Ohio faith leaders discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion this Pride month

How some local religious groups welcome LGBTQ+ members June is Pride Month, an annual celebration honoring LGBTQ+ people, their history and an ongoing movement toward equality. Most celebrations are secular in nature - but there are some religious organizations in Northeast Ohio hosting Pride events this year. For many, religion is a source of belonging and spiritual guidance. But for others, experiences with faith communities have led to rejection, exclusion or religious trauma. Studies from Pew Research Center shows that 80% of LGBTQ adults in the U.S. believe in spirituality and nearly half identify with a religion. Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're bringing together faith leaders to discuss how their congregations engage with LGBTQ people, how they interpret their faith traditions' teachings on sexuality and identity, and what that relationship looks like not just in June, but throughout the year. Guests: - Rev. Dr. George Graham, Pastor, Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ - Shoshana Nyer, Rabbi, Suburban Temple Kol Ami - Fr. Damian Ference, Vicar for Evangelization, The Cathedral Saint John the Evangelist - Rev. Derek Terry, Executive Director, Open and Affirming Coalition and Part-time Pastor, St. Peter's United Church of Christ "Easy Day Away": Chautauqua and Jamestown in New York As the summer gets underway, you might be feeling the urge to travel. But the cost of getting away has gotten more expensive lately, as the U.S. war on Iran continues to squeeze access to oil, driving up the cost of both airfare and gas to fill up our cars. As a result of increasing prices, a survey from US News and World Report released in April showed that 65% of Americans have changed their summer travel plans. For those of you who are being budget-conscious but are still feeling that wanderlust, we're launching a new summer series on Thursday's edition of the "Sound of Ideas" called "Easy Day Away." We'll bring you ideas for simple trips you can take that are within a short drive of Northeast Ohio, and don't require an overnight stay. For our first feature, we're highlighting Jamestown and Chautauqua in New York's Chautauqua County. These two cities are on either side of Chautauqua Lake, both about a two hours' drive east of Cleveland. Jamestown is home to both the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and the National Comedy Center, and Chautauqua is known for its Chautauqua Institution, a historic, 750-acre lakeside educational and cultural center. Guests: - Journey Gunderson, Executive Director, National Comedy Center - Gary Hahn, Board Member and Secretary, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau - Deborah Sunya Moore, Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer, Chautauqua Institution