LGBTQ Spirituality

Creating Spiritually Enriching Creating Spiritually Enriching Opportunities for Lesbian, Gay Opportunities for Lesbian, Gay

and Bisexual Students on and Bisexual Students on CampusCampusPresented by:Gisela P. Vega

Associate DirectorDepartment of Housing & Residential Life

Florida International University

LGBTQ Spirituality

Please turn off your Cell Please turn off your Cell Phone/Pager/PDA ringer or put it on Phone/Pager/PDA ringer or put it on

a silent/vibrate settinga silent/vibrate setting

If you must leave the program early, please do so in a manner that does not interrupt the presenters or your fellow program attendees.

Thank you for your cooperation.ACUHO-I Program Committee

LGBTQ Spirituality

Overview of Program GoalsOverview of Program Goals& Objectives& Objectives

• Learn the issues that spiritual GLBT students face on college campuses today

• Understand the historical relevance that has brought the LGBT spirituality issue to the forefront at FIU

• Learn how this populations needs are being met at FIU

• Understand resources available to practitioners• Share successes & challenges

LGBTQ Spirituality

LGBT Victims of Spiritual LGBT Victims of Spiritual ViolenceViolence

• Spiritual violence is: – “The misuse of religion to sanction the

condemnation and rejection of any of God’s children.” (Soulforce 2007)

– Misusing religion and/or God to support society’s bias against sexual and gender minorities also inappropriately justifies psychological, legal and physical violence against them. (Soulforce 2007)

LGBTQ Spirituality

Spiritual Issues Facing LGBT Spiritual Issues Facing LGBT Students on Campuses Today Students on Campuses Today

The experience of LGBT persons with traditional faith communities has been negative

Multiple negative messages throughout campus delivered to the LGBT students in regards to spirituality

There is a Crises among LGBTQ students in Catholic schools today – Bayly 2007

Media coverage given to organized religions debating the issue of same sex marriage plus the ordination LGB clergy has brought these issues to the forefront of College Campuses

LGBTQ Spirituality

LGBT Spirituality Issues at FIULGBT Spirituality Issues at FIU

• Historical Relevance– Compounded LGBT Issues at a

predominately minority institution – Lack of welcoming & affirming congregations

for new students arriving to Miami– Campus Incidents involving extreme right

spiritual group

LGBTQ Spirituality

Initial ConceptInitial Concept

• Started as a brainchild between a faculty member and an FIU administrator

• Goal was to develop a Spiritual Fair inclusive of all GLBT affirming and welcoming congregations in the Miami South Florida area

• Seek funding opportunities to bring a national speaker to FIU and begin a discourse on this topic

• Plan a Spirituality Day as opposed to just a fair• Develop a Spiritual Website for the South Florida

region• Share important development within organized religion

specifically the growth of LGBT welcoming and affirming synagogues, churches and other faith communities

LGBTQ Spirituality

Strategy DevelopedStrategy Developed

• Gain Institutional Support

• Establish Community Groups & Identify Stakeholders

• Secure Funding

• Event Planning

• Logistics

• Evaluation

LGBTQ Spirituality

Gaining Institutional Support Gaining Institutional Support

• Spirituality Center

• Outreach to Various Groups & Services– Stonewall Pride Alliance – Division of Student Affairs

• Housing and Residential Life

• MPAS

• Women Studies

LGBTQ Spirituality

Establish Community Groups & Establish Community Groups & Identify StakeholdersIdentify Stakeholders

• Convened the South Florida Spiritual Coalition

• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (Winter Party)

• Welcome and Affirming Congregations

LGBTQ Spirituality

Securing FundingSecuring Funding

• Grant Dade Community Foundation

• Funding Rational – Produce events on LGBT spirituality – Developed a web page focused on LGBT

spirituality

• The overall goal was to share information with the gay, straight and religious community about LGBT spirituality

LGBTQ Spirituality

Budget PlanBudget PlanLine Item Description & ExplanationConsulting Services.

