Nicholas Snow welcomes Sean Rayshel, an openly-gay, third generation American Baha'i who for the past fifteen years has been an advocate for LGBT inclusiveness in the Baha'i Faith. Says the Baha'i official website, "the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith inspire individuals and communities as they work to improve their own lives and contribute to the advancement of civilization." Yet, in a widely circulated letter from the faith's Department of the Secretariat the faith reinforces,"Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and sexual relations are only permissible between husband and wife." Because of his same-sex marriage (since 2008 to Rich Tarpening), Sean faces the loss of his Administrative Rights and/or expulsion from the Baha'i Faith.
Sean founded the only LGBT Baha'i Twitter account Gay Baha'is United which currently has 1,500 followers, as well as being a co-administrator of the Facebook group "LGBTQ Baha'is and Allies". Recently Sean has taken over the helm of the longest standing LGBT Baha'i online site Gay/Lesbian Baha'i Story Project.
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