Sep 28, 2021: What Counts as Work for Queer and Trans People? Spiritual Reclamations with Comic Artist and Illustrator Syan Rose

What gets to count as work for queer and trans people? This is a question illustrator and comic artist Syan Rose's remarkable collection, Our Work is Everywhere: An Illustrated Oral History of Queer and Trans Resistance, explores through illustrations of her interviews with activists. Published this year, Rose provides an energetic source of connection and community. On our Queer Devotions podcast, we got a chance to ask Rose about the process of interviewing and illustrating so many activists across the country. 

Some highlights include: "Queer Muslim Family" with Mirna Haidar,  “Everything You Love About New Orleans is Because of Black People,” a conversation with Phlegm, "Our Brown Divinity" with Dusty Lamay and “Auriga” with Jaye Sablan. This work also comes with naming Black, Indigenous and people of colour as originators of queer cultures, joy, community care, healing, and so much more.

Sep 21, 2021: Transpirituality and Recovery with A Queer Chaplain Bonnie Violet

Bonnie Violet, a trans, gender queer drag queen, has many stories to tell. Growing up in Idaho, Bonnie Violet first found a fulfilling community in church and felt a calling within her to be of service to others. But her queerness and transness didn’t feel compatible, at first, with the church, and she left it for a decade.

But that calling still lived within Bonnie, as she worked in HIV/AIDS advocacy, and she began to reclaim the spiritual thread in her life, undertaking a remarkable process of healing that she shares in our Queer Devotions podcast.

Now Bonnie Violet is “A Queer Chaplain” with a vibrant YouTube page and Facebook group, where she interviews drag queens about their spirituality, hosts multifaith discussions about transness and spirituality, and talks across the religious divide with her conservative aunt in a podcast called, Splintered Grace. Her work provides spiritual and pastoral care to queer and trans folks who are so often denied it.

Standout episodes of her Drag & Spirituality series include her discussion with Ms. Penny Cost, Fonda Coxx, and a multifaith discussion with Mango Lassi, Coco Sho-Nell, LoUis CYfer.

This work is now included in our Resource Portal, launched today with other work focused on the spiritual care of queer and trans people. This includes the memoir of Rev. Dr. Cheri NiNovo, The Queer Evangelist, Beloved Arise’s album, Serenade, Ivan Coyote’s new book Care Of: Letters, Connections, and Cures, and the article from Autrostraddle, “Queering Faith: Reclaiming the Holy of Spirituality.”

Sept 15, 2021: The Queerituality Road Trip with Queer Chaplain Mandi Rice

In 2013, the queer chaplain Mandi Rice embarked on the ‘Queerituality’ road trip, speaking with nearly 100 people across 17 American cities, asking one very big question: “What is life like for you at the intersection of queerness & spirituality?” On our Queer Devotions podcast, Rice described the incredible organic momentum of the project and its legacy almost ten years later, as well as the ‘Queerituality Guide' she put together which condensed her findings. The Queerituality Road Trip and A Queerituality Guide, are now, excitingly, a part of our Resource Portal.

Aug 17, 2021: Conversion Therapy is Still Prevalent in Canada, So How Do We Finally End the Practice? With Dr. Travis Salway

In June of this year, our guest, Dr. Travis Salway, published an astonishing report with co-authors about the continued prevalence of conversion therapy in Canada, which you can read in full here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0252539. Among the many important findings, the report shows that 67% of conversion therapy happens in religious contexts, for the population they studied. We sat down with Dr. Salway to discuss this report and talk about how RFF and others can fight for a federal ban of the practice. 

There are some incredible resources available that dive deeper into survivors' stories and the history of conversion therapy. Here is No Conversion Canada: https://www.noconversioncanada.com/contact-1, which features some heartbreaking and mobilizing stories. UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America is a production from WYNC Studios and Radiolab, made in partnership with the film, Boy Erased. It's a four part series: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/unerased-the-history-of-conversion-therapy-in-america/id1439513792. 

Jul 7, 2021: Why Are Queer and Trans Youth Such a Disproportionate Part of the Houseless Population in Canada? With Dr. Alex Abramovich

Dr. Alex Abramovich, our guest today, is an expert on 2SLGBTQ+ youth houselessness - and has been addressing the issue for the past 10 years. Internationally recognized for his work, Dr. Abramovich is one of few Canadian researchers studying the phenomenon of queer and trans youth homelessness. In our conversation today, I ask about why queer and trans youth are so much more likely to be housing insecure than their cisgender or heterosexual peers, how religious intolerance plays a role in forcing youth out of their homes, what kinds of interventions work and the available affirming services youth can access. 

