The Queerituality Road Trip
17 cities. Nearly 100 interviews. One question: “What is life like for you at the intersection of queerness & spirituality?”
“
Queerness at its core is being in the world in a different way than what’s expected, and articulating the possibilities of our lives.
Spiritual practice feels very similar to me, in that it's about tapping into our core values or our deepest sense of self.”
— Iimay Ho
“My mom’s reaction when I first came out to her, more than anything, was that she really hoped that I wouldn’t lose my faith.
She basically said, ‘We didn’t prepare you for life as a minority, as a member of a group that’s still not seen as 100% valid or equal in this society. So you’re going to need something to lean on. And I really hope that your faith isn’t something that you lose, cause you’re gonna need it.’”
— Casey L.
“Many times I’m like, ‘I don’t want to be a Christian minister!’ There’s so much baggage that comes with that. But then I’m reminded and challenged to be a different representation of that. It's a label I love and hate at the same time.”
— Rev. Matthew Smucker
“I don’t like fights and fighting and this energy of grittiness. But I do understand that part of my role is to be a warrior, a warrior with the most loving of intentions and the most loving of motivations.
I want ease in my own life and I want ease for others in having full access in their relationship with God and to live as they are called to.”
— Terna
“My sister, who is Orthodox, didn’t come to our chuppah, to the rather large and boisterous wedding that Michael and I had three and a half years ago. That hurt me a lot. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to repair that relationship.
I realized at some point that I could tell her what I needed her to say, and move the impasse along.
I needed her to say, “I’m really sorry for the pain I caused you by not coming to your wedding.” So, I said that.
I did that because I held her, my relationship with her, in prayer for years, trying to figure out what the invitation was, what the opportunity was, how I could make something better and more loving.”
— Rabbi Jacob Staub
