Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

By Avery ArdenReligion & Spirituality
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Blessed Are the Binary Breakers episodes

  • Eli and the prophet Elijah

    Eli Rosenberg used to think that being trans was incompatible with faith.  But with help from their rabbi, transtorah.org, and the prophet Elijah, they discovered that Judaism has room for all sorts of people and welcomes questions without answers.  

    In this interview, Eli talks about conflict and interpretation. They wrestle with various supposed dualisms, from faith vs. science to being disabled vs. being made in the image of God -- and find that these concepts are not so dichotomous after all. 
    They also discuss the challenges of finding trans-friendly therapists, the pain of dysphoria and the wonders of hrt,  support from loved ones, and autism and EDS. 
    Eli can be found on twitter at @chronautist



    Talking Points:
    - Avery invites YOU to share your story for a special episode on Faith and Violence (for more details, see: https://tinyurl.com/yx8z75et) (0:00 - 3:23)
    - Introducing Eli -- nonbinary, disabled, autistic, Jewish (3:24 - 4:13)
    - Psychology and therapist problems (4:14 - 6:05)
    - Interpretation and conflict -- Judaism allows for wrestling with God (6:06 - 7:55)
    - A new rabbi and transtorah.org (7:56 - 10:25)
    - How Eli got their name: dysphoria and Elijah the prophet (10:26 - 16:30)
    - "You can't be trans, you're autistic" (16:31 - 18:47)
    - Testosterone and gender presentation (18:48 - 23:40)
    - Eli's fiancée, sister, family (23:41 - 30:29)
    - Love for math and science: "Numbers are the closest we get to the handwriting of God" (30:30 - 33:07)
    - "This can't be accidental" -- intelligent design and human advancements (33:08 - 36:34)
    - We are made in God's image -- made to be creative -- tattoos and piercings (36:35 - 42:20)
    - The medical model vs. the social model of disability (42:21 - 45:36)
    - Wrapping up (45:37 - 48:16)

    49 min
  • Adam is a lifelong Methodist

    In a previous episode, Adam Richards talked to us about the United Methodist Church's general conference, but we didn't get to hear much about their own life! Adam has a deep love for Wesleyan theology's focus on good fruits and for their university's campus ministry and activist groups. Adam also talks about the support they find from their partner and some family members, the challenges of finding clothing when nonbinary and autistic, and finding the Spirit of Love in secular spaces.



    Talking points:
    - Updates on the UMC general conference (0:00 - 2:19)  
    - Introducing Adam: studies, church involvement (2:20-4:57)  
    - Growing up; high school youth group while figuring out sexuality (4:58-7:20)
    - College: LGBT+ group, activist group (7:21-8:49)
    - Frank Schaefer: hurt by the UMC, finding hope in campus ministry (8:50-14:40)
    - The "clobber" passages: trans people and the Bible (14:41-18:35)
    - Partner -- atheist, but not "unequally yoked" (18:36-20:48)
    - Family and working through queerphobia (20:49-24:10)
    - Still not out to their dad as trans; figuring out when to come out; figuring out they're trans (24:11-26:57)
    - Trans and autistic -- sensory issues vs. dysphoria (26:58-27:44)
    - The challenges of clothes shopping (27:45-29:57)
    - The Spirit of Love in secular spaces -- God is where the marginalized are (29:58-31:59)
    - More on queerness and the Bible (32:00-34:42)
    - "Ever since coming out, my faith has gotten stronger" (34:43-36:15)
    - Wesleyan theology -- experiences and fruits (36:17-42:06)
    - More on clothes: Deuteronomy, even harder when you're nonbinary (42:07-43:42)
    - Wrapping up (43:43-46:59)

    48 min
  • Derek loves his family

    Derek Guy has a lot of love to give: for his family, for the youth he's worked with, and for communities where he can fully be himself as a Black trans man. 