Just a note: there is talk of suicidality, self-harm and childhood abuse.

PFLAG, Faith in Our Families: https://pflag.org/resource/faith-our-families

Sprott House: https://ymcagta.org/find-a-y/ymca-sprott-house

More about Dr. Abramovich: https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/science-and-research-staff-directory/alexabramovich

Jun 28, 2021: Mapping the Landscape of Faith-Based Heterosexism and Transphobia in Canada

Today's episode is a bit different. Today, Queer Devotions features an audio production of RFF's report, "Mapping the Landscape of Faith-Based Heterosexism and Transphobia in Canada," which compiles research to ask: which sectors of society are most influenced by religious bias on the basis of sexual or gender minority status? If you'd like to read the text or follow along, please visit: https://rainbowfaithandfreedom.org/blog/2021/6/3/rff-report-mapping-the-landscape-of-faith-based-heterosexism-and-transphobia-in-canada

This document is the first of its kind and aims to beget more research and greater investment into thinking through these questions. Religiosity continues to be one of the strongest determinants of a person’s view of homosexuality. While a largely secular society, Canada’s institutions are built on a foundation of 'Christian' norms of heteronormativity and transphobia. These sectors include the family, worship communities, healthcare and education.

Jun 22, 2021: “From Prisons to Dyke Bars:" The Music and Politics of Singer-Songwriter Faith Nolan

Accomplished activist and musician Faith Nolan is a global-minded lesbian who takes her music from prisons to dyke bars. In our last official episode of the series, Faith talks about her deep roots in queer, women’s and anti-poverty activism. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Faith is the founder and director of three different choirs in Toronto, and a producer of the film, Within These Cages, about women in prison. Faith and I had a lively conversation, and she discussed the contributions of lesbians to many things - including fashion - that are often under-recognized. It was a true delight to speak with Faith.

Some of the work Faith talks about: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-colored-girls-who-have-considered-suicide-when-the-rainbow-is-enuf-ntozake-shange/1101007683

Listen to Faith's music! https://soundcloud.com/faith-nolan-2

This podcast is a remote project funded through the Michael Lynch History Grant through the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies. Angela Stanley, Hannah Maitland, Stephanie Jonsson and Brigitte Pawliw-Fry from the core members of the team. Out of the Closet is a partner on the series. along with New Horizons Senior Center. 

Jun 1, 2021: The Queer Evangelist with Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo

Today’s guest needs no introduction - Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo gives new meaning to the word icon. With the Order of Canada, a seat in Ontario parliament for twelve years, and as the only woman to sign Canada's first gay liberation manifesto "We Demand" in 1971, Cheri has done it all. This April, Cheri put out a new book called, "The Queer Evangelist," a memoir which looks back at her 50+ years of activism. In this conversation, we discussed radicalism versus reform and what resistance means today. We are also excited to announce that Cheri will be joining us for a book talk on June 17th at 8pm.

May 25, 2021: As Grassroots As It Gets: Pushing for Same-Sex Equality in the 90s with Cait Glasson

Cait Glasson is singular - a polyglot, linguist and translator - who also moonlights as a gamer YouTuber. In 1994, Cait formed a core part of a key battle for queer rights in Ontario, pushing then Premier Bob Rae and his ilk to include same-sex equality rights in the omnibus bill. It ultimately failed - by nine votes - and showed the continued power of religious conservatives to influence politicians' stances on queer rights, particularly in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Cait is generous with her stories and speaks vulnerably about the toll the pandemic has taken on her, calling for greater radicalism in old age. We thank Cait deeply!
Stay tuned for more podcasts as we ramp up for Pride month and announce a live event with our featured guests.
Here is Cait's Twitter: https://twitter.com/FullmtalFemnist

Apr 20, 2021: The Impact of the AIDS Epidemic Decades On with Anthony Mohamed

Today on Resisting the Script: 25+ Years of Queer Activism, we will be talking with Anthony Mohamed. Anthony is an award-winning community activist, and has worked to bring equity to healthcare, across Ontario and in Toronto. In this episode, Anthony shares his eyewitness accounts of the gay liberation movement and watching the AIDS epidemic unfold around him, first called the “gay disease.” Anthony shares how it transformed queer communities in Toronto - and reflects on the core politics that unite the different struggles he has engaged in.