Author Description

Thomas Jay Oord has been handed charges and faces a trial for being fully LGBTQ+ affirming. This book offers the documents of his defense for that trial. It also features other documents, including his hearing defense. At the heart of Oord’s argument is his belief that love should compel everyone to accept and affirm fully queer people. This means embracing their LGBTQ+ identities, orientations, and healthy sexual behaviors. Oord believes that love acts intentionally, in relationship with God and others, to promote overall well-being. While love seeks the good of all, it is especially attuned to the well-being of the marginalized, rejected, and harmed. Every person who seeks to live a life of love – especially those in religions that claim to prioritize love – ought to embrace and include LGBTQ+ people fully. Churches that don’t fully affirm queer people are not loving as God calls them to love. The price of this book has been purposely kept low so that buying it will not be difficult. My Defense deserves a wide audience because it has the potential to change the conversation… for good!