Rev. Leanne McCall Tigert | Profile

The Rev. Dr. Leanne McCall Tigert is a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, licensed pastoral psychotherapist, adjunct faculty in pastoral care and counseling at Andover Newton Theological School, writer and activist.

Leanne was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1957 and was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1984. She has been an "out" and outspoken activist in word and pen for more than twenty years. She has provided expert testimony at legislative hearings, brought the voice of religious affirmation to secular work for LGBT justice and has been involved with organizations such as the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns and the Religious Coalition of Freedom to Marry throughout the years. 

Tigert is the author of four books--Coming Out Young and Faithful, Coming Out Through Fire: Surviving the Trauma of Homophobia, Coming Out While Staying In, and Transgendering Faith: Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality--as well as numerous articles. Her writing has twice been nominated for Lambda Literary Awards and once has received the Mayflower Award for Social Justice from the Pilgrim Press.

Leanne has been engaged in pioneering work in pastoral counseling to empower individuals and families healing from internalized homophobia and religious shame. She leads trainings for several professional organizations (AAMFT, NASW, etc.) on affirmative psychotherapy with LGBT persons.

(This biographical statement provided by Leanne Tigert.)

Biography Date: February, 2005