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EF Conference in Milan May 2024 – A Conversation With the Organisers

Each year there is an international conference happening, organised by the board and a local group. Every year it has been organised in another country. This year it will be in Varese, Italy, near Milan. This is an interview with a part of the organising team who tell us about the conference, what we can expect, who it is for and other things that give us a taste of what we can expect if we register for the conference 2024.

EUROPEAN FORUM OF LGBT CHRISTIAN GROUPS
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CONFERENCE E-MAIL: euroforum2024@gmail.com
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Trans woman from Myanmar – I chose safety

Many people flee their countries for their safety, but are we aware what it entails. We are prone to only think about safety and are not aware of all the other components of basic human needs that aren’t being met. The need for companionship, to be accepted, to be seen and listened, and first and foremost to BELONG. Yaya takes these challenges with optimism but not without its toll. Find out what it is like for LGBTIQ+ people in Myanmar, why she left her country and ended up in Sweden, how this affected her hopes and dreams and of course, how she came to accept herself in the first place.

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LINK TO YAYA’S PAGE: ⁠www.amazingyaya.com⁠

Gay in Portugal – Everyone Should be Authentic

Being authentic is not always easy. In the past, it was even harder to be. For Ricardo, it took time to accept himself and be who he is. Growing up in church that meant a great deal to him, he learned that being gay is a sin. Of course, he isn’t the only one. Many of us have experienced this kind of hardship. But many of us, just like Ricardo, have risen from the ashed, embraced who we are and are doing our best to live an authentic life. Our stories can now be told and hopfully those can encourage others and let them know, life can really get better.

Being authentic is not always easy. In the past, it was even harder to be. For Ricardo, it took time to accept himself and be who he is. Growing up in church that meant a great deal to him, he learned that being gay is a sin. Of course, he isn’t the only one. Many of us have experienced this kind of hardship. But many of us, just like Ricardo, have risen from the ashed, embraced who we are and are doing our best to live an authentic life. Our stories can now be told and hopfully those can encourage others and let them know, life can really get better.

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EUROPEAN FORUM OF LGBT CHRISTIAN GROUPS

Podcast on the web:
Instagram/Facebook: @podcastpriceless

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LINKS FROM RICARDO:
Movimento Sopro 
Passo  a Rezar

Recomended books:
God of Surprises, Gerard W. Hughes
Building a Bridge, James Martin, SJ

LGBTQ+ in Uganda – All We Want is Dignity

You probably heard about the situation in Uganda. People are being imprisoned, tortured and killed for being LGBTIQ+. I’m talking to Pastor Ram who is gay and a non-binary person, who had to flee Uganda to save their life. They are continuing their work of raising awareness and helping LGBTIQ+ homeless people, refugees in East-African countries. Ram is sharing his story, what is happening in Uganda and what they are doing to help LGBTIQ+ people.

Spiritual and Religious Trauma – Healing is Out There

Have you ever asked your self if you suffer from spiritual or religious trauma? As dr. Jamie Marich says, if you asked your self, you probably have. Dr. Jamie Marich talks about what spiritual and religious trauma is, how you can recognise it and what you can do. We also talked about what parents and churches can do about it even if you can’t afford therapy or you don’t have access to someone who could help you. If you have experiences something like “conversion therapy” you are probably certain about your trauma, but what about the rest of us who still suffered as part of the institutions and faith communities? Microaggressions, as dr. Marich says, also cut deep, especially when they are repeated. Often the harm done by churches hasn’t been done just by the institutions, but by our families too. Still, there is hope and healing is out there!

EUROPEAN FORUM OF LGBT CHRISTIAN GROUPS

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RESOURCES SUGGESTED BY JAMIE:

  • Abbey of the Arts: Transformative Living Through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
  • TikTok: #deconstructiontiktok
  • Reclamation Collective – Holding space for folks navigating religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and adverse religious experiences
  • Patheos – Hosting the conversation on Faith
  • BOOK: Nadia Bolz-Weber – Shameless
  • Movie: Boy Erased (be aware of possible retraumatisation)
  • Documentary: Pray Away (be aware of possible retraumatisation)

Queer Catholic Theologian From Bosnia – People Are In Pain

Discrimination in the Balkans is still very high. This is true for many eastern-European countries. This is why it’s often so hard to find people from the east as quests for the podcast. Fortunately, I came across Tanja, who is from Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is doing her PhD in Austria on the topic of LGBTIQ+ Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is the first theologian in the SE European region doing her PhD on the LGBTIQ+ topic. In her study she came across a lot of pain and discrimination, but she still has hope for the future.

