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Welcome to my new website!

I'm Martha E. Bellinger, author of From Robe To Robe.

Many may find it difficult to understand how a woman could call herself both a lesbian and a Christian. In From Robe to Robe, author Martha E. Bellinger provides the unique perspective of a lesbian woman who served in the ordained ministry and then transitioned into the legal profession, eventually proceeding all the way to the bench. In this memoir, she traces her life journey toward acceptance and openness about her own lesbianism.

During her seminary years, Bellinger recognized her sexual orientation was lesbian, meeting her first partner at Princeton. Remaining in the closet, yet facing discrimination as the first female pastor in her district, she changed directions in life; she traveled to California with her partner and attended Whittier College School of Law.

From Robe to Robe narrates the journey of Bellinger's early years in the legal profession, as she went through the process of coming out as a lesbian. Describing her fights with blatant discrimination in the church and more subtle discrimination in the legal profession, Bellinger communicates how these obstacles strengthened her spirituality.

On July 31, 2011, the Honorable Martha E. Bellinger retired, after serving over 20 years on the bench. She still remains active in her profession as a Mediator, for the Inland Valley Arbitration and Mediation Services.

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Please check out my December 12th interview with Mari Frank on KUCI radio.