion 2005 included the West Coast premier of the documentary film "Fish Can’t Fly” hosted by director Tom Murray.

Saturday evening's event featured Peterson Toscano’s hilarious and controversial one-man show, “Doin Time in the Homo-No-Mo Halfway House,” a look behind the doors of America’s zaniest ex-gay residential program.

This year, we had a large variety of specialized small groups (we call them family groups), some made up of parents, first-time attendees, ex-gay focus groups, and small groups just for men and women (as well as mixed).

Several hit the beach for a late-afternoon get together, which ran into the evening, with bonfire and hymn-singing.

The conference ended with Communion on Sunday - an emotional time and a blessing to all who worshiped together as GLBT Christians with parents and friends.

One attendee summed up the ConnECtion 2005 experience: “I saw God doing miracles on everyone I met.”

Listen to keynoters and workshops

Dr. Ralph Blair is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York City.  He founded The Homosexual Community Counseling Center in New York City and is founder and president of Evangelicals Concerned, Inc.

Since 1980, Dr. Blair has organized and sponsored ConnECtion conferences which have been life changing experiences for hundreds of gay men, lesbians, and friends who are responding with trust to God's love and who seek to live thankfully and faithfully under God's grace and peace.

Justin Lee is the Executive Director of GayChristian.Net.  

Many Christians don't accept gay people, and many gays want nothing to do with the church.  Justin says, "When I came out, I wanted to find a place where I could fellowship with other serious, committed Christians who would accept me for who I am.  That's why I founded GCN, a place where we can be Christians first and foremost, and where our sexual identity is secondary."

Today, GCN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the spiritual lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Christians of every denomination.  Our site includes an internet radio show, a message board, and numerous articles and resources.  

Roberta Showalter Kreider, the wife of a retired Mennonite minister in eastern Pennsylvania, came to grips with the issues of homosexuality when her younger brother was dying of AIDS.  He had never disclosed his homosexuality to the family. 

Roberta had only a short time to be with her brother before he passed away, but she reassured him of her love and acceptance.  After that, Roberta did her own investigation of the matter and has since written 3 books in support of Christian gay people and their families.  She's a wonderfully perky and loving Christian and she'll be 79 years old by the time of ConnECtion 2005. 

Candace Chellew-Hodge is the last of five kids of a Southern Baptist minister, and is herself ordained through Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta, Georgia. She has worked in journalism and public relations for nearly 20 years.

She founded Whosoever.org because "there were simply no good Christian magazines to read that didn't bash gays at some point." She and her partner, Wanda, live in a rurual area of South Carolina with way too many cats and dogs.

Peterson Toscano performs "Doin’ Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House: How I Survived the Ex-Gay Movement"

See for yourself what happens behind the doors of America’s zaniest ex-gay residential program. Peterson Toscano presents his one-man comedy, "Doin’ Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House--How I Survived the Ex-Gay Movement!"

Through five characters, Peterson takes you on a tour of the Homo No Mo Halfway House, a Christian residential 12-Step program that attempts to save men from the "evil snares of homosexuality" through bizarre rules, a masculine resuscitation regime and brain numbing reconditioning.

Read more information at homonomo.com.

Fish Can't Fly
Is religion something that only belongs to a few? In this timely documentary, FISH CAN’T FLY takes a secular point of view to explore the lives of Gay men and women of faith as they recall their journeys to put their sexuality and spirituality in harmony. While the whole concept of changing ones’ sexual orientation may be viewed with a high level of skepticism, ridicule and even humor by the larger GLBT community, these are the stories of those who have tried.

This is the first screening of the film on the west coast, just 10 days after its world premier at

NEWFEST, the New York GLBT film festival. Read more information at fishcantfly.com.