The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood is a Baptist pastor, theologian and activist living and working in Texas. A graduate of Auburn University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Emory University's Candler School of Theology, University of Alabama and Creighton University, Hood has also earned a Doctorate of Ministry with a project focused in Queer Theology at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. In addition to his studies, Hood was ordained to the ministry at a church within the Southern Baptist Convention in 2006. Hood's book The Courage to Be Queer was named the third best religion book of 2016 at the Independent Publishers Book Awards. Additionally, Hood's work has appeared extensively in the media, including in the Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Los Angeles Times, WIRED magazine and on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, and other outlets. Hood has served in the governing leadership of multiple organizations, and presently serves on the board of Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. In 2013, Hood was awarded PFLAG Fort Worth's Equality Award for activism and service. In 2015, Hood was named Hope for Peace and Justice's Ambassador of Justice for his theological activism and as the Next Generation Action Network's Person of the Year for his work against police brutality. In addition to being the husband of Emily and the father of five, Hood also maintains a close friendship with multiple death row prisoners.