Williamson has helped gay men who she said "were told that they weren't loved by their family and friends, employers, politicians, hospitals." [126] She has officiated at funerals, driven men to their doctors, and paid for patients' AIDS medication. [36] [85] Although initially uninterested due to her Jewish faith, Williamson developed an interest in Helen Schucman's book A Course in Miracles in 1976. [9] [16] [17] She explored spirituality, metaphysics, and meditation as she began reading the Course "passionately". [14] She also reconciled the Course with her Jewishness; in her view, "A conversion to Christ is not a conversion to Christianity. It is a conversion to a conviction of the heart". [15] Woodruff, Judy (June 6, 2019). Why Marianne Williamson thinks she can defeat Trump. PBS NewsHour (Video). Event occurs at 3:30. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube. Lavin, Cheryl (March 6, 1992). "Writer is Sold on Miracles as New Age Book Turns Into Pot of Gold". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019 . Retrieved August 1, 2019. a b Leiby, Richard (May 11, 2014). "Marianne Williamson, Hollywood self-help guru, wants to heal Washington". Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019 . Retrieved February 13, 2019.

Paul Steinhauser; Andrea Vacchiano (February 17, 2023). "Biden draws first Democratic challenger for 2024 as Marianne Williamson confirms plans to launch bid". Fox News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023 . Retrieved May 15, 2023. Russo, Amy (July 3, 2019). "Marianne Williamson Rips Vogue For Leaving Her Out Of 2020 Candidate Photo Shoot". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019 . Retrieved August 16, 2019.a b c Stevens, Ashlie (June 28, 2019). " "Marianne Williamson for Secretary of Crystals": The bonkers break-out character of NBC's debates". Salon.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019 . Retrieved August 16, 2019.

a b c "Interview with Marianne Williamson". Interviews with Max Raskin. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022 . Retrieved October 12, 2022. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Williamson was accused of telling gay men not to take medication for AIDS, of implying that they were "not positive enough" to counter the disease, of telling them that they "deserved" the disease, and of telling them to "pray the AIDS away." [85] She has repeatedly denied these accusations. [85] [89] Most of the accusations appeared to stem from excerpts or paraphrases of her 1992 book A Return to Love. [127] [128] The Peace Alliance editWilliamson was born in Houston, Texas in 1952. She is the youngest of three children of Samuel "Sam" Williamson, a World War II veteran and immigration lawyer, and Sophie Ann Kaplan, a homemaker and community volunteer. [6] [7] California Primary Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023 . Retrieved February 7, 2023. Williamson has been referred to as a " New Age guru". [106] The label has been associated with her for years, but she has long rejected such terms, calling them "outrageous". [24] [47] [8] She has stated that she prefers to be called an author. [47] [106] [107] Stewart, Briana (May 9, 2019). "Marianne Williamson's campaign says she's qualified for the first 2020 Democratic debate". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019 . Retrieved May 9, 2019. Kaji, Mina (February 20, 2019). "Marianne Williamson: Oprah confidant, author, spiritual teacher and presidential candidate". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2020 . Retrieved March 1, 2019.

Lampen, Claire (July 5, 2019). "Marianne Williamson Edited Herself Into That Vogue Photo". The Cut. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019 . Retrieved August 18, 2019. Capeloto, Alexa (November 4, 2002). "Unrest lurks as Unity church faces changes". Detroit Free Press. In 2014, Williamson ran as an Independent for California's 33rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. [41] The Issues: Climate Change". Marianne 2020. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019 . Retrieved August 16, 2019.a b c d e Debra Nussbaum Cohen (November 28, 2018). "New Age guru Marianne Williamson talks about her Jewishness and 2020 presidential run". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019 . Retrieved June 28, 2019. The Issues: Racial Reconciliation & Healing". Marianne 2020. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019 . Retrieved August 16, 2019.