Honorarium , Rev. Irene Monroe $2300.00Honorarium , Christian de la Huerta $2000.00Total $4300.00Other contracted services.Student research assistant (Research for web page plus evaluation assistance,$10.00 hr. x 80 hours)

Total $800.00Materials/Supplies Paper, pencils, markers, tape, etc. for use during all eventsTotal $100.00

Marketing & AdvertisingBroadcast media ads (i.e. WLRN) plus print media advertising (i.e. FIU Beacon, SHE Magazine, etc.)Total $1000.00Printing & Copying Event notification flyers, evaluation forms, etc.Total $150.00Travel – Out of County Speaker travel ( 2 x $1000.00 each)Total $2000.00Other costs.Web page design and managementTotal $1200.00TOTAL COSTS $9550.00

LGBTQ Spirituality

Budget PlanBudget Plan

IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONSProject Staff. In-kind value for FIU faculty and staff is as follows:

Dr. Nathan Katz (1% time, public relations) $930.00Dr. Nan Van Den Bergh (10% time, oversightof all project activities) $750.00Gisela Vega, MA (5% time, Coordination of FIU events) $250.00Total Staff In kind Contribution $1930.00Space rental. In kind value of meeting rooms & security:Temple Israel $750.00FIU Graham Center $800.00Total Space Rental In Kind Contribution $1550.00TOTAL IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS $3480.00

CASH CONTRIBUTIONSSunShine Cathedral $1,000.00Private donation (1) $1775.00Private donation (2) $1775.00Total Cash Contributions $4550.00

LGBTQ Spirituality

Event PlanningEvent Planning• Days Events

Speakers Resources Fair Lecture Performer Community Gathering Class Lecture

ACTUAL EVENT ACTUAL EVENT

Spirituality LGBT StyleSpirituality LGBT StyleLecture at the University Park Campus noon to 2:30 p.m. Graham Center 150Lecture at the University Park Campus noon to 2:30 p.m. Graham Center 150Featuring: Rev. Irene Monroe & Amy Carol Webb Featuring: Rev. Irene Monroe & Amy Carol Webb  Spirituality Fair 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Spirituality Fair 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Graham Center Pitt Areain the Graham Center Pitt Area Spiritual Open Forum 6:30 pm to 8 pm Spiritual Open Forum 6:30 pm to 8 pm In the Graham Center Room 243In the Graham Center Room 243

LGBT Course Classroom Discussion 8pm – 9pm  

LGBTQ Spirituality

LogisticsLogistics

• Contact Speaker and Performers

• Set-up Table Fair, Communications with Participants and Confirmations

• Reserving Spaces

• Sound & Equipment for Performer

• Solidifying Location of Events

LGBTQ Spirituality

EvaluationEvaluation

Over 100 people attended the event throughout the day

Many individuals commented on how appreciative they were of having this type of event available

There were 15 organizations that registered for the tabling event

LGBTQ Spirituality

Advertisement

Sample Publicity

Advertised on NPR

Newspaper Article

LGBTQ Spirituality

Group ExerciseGroup Exercise

Developing an action plan to meet LGBT students spiritual needs

• What current issues exist on your campus?• Who can you partner with to begin to address

these issues on campus? • What community groups are available?• What funding sources are available?• How do you Finding Welcoming and Affirming

Congregations in your Area?

LGBTQ Spirituality

Successes & Challenges Successes & Challenges Successes

A very successful event Committed groupSupport and Commitment from community membersOver 15 organization represented in the fair Established the Website

ChallengesFollowing-up on funding issuesNeeding to reduce expensesLong Day

Staffing

Q&A

LGBTQ Spirituality

ResourcesResources

• The Gay Christian Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing resources and support to Christians who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trangender. We also work with churches and other Christian organizations to help educate the Christian community about sexual orientation issues from a Biblical standpoint.

– http://www.gaychristian.net/aboutgcn.php?fbb_session_id/10951ab5d086d05b0bb3e0be9d697c70/

• The LGBTA South Florida Coalition is a group of dedicated individuals and groups who are interested in meeting the spiritual needs of the LGBT population in South Florida.

– http://soflospirit.checkoutmypage.com/index.php?p=1_12_Websites• Soulforce: The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual,

and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

– http://www.soulforce.org/article/7• The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry: The

Center serves three distinct but overlapping constituencies: the world of academic religious scholarship; faith communities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people and organizations. It is located at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, California.

– http://www.clgs.org/2/2_0.html