A bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America came out as gay during the denomination's recent youth conference in Detroit say, " "I hope it will promote more open and honest conversation about who we are and whose we are."

Bishop Kevin Kanouse, head of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana area of the ELCA, released a letter to church leaders explaining his announcement, saying he hoped his revelation would inspire hope in young people who may be struggling with their sexuality or with "other issues of self-esteem, rejection, and self-loathing."

"There was a time when I believed that I would not be able to serve as a pastor in the ELCA," Erwin told GLAAD at the time. "Our church has now recognized the God-given gifts and abilities that LGBT people can bring to the denomination." To read the full article, Click Here.