LGBTQ+ History Month, Oct. 2021
Exploring the intersections of Faith – Spirituality – Sexuality – Gender Identity @ VU
josefine’s reflection-
Josefine Parker (she/her || they/their) is a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) candidate at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Chaplain at the K.C. Potter Center (drop in hours Mon. 10a-2p). She is studying to be a gender-affirming surgery chaplain, drawing upon her experience caregiving for trans people and ritually celebrating their gender transitions. More of her work is available via wildtransition.com.
In this video, Josefine responds to the question, “What advice might you give someone who is struggling to simultaneously honor their sexual identity or gender identity & religious identity, but having a hard time?”
Her response: “I really want to encourage people to turn to your ancestry to really understand where you come from, to draw upon strength, and to know where you’re heading.”
~ Watch Josefine’s VIDEO reflection ~
sir cole’s reflection-
Sir Cole is a third-year student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. He believes that: “trying to reconcile any religious upbringing with your sexual identity or gender identity is possible, but it just takes a lot of unlearning. Unfortunately for the world that we live in, this world was not made for us to do the unlearning that we need to do. It was not made for us to ask those hard questions…. I’ve had to ask myself exactly what do I believe in? Do I believe in the things that my parents and family taught me, or do I believe something different? I’ve also asked questions such as, do these rituals and these beliefs actually serve a purpose in my life today? And are they going to serve a purpose in my life tomorrow and in the years to come?”
~ Watch Sir Cole’s VIDEO reflection ~
linzie’s reflection-
Linzie Treadway, Ph.D is a director in the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Linzie has a doctoral degree in Religious Studies and is involved with a number of programs within the Office of LGBTQI Life, including supervising Divinity interns, as well as chairing an employee affinity group for faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars in the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.
~Read Linzie’s Reflection~
“I grew up in a quite religiously conservative environment, and while I am fortunate to have a remarkably supportive family, I know so many in my community who would consider themselves victims of religious trauma. The very institutions and communities that are ideally founded on love and support have either excluded, or worse, done violence to far too many LGBTQIA+ folks. Many of us have had to wrestle and reconcile our sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and, not finding the love and support they deserve, many have felt they needed to walk away from religion altogether. But my tradition tells me that humanity is created in the image of the Divine, and that all of creation is good and right and intentionally made. And as children of the Divine, we are living embodiments of that goodness. My queerness is part of my whole, beautiful self, and it is inextricably connected to the Divine in me. It’s not an accident, or something that I need to shed in order to draw closer to God. It is a gift, and I believe that living into our genuineness and authenticity all that we can is the best way to honor that Divine gift.”
Madelynn’s reflection-
Madelynn is a senior majoring in Mathematics and Secondary Education. For Madelynn, faith and sexuality have always been deeply connected. Being queer makes her a better Christian, and being Christian deeply influences her queer identity.
~ Watch Madelynn’s VIDEO reflection ~
