2SLGBTQ+ Community, Blog, Prophetic Voices, Social Justice Issues

2SLGBTQ+ Folks & Faith in Canada

Summer 2023 student led project by Nicholas Damiano

Abstract

Queerphobia and 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination have been issues that have been present in religious communities for a long time leading to exclusion and hatred of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals from these communities that has runoff into other aspects of the world. It is important to understand how religious communities have contributed to difficulties faced by the queer community and how they can work towards creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for queer people today which is the goal of the present research. Using Dr. Jay Michaelson as a prophetic voice to guide analysis, this paper explores how using shared religious values and reinterpreting religious texts can promote inclusion within communities leading to positive change. Furthermore, the paper explores relevant religious teachings, values, and ethical principles that inform understanding and promote social justice within faith communities. This research highlights how faith-inspired activism can contribute to positive change and create a meaningful impact in promoting inclusivity of queer people as a means to inspire faith communities to embrace diversity, challenge discrimination, and work towards creating affirming spaces for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Introduction

Throughout history religious communities, particularly religious leaders in power, have fostered environments that exclude queer individuals. Furthermore, these leaders have promoted discrimination of queer individuals through hateful interpretations of religious texts and sharing of these hateful ideas with their religious communities. This exclusion has had an effect on the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of queer individuals through the religious institutions themselves and the values they promote that could lead to rejection by family members,1,2. As the world has changed and queer equity and rights have been brought to the forefront of public consciousness, there is a greater recognition that religious communities and leaders need to create spaces that are more welcoming to queer individuals and promote inclusion. This is important as religious institutions have an influence in shaping societal attitudes and by challenging these harmful ideals we can replace them with dialogue that accepts and supports queer individuals. There is also an understanding that work needs to be done to acknowledge past misdoings rather than remaining ignorant to the past, so trust can be built with 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This is more relevant today than ever due to the rise in hate crimes and hate speech against 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in both Canada and the world3. Additionally, just this year the York Catholic district school board voted against raising pride flags during pride month providing a direct example of the far reaching effects religious communities can have as this decision implies that queer individuals are not valued by the school board4. By helping create a more inclusive environment these religious communities can challenge the ignorance and hatred that has been perpetuated in their communities to hopefully reduce the discrimination and hate targeted towards 2SLGBTQ+ communities to shape a better future.   The Prophetic Voice relating to this topic is Dr. Jay Michaelson. Dr. Jay Michaelson is a prominent author, scholar, and 2SLGBTQ+ advocate known for his work at the crossroads of faith, law, and queer identities. With degrees from Yale, Harvard Law School, and a Ph.D. in Jewish Thought, he has authored influential books like “God vs. Gay?” which has discussed how being queer and practicing religion can coexist and are not mutually exclusive. Dr. Michaelson’s advocacy work extends beyond his writings and speaking engagements. He has been actively involved in promoting 2SLGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity within interreligious contexts by focusing on shared values5. Through his activism, he seeks to challenge discriminatory practices and foster dialogue between religious communities and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals5. Furthermore, he founded an organization called Nehirim which held retreats for Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ members and their families to promote acceptance, learning, and support6. It even expanded to retreats for 2SLGBTQ+ Jewish leaders and faith members helping to create a safe space for those who wanted to explore their faith while being true to themselves7. Additionally, from when debates regarding same sex marriage were ongoing in the USA Dr. Michaelson travelled to different religious institutions to promote important conversations about the importance of queer acceptance. His contributions have had a significant impact on promoting inclusivity of queer individuals within interfaith environments.  When investigating how interfaith communities can promote inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, several stakeholders play a role. One of the major contributors to inclusion in faith spaces are 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. These groups, who are committed to fighting for 2SLGBTQ+ rights can help educate various faith communities while also fostering dialogue among these communities. As such, they can work with religious leaders to promote inclusivity in terms of both creating safe spaces but also adjusting practices to be more adaptable as inclusivity is an ever evolving process. Therefore religious leaders including clergy, imams, rabbis, and spiritual guides along with religious communities also play a role as they will be working with these advocacy groups to shape and influence change. Given their roles as leaders of their respective communities, they have a duty to remove barriers to queer participation in faith with faith based practices and setting an example for their congregations about the attitudes/beliefs that must be practiced. When religious leaders actively advocate for the inclusion of queer individuals within faith settings, it can have a significant impact on fostering acceptance and understanding. Additionally, as members of the community their congregations trust they can also help to start a conversation and open the minds of others in a way that others would not be able to. The queer community themselves, including two spirited individuals, who have been consistently neglected, also play a role in providing insight to how interfaith communities can create inclusive spaces.  This paper will specifically investigate and attempt to understand why have religious communities traditionally preached against 2SLGBTQ+ identities, how these religious communities have contributed to difficulties in the lives of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and those around them to promote exclusion, and what efforts have been made to create a welcoming environment for 2SLGBTQ+ members currently that can be applied to other institutions. 

