The University of Toledo will be hosting a lecture by Rev. Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle tonight entitled “Born This Way: Why a Growing Number of Faith Communities are Welcoming LGBTQ Persons.”

Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle is an Associate Professor of Practical Theology, and has held the office of Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry since 1994 at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.  He is the first openly gay member of the Brite Divinity School Faculty, and the first gay scholar to be tenured in the school’s 97-year history.  He is deeply involved in the Religion and Faith Program of the Human Rights Campaign, Washington, D.C.  Dr. Sprinkle is the author of several articles and books; his most recent book entitled Unfinished Lives: Reviving the Memories of LGBTQ Hate Crimes Victims is a major research project chronicling LGBTQ hate crimes murder victims in the United States.  His widely viewed YouTube video for Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better Project” was transcribed for the New York Timesbestselling book, It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living.  Dr. Sprinkle and his partner Rob Rodriguez live in Dallas, Texas.

The lecture will take place on Monday, Oct. 24th at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Toledo in Room 2582 in the student union.  For more information, please contact Equality Toledo.  During the event donations will be collected for the AIDS Resource Center Compassion Fund.

The event is sponsored by:  HRC; Equality Toledo; Toledo Pride Foundation; UT’s Spectrum; Monroe Street United Methodist Church; Sylvania United Church of Christ; The Village Church; University United Methodist Church; Larry Clark; Gallon, Takacs, Boissoneault & Schaffer; and the Law Offices of Kurt M. Young.