    In this episode, Derek describes how he's been able to transform his traumatic experiences with church hurt and attending a conversion therapy camp into strength he uses to serve youth and adults as a social worker. He talks about identifying more as spiritual than Christian, believing in a higher power and, with his wife, doing what he can to give his son a solid foundation in spirituality. 

    Derek also talks about the life-giving power of finding communities where he feels supported and welcomed, and the pain and frustration when communities fail to be that -- with concrete advice to communities that want to learn to be more inclusive! 

    Derek wants listeners to know he can be found on most social media sites if you search DerekJGuy -- check him out! 

    Click here for an episode transcript.

    Talking points:

    - Introducing Derek: from Atlanta to Louisville  (0:00 - 3:35)

    - Church: goes to Bible studies, not worship services; work to do regarding trans inclusion (3:36 - 5:17)
    - Identifies as spiritual; thoughts on the Bible; raised Christian (5:18 - 8:08)
    - Conversion camp -- "voluntarily" went so he could be a youth mentor -- church hurt and love, trauma and strength (8:09 - 12:59)
    - The church that sent him to conversion camp is affirming now -- the consequences of ignorance (13:00 - 15:25)
    - Coming out -- to his dad 4 times, to his mom, to his family (15:26 - 21:45)
    - The power of community: the Black Trans Conference of America; advocating for trans kids at work (21:46 - 24:49)
    - Giving his son the resources to make his own choices -- gender and religion (24:50 - 32:25)
    - Thoughts on theology -- hard to find accessible queer theology; politics of church structure (32:26 - 36:59)
    - Slow-going trans inclusion -- the bathroom issue (37:00 - 40:20)
    - Derek's specific advice for churches on bathroom signs, inclusive language, gendered groups, etc. (40:21 - 47:17)
    - Why trans inclusion NEEDS to be a priority: we are an "endangered" group (47:18 - 52:20)
    - LGBT groups have this issue too -- LGB needs to remember the T (and POC); Derek had to step down as Mr. KPF (52:21 - 55:40)
    - "people only care about trans people when we're dying, not when we're trying to live;" we are forceful because this is an urgent situation (55:41 - 59:45)
    - Pain around baptism; "It made me feel rejected .... That's when I did stop going to church" (59:46 - 1:04:20)
    - Still he stays -- still has found community in this church, and so has his son (1:04:21 - 1:07:05)
    - "Find your people" (1:07:06 - end)

    1 hr 10 min
  • The UMC General Conference: a nonbinary Methodist's hopes and fears

    From February 23-26, 2019, the United Methodist Church is holding a special general conference specifically for the discussion of "human sexuality." The outcome will impact all members of the UMC, but particularly those within it who are LGBTQ+.  

    In this special episode, nonbinary Methodist Adam Richards was good enough to walk me through the various possible outcomes of this conference. While doing so, they shared their own story -- their love for Methodism and why they stay despite pain and frustation, their plans to pursue a calling to ordination, and the differences they've noticed between LGB issues and trans issues in Methodist churches. 



    Talking points:
    - Introducing Adam and LGBT+ discussions in the UMC (0:00 - 5:14)
    - M Barclay and LGBT+ resilience (5:15 - 6:34)
    - Constant conflict at previous General Conferences (6:35 - 8:42)
    - This February's special General Conference: 3 main plans (8:43 - 10:56)
    - Possible consequences for congregations and for LGBT+ individuals (10:57 - 12:51)
    - Why Adam stays (12:51 - 15:04)
    - Congregations don't know; lack of knowledge and resources about trans people (15:05 - 19:46)
    - The discussion is focused on the wrong thing -- property instead of actual people; allies lack resources (19:47 - 22:39)
    - The consequences land on LGBTQ+ people; "live in my shoes" (22:40 - 23:50)
    - Groups who want to do LGBTQ+ actual harm; what this is really about: "You hate us" (23:51 - 26:51)
    - Schism will be a sad thing even if necessary (26:52 - 30:10)
    - Adam's journey to ordained ministry -- "no matter what, I will be ordained"; Spirit and spite (30:11 - 38:12)

    40 min
  • Willow errs on the side of grace

    Join me and Willow Hovingh as she shares her experiences as a trans woman transitioning in her fifties. Coming out has brought Willow an abundance of blessings in her personal well-being, her work life and church life, and in her relationships with friends and family, including her trans son.