Literature Review

Different religious or spiritual perspectives can inform and shape the understanding of how religious communities can promote inclusion or queer people by providing unique insights and frameworks for addressing 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion within religious contexts. Many religious teachings encompass values of love, compassion, and justice, which form the foundation for fostering an inclusive environment for queer individuals. For instance, in Christianity, the principle of unconditional love and acceptance, exemplified by Jesus’ teachings of loving one’s neighbor as oneself, provides a strong base for affirming 2SLGBTQ+ individuals as valued members of the Christian community. Similarly, in Islam, the principle of justice is a central tenet that calls for treating all individuals with fairness and respect. In Hinduism, the core value of “ahimsa” or non-violence encourages respect and compassion for all living beings. While in Judaism, the principle of “tikkun olam,” which means repairing the world, calls for promoting justice and compassion for all individuals, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, Sikhism promotes the principle of equality as fundamental, emphasizing that all human beings are equal in the eyes of the divine. Across various faith traditions, religious teachings stress the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, which can serve as a basis for challenging discrimination and advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights within interfaith communities. We can extend these principles and apply them to embrace queer individuals which will lead to the recognition and acceptance of queer people in religious communities. In doing so these principles can then foster inclusivity for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. These principles can also promote dialogue and understanding through religious leaders as they set an example for those they may be preaching to. Moreover, ethical principles such as empathy, equality, and human rights are shared across various faith traditions. These principles intersect with social justice in relation to 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. This attitude of calling upon shared values across religions is one that Jay Michaelson has often adopted throughout his work8. He has been a strong advocate for promoting 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion within religious communities by emphasizing these important values that are central to religions and applying them to queer inclusion. Instead of outright rejecting religious texts, Michaelson emphasizes the importance of working to change interpretations of these texts to highlight these positive shared religious values8. This is important as it helps to reframe understanding of religious and spiritual members which can foster positive environments. Michaelson acknowledges that completely dismissing sacred texts would be disrespectful to the faith communities and instead believes that by reevaluating interpretations, religious teachings can align with acceptance and inclusion8. Part of this involves working with religious leaders specifically who have the ability to promote these reinterpretations and explain their importance to their followers which will subsequently promote progressive thinking. Michaelson believes that when leaders frame these supportive values to a queer inclusion lens it can serve as a gateway to initiating conversations between religious individuals or congregations and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals8. He understands that people may struggle to reconcile how religious faiths, with historical condemnations against gender and sexuality diversity, can coexist with accepting those who do not fit societal norms9,10. To address this internal struggle, Michaelson emphasizes the importance of engaging in healthy and respectful dialogue, providing space for education and mutual understanding9,10. By acknowledging the dynamic and evolving nature of conversations about 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion within religious contexts, we can embrace diverse perspectives. Michaelson encourages examining religious teachings through an inclusive lens that considers the historical context and the potential for reinterpretation. This approach enables us to identify the positive aspects of religious beliefs that promote love, compassion, and acceptance. By committing to social justice, faith communities can align their teachings with inclusivity and advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Ultimately, this commitment to social justice fosters an environment of empathy, education, and positive change, ensuring that religious faiths can be more inclusive to queer individuals. As for social justice, acceptance, the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals within faith communities goes beyond personal acceptance as it addresses social inequality. Historically, queer communities have faced discrimination and exclusion due to their sexual orientation or gender identity11. By actively embracing and accepting 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, faith communities challenge the societal norms that perpetuate inequality and promote a more equitable environment11. In doing so, they signal their commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity. Additionally, the power dynamics within faith communities play a crucial role in fostering social justice. Religious institutions often hold significant influence over individuals and communities12,13. When these institutions take a stance of acceptance and actively advocate for the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, they help shift the ideology towards justice and equality12,13. Their advocacy sends a powerful message that all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve respect and equal treatment within the faith community and society at large12,13. By leveraging their influence, faith communities can challenge harmful narratives, reduce stigma, and create a safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Their role as moral and ethical leaders enables them to positively shape public perceptions and attitudes towards queer individuals. Also, by advocating for policies that protect the rights of queer people and promoting education within their congregations, faith communities can promote understanding and empathy12,13. They can also engage in partnerships with 2SLGBTQ+ organizations to create a united front against discrimination14. Overall, the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals within faith communities holds profound implications for promoting social justice. By embracing diversity and advocating for the rights of queer individuals, faith communities take a stand against discrimination and inequality which can create a more inclusive and compassionate society where all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are embraced with love and respect14.

