Faith leader, social activist Yvette Flunder to give OUTSpoken lecture

Nationally known faith leader and social activist Rev. Yvette Flunder will explore race, sexuality, religion and politics in the lecture “Re-colonizing: Using the Fight for Gay Rights to Divide the Black Community” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, in Cone University Center, McKnight Hall.

Best known as the founder of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ, a thriving inner-city congregation in San Francisco, Flunder is the featured guest for the 2013 OUTSpoken Speaker Series at UNC Charlotte. This annual event was created to focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) issues, and it aims to positively influence the campus climate to make it a more accepting and affirming place for LGBTQ students, faculty, staff and community.

“Given Bishop Flunder’s strong ties to Charlotte and her national — even international — reputation as an engaging speaker and tireless advocate for the most vulnerable members of our society, she was a natural choice when we were looking for an OUTSpoken speaker who could help the community think about religion and sexuality in new ways,” said Kent Brintnall, associate professor of religious studies and UNC Charlotte faculty representative for OUTSpoken.

Flunder established the Ark of Refuge, a nonprofit that provides housing, direct services, education and training for those affected by HIV/AIDS in the Bay Area, throughout the United States and in three countries in Africa. The Ark operates several residential and direct-care facilities for people with HIV/AIDS, and it provides substance abuse intervention programs, transitional housing for homeless youth, mentor programs and a computer lab for community youth.

A native San Franciscan, Flunder began her career as a pastor for Oakland-based Love Center and as a singer with Walter Hawkins and the Family. More recently, she has authored “Where the Edge Gather: A Theology and Homiletic of Radical Inclusion,” and she was consecrated presiding bishop of the Fellowship, a multi-denominational fellowship of 110 primarily African-American Christian leaders and laity around the world.

A trustee and adjunct professor at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif., Flunder also serves as a board member of the National Sexuality Resource Center and works with the Religion Council of the Human Rights Campaign. She has recorded several gospel albums, including “There’s Power,” “We Won’t Be Silent Anymore” and “How Sweet the Sound,” which was recorded with Grammy-award winning ensemble Chanticleer. City of Refuge’s Transcendence Gospel Choir, composed solely of transgender members, and was the subject of the 2006 documentary “The Believers.”

Flunder’s lecture is free and open to the public; a reception and book signing will follow. Audience members will need to pay for parking. Information on parking is available at pats.charlotte.edu.

The Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund, the Alliance for Full Acceptance, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, the Multicultural Resource Center, the Counseling Center, the Department of Religious Studies, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and the TownePlace Suites Marriott are cosponsoring this seventh annual OUTSpoken speaker series.