A big thank you to all the people that supported and support this podcast financially as well as Reformed Churches Bern-Jura-Solothurn, Switzerland, and Die Schwelle.

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AROACE – I’m Valid, I’m Strong, I’m Proud

Many minorities, but also others (like women) know what it’s like to experience disrespect. There are constantly new groups of people who go through that experience, even from those who went through the same hardships. Of course, behind that, there is often fear, misinformation and prejudice. It is not different for ARO-ACE people. Elin tells her story of figuring our her orientation when she was 37 years old. She tells us what she went through as a person, believer, pastor and how she found pride in her identities.

A big thank you to all the people that supported and support this podcast financially as well as Reformed Churches Bern-Jura-Solothurn, Switzerland, and Die Schwelle.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Patreon
Bank transfer

EUROPEAN FORUM OF LGBT CHRISTIAN GROUPS

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PUBLIC PODCAST E-MAIL LIST TO RECEIVE NEW UPDATES

Podcast on the web: http://neprocjenjiva.com/en/the-priceless-podcast/
Instagram/Facebook: @podcastpriceless

LINKS ELIN SUGGESTED:

The books I learnt about asexuality & aromanticism are:  
“The Invisible Orientation” by Julie Sondra Decker (2014)
“ACE” by Angela Chen (2020)  
(The book ACE actually has a chapter focused on asexual people of faith, and also on being asexual and a man.)

The international forum and community for asexual people:
AVEN – The Asexual Visibility and Education Network on the website:  contains a lot of information about what asexuality is, communities around the world and also has a discussion forum where you can get in touch with others.  
The web forum for aromantic people I mentioned.
But there is also this online community: AUREA – Aromantic Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education and Adovacy – which has the website

Tv series that I mentioned is Netflix’ Heartstopper which is created by aroace author Alice Oseman.

Another book that wasn’t mentioned in the episode but I really recommend: Alice Oseman – “Loveless” where the main character Georgia is trying to figure out her identity and realises she is aroace.

People to follow on Instagram to learn more about asexual & aromantic people:
@acedadadvice (who is also on YouTube and is coming out with a book soon – he’s gay and asexual)
@theyasminbenoit – Yasmine Benoit is an aroace activist from Great Britain who is making awareness for example by creating the hashtag on Instagram #thisiswhatasexuallookslike and being an activist working together with Stonewall UK. She’s for example trying to spread awareness that asexual people also should be included in the ban against conversion therapy.

Queers of the world on YouTube (as you know) has a few amazing interviews with asexual & aromantic people. For example one from Estonia and one who is from Poland, and Sweden. 🙂

My Instagram account is: @elin_westoo

EKHO is the Christian lgbtqi association I’m a member of and they’ve got the website

Being a Gay, Divorced, Retired Pastor

Paul’s story is heartbreaking but full of optimism at the same time. Living in a time where being gay was absolutely taboo. He was pastoring people through the AIDS crisis. As a pastor he was in search of how to put his passion for ministry into practice and be openly gay. But his passion for ministry had a cost. One being his marriage. Paul tells his story with such honesty and vulnerability. He lives his truth and shares it with all of us with an optimism that can only be described as inspirational.

Forty Years Together – Love is a Roller Coaster

Relationships are a fragile thing. At the same time, they can be such a big resource of inspiration and strength. As my guests said ‘Love is a roller coaster.’ It is beautiful, but not always easy. Sometimes we need to keep in mind that there is an amazing view, once we manage to climb the mountain. But, of course, there are certain qualities relationships need to sustain. Respect, an open hand and some friends along the way. Unfortunately, there is no recipe for a long-lasting relationship, but hearing someones story can be a huge encouragement and inspiration.

Who are the Rainbow Pilgrims of Faith?

The World Council of Churches is a world fellowship of churches. Many of those are still very conservative and not near any inclusion of many people on the margins. This includes LGBTIQ people. An international group is dedicating their time and energy that the voices of LGBTIQ people are heard within this fellowship. Every 7 to 8 years an international conference takes place where this group, called Rainbow Pilgrims of faith try to get closer to the delegates of different churches, share stories and invite them to different happenings. This episodes brings the work of those people closer to you.