Connecting to Faith & Social Justice

Relevant religious teachings, values, and ethical principles play a significant role in informing understanding and promoting social justice within religious communities. These elements serve as guiding principles that inspire actions aimed at creating a more inclusive community As Jay Michaelson mentions, many religions emphasize the value of love and compassion towards all individuals8. This principle forms the basis for treating others with kindness and empathy, regardless of their identity. Embracing love and compassion leads to a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by marginalized communities, including the queer community, and motivates individuals to take action to address injustices. As Michaelson also implies, many religious teachings often call for justice and equality for all8. These principles are integral to promoting social justice, as they demand fair treatment and equal rights for everyone, including 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights and challenging discriminatory practices aligns with these core values. Additionally, many teachings focus on forgiveness and reconciliation and as Michaelson mentions dialogue is important in promoting inclusion so these tenets of forgiveness can inspire efforts to bridge and heal past misdoings caused by discrimination from religious groups against the queer community8. In doing so religious congregations and members can learn how to better allies and advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Emphasizing these core ideas serves as a powerful catalyst for inspiring meaningful actions, fostering empathy, and creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for queer individuals in religious contexts.

Faith communities have made significant contributions in addressing similar injustices and intersecting with social justice concerns, including the promotion of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. By examining these contributions we can gain insights into the transformative power of faith-inspired activism. For example, some faith communities have played roles as advocates and allies for marginalized groups actively supporting 2SLGBTQ+ rights and equality in their communities11,15. These advocacy efforts have helped challenge discriminatory policies and practices, fostering greater acceptance and understanding within religious communities. Moreover, some faith communities have taken proactive steps to create inclusive spaces that affirm the rights and dignity of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. By adopting these spaces, they send a clear message of acceptance and support, providing safe spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ members to participate fully in religious life16,17. Faith communities have also engaged in constructive dialogue and educational initiatives to promote understanding and empathy towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community18. These efforts serve to break down barriers, reduce stigma, and dispel misconceptions about queer individuals and their experiences. Part of this has involved reflecting on each other’s actions and how they impact others. Such reflection can lead to increased sensitivity towards the challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community, fostering a greater commitment to social justice18. Overall, faith communities have played a significant role in addressing similar injustices and intersecting with social justice concerns, particularly in the context of promoting 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion.

Different religious or spiritual beliefs have a profound impact on shaping attitudes, actions, and responses concerning the promotion of inclusion within religious communities19. The interpretation of sacred texts and teachings holds significant sway over how 2SLGBTQ+ individuals are perceived and treated. Progressive religious beliefs that prioritize love, compassion, and acceptance create a nurturing and inclusive environment, welcoming queer members into the faith community with open arms. In contrast, more conservative interpretations may perpetuate exclusion and discrimination, erecting barriers that hinder queer individuals from feeling fully embraced. The attitudes and actions of religious leaders are pivotal in influencing the community’s stance on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. Supportive leaders who advocate for acceptance and equality play a crucial role in inspiring positive change, fostering a safe and affirming space for all individuals19,20. On the other hand, leaders who maintain exclusionary positions can perpetuate harm and division within the community19,20. The presence of 2SLGBTQ+ allies within religious communities can also significantly impact the atmosphere of inclusivity. Allies who stand in solidarity with the queer community, even if they do not personally identify as queer, contribute to an environment of support19,20. Engaging in open dialogues, education, and embracing diverse perspectives are key to fostering understanding and respect. By creating safe spaces for open discussions, religious communities can work towards aligning their beliefs with principles of acceptance, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Emphasizing the common values of love, compassion, and justice shared by many religious traditions can serve as a unifying force in promoting an inclusive environment8. Ultimately, religious communities have the agency to shape their attitudes and actions towards 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. Such efforts not only benefit the LGBTQ+ community but also contribute to the enrichment of the entire faith community, emphasizing the core principles of love, understanding, and unity that lie at the heart of many religious traditions.

Additionally, in the current landscape there has been much debate about transgender folks and worry from religious groups that children or teenegers are unable to know what they truly want21. In these instances faith communities can be projecting their worries and fears onto children who may be secure in their identity and in doing so can hurt transgender children who may already be fearful of how they will be perceived21. It’s important that faith communities approach these situations and conversations in an open way and do not try to use their influence over children to steer them in the way they see fit but rather spend time having discussions to try and understand how they can best support these individuals. This may involve direct support or even involve referring them out to resources and in doing so this sort of framework of understanding and support can be applied to other matters related to queer inclusion and support.

