The PG's Clarke Thomas wrote a beautiful piece about increasing tolerance of LGBTQ families within the holiday season. 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men... -- Luke 2:14

Yes, but unfortunately, for many religious people that biblical highlight doesn't extend to an important segment of our fellow human beings -- gays and lesbians. Or their families. Unless, of course, they are willing to deny or to "convert" from their God-given sexual being.

Thomas describes in lovely detail the various manifestations of LGBTQ friendly faith communities, some exclusively gay and others part of mainstream communities.  He also identifies one critical new reason for this outreach -- the increasing number of LGBTQ families with children.

I refer to a U.S. Census statistic that, as of 2000, 34 percent of lesbian couples and 22 percent of gay male couples are raising at least one child under 18 in their home, a significant increase over the 1990 census. Add in gay/straight couples who remain married for the sake of their children, and the figure looms even larger.

One need only take a short stroll through PrideFest to note that changing demographic. There are twice as many strollers as scantily clad sunworshippers. 

The growing gay family phenomenon should prompt churches and church people in this season of goodwill compassionately to re-examine their attitudes toward the GLBT population. For maybe God's hand is at work here -- in the vein of another revered verse in Scripture:

God setteth the solitary in families. -- Psalm 68:6