Little Rock

We met so many fantastic people in Little Rock.

Our adventures began before we even left Dallas - as we were waiting at the Greyhound station, we met some really interesting people. One person was on their way to Tyler, Texas to work at a fair. He was traveling with only a broom and dustpan. And about halfway through our trip, two plainclothes police officers came on board and took someone off the bus. They cut open the passenger's pillow, and pulled out a large package of what looked like cocaine. I could not imagine being that person in that moment - knowing there was no turning back. After we made it to Little Rock, our friend Penelope picked us up from the station.

After relaxing for a while, we headed out to a dinner Center for Artistic Revolution was hosting in support of two women who had been harassed and physically assaulted by a sheriff's deputy. CAR is helping to raise the funds to pay the couple's legal fees as they file an action for civil rights violation. After the dinner we got to speak to the women for a while, and also met some cool young folks who live in Little Rock and participate in CAR's Diverse Youth for Social Change program.

We spent Saturday catching our breath and hanging out with Penelope, Jeremy, and some new friends. There was a Chili cook-off, a great cafe called The House, and hanging out down by the Arkansas River.

On Sunday we went to New Beginnings Church (after going to New Beginning Church without the "s" and realizing we were in the wrong place!), and shared the mission of Sanctuary Collective, and I sang a song and played guitar. I chose "If We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns, because I love how the chorus describes very practical ways the church can embody Christ in the world. You can see a video of the performance on Facebook. The congregation was wonderful and welcoming, and had set up a jar in the back of the sanctuary to collect donations for us.

They also took us out to lunch afterwards, where we found out that Wincie and Becky, a couple who has been together for more than 30 years, are traveling to Iowa this week to finally make it official! They will travel back home with a marriage certificate. Becky said she never thought she would see the day that she'd be able to marry the person she loves.

On Monday, we got to meet with Randi from CAR for a much longer conversation than we had been able to have while the dinner was going on on Friday. She shared with us the history and structure of CAR. The focus they have on addressing multiple forms of oppression through their work with the LGBTQ community is an exciting model, and we are looking forward to keeping in touch as both organizations grow and develop.

As we travel, it's so interesting to see how every location has its own distinct personality. And everything is happening so fast that by the time I get to write about one stop, there's so much to say about the next place already. I want to record everything I can so that we can remember the stories and support we have gotten, and the things we have learned along the way.

Update from NYC

Sam Crowell, a recent New York transplant, shares a bit about himself and what's going on with the group in NYC.

Dallas

We've settled in at our friend Penelope's house in Little Rock, so now seems like a great time to write about our time in Dallas before the memories get replaced with too many fresh new ones!

On Wednesday, we said goodbye to our friends in Waco, and Tyler drove us up to Dallas. We hung out at Panera until our host Phil could come pick us up to go to church at Royal Lane Baptist for the Wednesday night service. We enjoyed the dinner together, and got the chance to stand up and let folks know what we're up to. After the service, there were many folks who made it a point to wish us luck, and then Kelley drove us to their house.

On Thursday morning, another member of the church, Leslie, drove us to Southern Methodist University, where we met up with Aaron. We got to attend a class on Gender and Globalization, where the day's topic of conversation was women in the fast food work force. It was really interesting to discuss the evolution of fast food work to the point where creativity is in fact discouraged so that workers can be uniform and easily replaceable.

After class, we went back to the Multicultural House, where Aaron lives, and he made us delicious vegan pasta salad for lunch before we headed over to the Canterbury House, the Episcopal chapel at SMU. While we worked there (thanks for the snacks and free wifi!), I had a great conversation with Reverend Nate about his own personal intellectual journey to being fully affirming of LGBTQ people. He talked about the history of the church, and the way the church's stance on many things has evolved over time. I always enjoy conversations that get me thinking about my own faith and how and where it fits and relates to the long story of the church.

At six o'clock, it was time for Spectrum, the LGBTQ and Allies group on campus. We spoke there about why working for the full inclusion of LGBTQ people within the Christian faith is so important, some important things to remember as we dive in, and some things that have been helpful when working in that context. It was marvelous to meet the students at Spectrum, and I'm looking forward to keeping our conversations going over email!

When we wrapped up there, we were invited to a Hare Krishna meeting. Curious, I decided to go. They served us really delicious Indian food, and the topic of conversation was how we relate to each other's physical bodies in regard to what seems to set us apart. It was interesting to see a lot of overlap between the way folks at the meeting were speaking about the distinction between the physical and internal selves and the way Christians see the distinction between body and soul.

After our evening meetings were complete, we got to hang out more with Aaron, Kai, and Jaxon for our last night. We met Jaxon's super cute puppies, and then we had to say our goodbyes.

Our bus pulled out of Dallas at 7:45 am the next morning, and we continued on our way to Little Rock. We will carry our conversations and connections with us as we travel.

In The News: Sep 16 - 23, 2009

Two of our supporters were recently featured in separate news articles. We're excited for them and invite you to read these articles as well!

Identity in Ink

The University of North Carolina Daily Tar Heel ran a feature on prayer team member Angel Collie.  The article explores the connection between Angel's tattoos, spirituality, sexuality, and gender.

Campolos Oppose In Homosexuality Debate

And at Eastern University, in St. David's, PA, The Waltonian ran article about the recent conversation on homosexuality featuring Tony and Peggy Campolo, hosted by Refuge--the QSA on campus which Sanctuary Collective co-founder helped to start.  Peter Macari, a donor and supporter of Sanctuary Collective, is interviewed.  In the article he reflects, "I'm proud to say I'm an Eastern alum after this."

Note: The article incorrectly frames the conversation as a debate and is unclear on Peter's identity--he is an openly gay alum, he was not out when he graduated in 2007. You may also want to read Tony Campolo's response to the article

Looking at Each Other

It’s taken me a while but I’m finally feeling at peace again.

I was freaking out for a bit as I am prone to do.  Maybe it doesn’t show but chances are if you get to know me you will see it happen. Feels a lot worse than it looks.  My mind will play tricks on me, something negative, a fear about what I might miss or feeling unwelcome contrary to the evidence. I’ll feel all twisted and uncomfortable, I can’t be present. but then it stops and it feels like it was all a bad dream.

I’m settling in and I feel like I’ve been away from New York for months, though it hasn’t even been a week. The great thing about this is realizing exactly how much I love my home--and it has become that--my home. I never really thought I’d want to move away, but at times the city can get frustrating and overwhelming, everyone moving so fast and not sure exactly why. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

And it’s not just NY I guess--but everything, because that city is a part of the world. It’s all part of the same thing.

I see all these new people and they look like and remind me of people I already know, so I love them instantly.

I wonder how people read me and I guess we’ll never know how people see us. But hopefully if they let me look them in the eye they will feel a connection.  And while they may never know me (who knows us?) they will see themselves. Regardless of whether or not they believe in gender (and identify as one or several or none at all), they will see a kind soul.  Because that is exactly what I look for.

As I do not want to be seen as a particular gender, I wonder if others feel the same. At the root I just want to be loved, so whatever leads to that I’ll take.

I wonder if we can spread so much love that the fear and judgment within us will eventually disappear or at least decrease. I think that is all that is standing in the way of peace.