Can You Be Religious And Queer? | them.

Summary

The script explores the intersection of faith, queerness, and identity through personal narratives. It features individuals from various religious backgrounds—Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish—who embrace their LGBTQ+ identities while maintaining strong ties to their faiths. They share their experiences of finding acceptance and peace within their spiritual communities, challenging traditional views on sexuality and religion. The script highlights the power of individuality, the importance of self-acceptance, and the revolutionary act of queer individuals praying and expressing their faith authentically.

Takeaways

• 🌈 The speaker identifies as a queer individual who finds strength and identity in both their faith and their queerness.
• 🙏 The individual's church community played a significant role in their acceptance and coming out as a gay man.
• 🎭 The speaker expresses their spirituality and sexuality through various forms of art, such as drag and theater.
• 🔄 The speaker challenges the traditional binary views of right and wrong, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of faith and identity.
• 🌟 The individual believes in a loving God who accepts them for who they are, including their sexuality.
• 🏛 Raised Catholic, the speaker values the Sunday tradition and the sense of community it provides.
• 🕌 The speaker also identifies with Islam, having grown up in an Afghan community, and finds ways to practice within a busy life.
• 🤔 The speaker questions the expectations placed upon them by their religious and cultural backgrounds, seeking personal authenticity.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The individual's queerness and faith coexist, and they do not see a conflict between believing in God and being queer.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's family is supportive of their identity, although societal expectations can still create tension.
• 💅 The speaker uses their platform to advocate for acceptance and understanding of the LGBT community within religious contexts.

Q & A

How does the speaker's religious faith influence their identity as a drag queen?

The speaker's religious faith in Jesus and their Catholic upbringing has a significant influence on their identity as a drag queen. They believe that Jesus loves them for who they are, including their queerness, and that their faith gives them the strength to express themselves authentically.

What was the speaker's experience growing up in a Catholic environment?

The speaker grew up in a Catholic environment that was more about lifting themselves and others up. This upbringing provided a sense of peace and centeredness, which was beneficial for their personal growth and acceptance of their identity.

How does the speaker's Afghan background influence their religious and cultural identity?

The speaker's Afghan background, coming from a close-knit community in Queens, has allowed them to have a strong affinity for Islam. They find that combining their cultural and religious identities has been beneficial, as it provides a more nuanced understanding of their faith.

What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between spirituality and sexuality?

The speaker views spirituality and sexuality as interconnected. They believe in God and feel loved by Jesus not in spite of, but because of their sexuality, suggesting a harmonious relationship between their spiritual beliefs and their sexual identity.

How does the speaker navigate their identity as a queer Muslim?

The speaker navigates their identity as a queer Muslim by finding personal ways to practice their faith, such as using their tesba (Muslim rosaries) on the subway for meditation and remembering God. They also challenge the notion that their identity should be 'extra hard' by asserting that being queer, a woman, or gender non-conforming is inherently challenging in the world.

What was the speaker's experience growing up in an ultra-Orthodox community?

The speaker grew up in an ultra-Orthodox community where there were many rules and expectations about their role in society. They felt constrained by these expectations and found that their individuality and passion for life did not fit within the community's norms.

How did the speaker's family react to their coming out?

The speaker's family was very supportive when they came out. It is suggested that they knew about the speaker's sexuality before the speaker did. However, there were still challenges due to the expectations of each other and the speaker's more outspoken nature.

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between Catholicism and the LGBT community?

The speaker believes that Catholicism is fundamentally about love and that congregations that exclude the LGBT community are misinterpreting the Bible. They participate in Pride marches with members of their church, indicating a belief in the compatibility of faith and sexual identity.

How does the speaker feel about the societal acceptance of queerness compared to Muslims and immigrants?

The speaker feels that society spends more time normalizing queerness and LGBT identity than it does accepting Muslims and immigrants. They find that their queerness makes them more palatable and safe in the eyes of others, which is a complex dynamic given their Muslim identity.

What does the speaker do to express their love for acting and queerness?

The speaker engages in Yiddish theater and drag comedy, allowing them to express their queerness and love for acting. They find it particularly meaningful to perform as a queer woman in Yiddish, combining their cultural, religious, and sexual identities.

How does the speaker reconcile their religious beliefs with their queerness in their performances?

The speaker sees their performances, especially in drag, as a way to express their beauty and thank God for who they are. They view their queerness as a part of their identity that is loved by God and does not conflict with their faith.