Navigating Identity, Family, and Belonging: A Secular Perspective on Reconciliation with Evangelical Loved Ones

Maintaining relationships with evangelical Christian family members as an LGBTQ+ person can be one of the most emotionally complex challenges we face. These are not just intellectual disagreements—they cut to the core of who we are and who our families believe us to be. As someone raised in a largely secular household, with a mother …

Navigating Family Relationships and Faith: Strategies and Case Studies

This report explores the emotional, spiritual, and practical journey of maintaining relationships with evangelical Christian family members as an LGBTQ+ person. Drawing from mental health research, pastoral case studies, and real-life reconciliation stories, it offers strategies for navigating complex conversations, setting healthy boundaries, and honoring both personal identity and family heritage. Through the lens of Pastor Vera Maksimova’s transnational ministry and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ Christians like Justin Lee and Matthew Vines, this work invites readers to consider how empathy, resilience, and faith can bridge even the most difficult divides.

Vote Charter Yes!

In the General Election of November 2014, citizens were asked to vote on a new form of government for Clark County. After reviewing both sides of the debate—CharterYes.com (supporting the charter) and VoteNoCharter.com (opposing it)—I realized how significant this vote was for our local community. Wanting to be proactive, I translated key information from CharterYes.com …

Putin, Russia, and Power: A Review of the BBC’s Four-Part Series

The BBC documentary "Putin, Russia, and the West" examines Russia's evolution after the Soviet Union through Vladimir Putin's leadership. It combines insights from diplomats and political leaders rather than Putin's perspective, revealing themes of power consolidation and global implications. The series prompts reflection on Russia’s democratic prospects amid Putin's rule.

Модный Приговор

Шоу «Модный Приговор» на Первом канале России, хотя и создаёт образ, на самом деле ограничивает самовыражение участников, навязывая единые стандарты красоты и усиливая гендерные стереотипы. Рекомендации часто воспринимаются как уничижительные. Предложенные изменения включают разнообразие участников, практичность образов и развитие индивидуального стиля, что улучшит шоу.

My Bilingual Experience

Just for fun. As we communicate, we utilize a common language to practice in a conversation every day. We read, speak, write - we communicate. But what happens when you are taken out of your everyday usual communication practice and submerge into a foreign language. Well, I have been experiencing this since I 1994, when …

From Baikonur to Vancouver: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Human Spaceflight

On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin became the first human to journey into space. The rocket carrying the Vostok 1 spacecraft, with Gagarin aboard, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 6:07 AM local time. Over the course of 108 minutes, Vostok 1 completed an orbit around Earth, marking humanity’s first step into the …