    Click here for an episode transcript.

    Talking points:

    - Willow introduces herself -- a "late bloomer" who came out at 52 (0:00 - 3:20)

    - Growing up unchurched (3:21 - 4:10)
    - Joining a church, "searching for something" (4:11 - 4:59)
    - The "lowest difficulty settings" in the game of life, but still different, "the weird kid" (5:00 - 9:30)
    - Enrolling at Louisville Seminary, first inklings of being trans put on the shelf for 20 years (9:31 - 16:15)
    - Willow's "sandpaper suit;" everything uncomfortable (16:16 - 17:20)
    - "God bless estrogen" -- starting her transition and discovering gender euphoria! (17:21 - 18:49)
    - Supported by her long-time church, rich in LGBT ministers (18:50 - 23:17)
    - The power of a recognition of name-change rite (23:18 - 25:27)
    - Erring on the side of grace (25:28 - 26:44)
    - Gender and calling: what are the things that you can't not do? (26:45 - 28:45)
    - Ready to come out: "I don't give a hoot"; medical experiences; coming out at work (28:46 - 32:36)
    - "If you had told me then" - a happy woman (32:37 - 35:55)
    - Justin Tanis' book and the idea of gender as calling; "I can't go back" (35:56 - 37:26)
    - Coming out to her kid and her parents; enriched relationships (37:27 - 40:57)
    - Willow's message for pastors: "Are you ready?" (40:58 - 42:31)
    - Resistance through being visible (42:32 - 43:41)
    - Parenting a trans person (43:42 - 44:37)
    - It's okay to make mistakes (44:38 - 45:55)
    - Focusing on blessings and gratitude (45:56 - 47:27)
    - Willow and her son support each other (47:28 - 49:42)
    - Free from that sandpaper suit (49:43 - 50:42)
    - A message for the muggles (cis straight folks) (50:43 - 52:08)

    53 min
  • Avery’s genderqueer calling

    In this first episode, Avery discusses what made them start up this podcast. They then explore how genderqueerness is part of the vocation they have been discerning since their childhood days of preaching homilies to stuffed animals, all the way through their present studies at Louisville Seminary.

    Click here for an episode transcript.

    Talking points:

    - The goal is to be a podcast for trans and nonbinary persons of all faiths and experiences (0:00 - 3:05)

    - Introducing the interviewer, Leah, and digging into Avery's childhood (3:06-6:15)
    - Avery's faith practices growing up -- scripture and sermonizing (6:16-11:00)
    - Avery's journey to recognizing their genderqueerness (11:01-16:09)
    - Internalized misogyny? Avery's nonbinary femininity and Leah's "tomboyness" (16:10-20:00)
    - Educating churches on trans issues (20:01-22:03)
    - Avery's three-branched vocation: pastorhood, genderqueerness, and marriage (22:04-24:03)
    - Breaking binaries between Catholicism and Protestantism -- Avery holds both traditions in their heart (24:04-27:14)
    - Avery and Leah share their final words of wisdom (27:15-end)


    Where else you can find Avery:

    - blessedarethebinarybreakers.tumblr.com

    - Blessed Are the Binary Breakers on Youtube

    - Their Timeline of Gender Diversity throughout Scripture & Christian History - https://blessedarethebinarybreakers.com/introduction


    31 min

About Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

From the publisher's feed

Avery Arden (they/ze, MDiv) joins with guests of various genders & religious backgrounds to break down every human binary — from male/female to light/dark, and from faith/doubt to sacred/profane. Between & beyond dualistic divides, what collective liberation can we imagine into being, together?