Discussion

Queerphobia has been a prominent issue throughout time that continues to persist today including in religious communities. One of the many reasons this has occurred and persisted throughout time is the traditional and hateful interpretations of religious texts to explain or justify mistreatment of queer individuals22. Many religious communities adhere to conservative interpretations of their texts, which are often rooted in historical contexts that did not recognize or understand diverse sexual orientations and gender identities23. These interpretations may be used to justify discrimination and exclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals on an individual interaction and larger societal level. These traditional interpretations are often rooted in strict gender norms and upholding the patriarchy, much of which queer identities challenge which leads to resistance and rejection within conservative religious communities23. In this way, prejudice against queer identities has been perpetuated to preserve these societal norms and structures as acceptance can be perceived as a threat to the “traditional family” that will lead to change and modernity contributing to “moral decay”. As such religious leaders and communities continue to perpetuate queerphobia whether they realize it or not because it is in part what they have been taught to do. Another major reason that queerphobia is perpetuated within religious communities is fear and misunderstanding of 2SLGBTQ+ identities24. This includes things like stereotypes or false information that cause some religious communities to preach against queer people as a way to “protect” their members from what they perceive as unfamiliar or threatening although this information is often untrue. Furthermore, the absence of openly queer leaders within religious hierarchies has contributed to a lack of understanding and empathy for queer individuals as their perspectives have typically been ignored which contributes to this misunderstanding. Future efforts may want to investigate more specifically how specific faiths have influenced discrimination or focus on a more contemporary lens as to why these issues persist despite society evolving.

There are a number of ways that religious groups and leaders have contributed to the difficulties and adversity faced by the queer community. One such example is stigmatization and discrimination through hateful interpretation of religious texts25. Often religious communities or religious leaders can choose specific aspects of religious texts or teachings and apply it to condemn gender and sexual identities that are not within the norms. This can then lead to those who identify as part of the queer community being treated differently for their identity such as being shunned26. This itself can then ripple and have a number of effects on queer individuals including self hatred and internalized homophobia after being repeatedly told that they are “wrong” for being who they are or feelings of shame about how they feel to the point where they hide their true self from others to be accepted or out of fear27,28,29. This rejection can even extend to the families of queer people as their guardians may adopt the ideology of their religious congregations and abandon their family members or even kick them out of their house leaving them homeless just because they are members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community30,31. Furthermore, religious communities can contribute to more direct harm through promoting or running conversion camps32,33,34. These sorts of conversion camps also known as conversion therapy believe falsely that queer identities are wrong and use unjust methods that can be psychologically and physically harmful in an attempt to change someone’s gender or sexual identity which is not only impossible but is also harmful to these individuals who experience these camps32,33,34. Religious groups can also contribute to discrimination more indirectly by influencing public discourse, lawmaking, or education by using religion as a moral justification for proof that queer identities are “ethically wrong”.

Today a number of religious groups and communities have been making efforts to create more inclusive environments and while there is much work to be done there are also many examples of successful efforts that have created more inclusive environments which can be applied to other religious communities and even other institutions. One such effort of many religious institutions, activist groups, and community leaders to create a more inclusive environment is education and dispelling misinformation35. Educational programs to religious congregations and more specifically the religious leaders who have a large role in influencing groups helps to reduce misinformation, expel fear, and make people more open minded. This can take the form of seminars or workshops to understand the challenges faced by queer individuals and why it is necessary to create these inclusive spaces or involve reinterpreting religious texts to establish an understanding in people that might be less foreign and more in line with their typical understanding. These education workshops can also work to expose the falseness of stereotypes or provide examples to improve understanding35. Additionally, this is helpful with religious leaders specifically as when religious leaders express acceptance of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals they can set a positive example for those who look to them for guidance and can even speak to their religious communities in a manner that frames it specifically to their understanding of religion36,37. These efforts can even be as small as celebrating queer centreted events such as pride month or saying a prayer for 2SLGBTQ+ members of their community who might be struggling. These small acts help to show that queer individuals are important members of these religious communities who are worthy of the same time and effort put towards non-queer members. Another effort has been to include queer members in leadership roles as this helps to provide different perspectives and a voice who can advocate for queer community members when important decisions are made11. One challenge throughout the process of answering these questions was the lack of research regarding positive queer inclusion in religious communities. Typically, research was sparse and limited to a few profiles on different congregations. As such, future efforts may want to provide more robust research on the current efforts of certain groups to create queer friendly religious environments.

Conclusions

The paper investigated the complex issue of promoting queer inclusion within faith communities while also examining historical, social, and cultural factors that have contributed to discrimination against 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Through the lens of Dr. Jay Michaelson as a prophetic voice, the research highlighted the significance of shared religious values and reinterpreting sacred texts to foster inclusion and positive change. Relevant religious teachings, values, and ethical principles were identified as crucial elements in understanding and promoting social justice within faith communities. By aligning religious teachings with inclusivity, faith communities can create queer affirming spaces. The paper’s findings have broad implications for social justice as promoting inclusion in faith communities challenges the harmful norms that have been kept for many years and helps to eliminate inequality. Embracing diversity and advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights can promote more progressive thinking which can then have far reaching implications in policy, education, and society.

Advocacy Efforts

 

References

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