Queer Devotions: A Conversation with Faith Nolan

One of our Pride Month Queer Devotions podcast episodes, hosted by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry, brought us a beautiful conversation with Canadian activist and folk singer-songwriter, Faith Nolan! The podcast highlighted many themes including queer history in the 70s and breaking through the barriers and resistance of being identified a lesbian or gay. Faith also generously shared her own experiences and how the harshest situations made her tune in more to her spiritual self.

Here are our three takeaways from our conversation with Faith Nolan:

On her experience of Queer History growing up in the 70s: Upon reading the book Radical Lesbian Nation which is in favor of feminist separatism (the idea that feminist opposition to patriarchy can be achieved through women’s separation from men), she became more enlightened and empowered on her own life as a woman. Faith relates this to the idea of Androgyny and dykes which was prevalent and growing in the 70’s, was to be “all things and a form of oneness,” she says. She compares this to the term Non-Binary which is equal to that thought of the 70s, providing more fluidity in choice on the matter of gender. Faith recalls Lesbians being considered as mentally ill and even pedophilic. Faith also highlights that the history of Lesbians had gone unnoticed, the remarkable books or marches performed were shunned, which highlighted the rights and roles for women in general. Many women, event today, fight the gender role standards e.g. Botox and fillers required for women but not men. The feminist movement, as Faith highlights has been integral to queer history in gaining their power back.

On breaking through resistance of Gender Roles: In this podcast Faith also highlights the right and freedom of being two spirited, that you can reinvent what the word gender means for you and break societal classifications/structures to be whoever you want to be. As human, you have the right to pick and change what feels comfortable to you; things don’t have to be gender and binary notions of humanity. 

On Injustices and how it got her closer to healing and Spirituality: Faith recalls being locked up in Jail upon being identified as queer; she observed physical abuse, both on herself and others. “50 percent of the women were raped and injustice was prevalent, yet on news and press nothing was reported” Faith says she felt reconciled and healed upon returning to sing in jail as a musician after many years. “As a species on earth, we are inter connected to everything else on the planet and represent oneness, it’s time we realize that.”

Faith ends the podcast by reciting a line from a poem by Khalil Gibran, highlighting the freedom to choose: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself… You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow…”

You can listen to the full episode HERE and don’t forget to subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss out!