“Until We Are All Free: Spiritual Advocacy With LGBTQ+ Prisoners”

“Working with LGBTQ+ prisoners to support them spiritually as together we bring awareness to our siblings in the free world of their spiritual and physical struggles and pain, seeing the face of Jesus in each of our siblings in prison and in the free world. ”

Team Members/Contributors

Martha Anne Daniels Holy Covenant Metropolitan Community Church Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

By gathering both statistical data and narratives, then compiling them into an account of the spiritual struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals as they work their way through the legal system from arrest to incarceration to release and re-integration, I will show faith groups how Jesus’ Great Commandment and other scriptural texts, including non-Christian texts, compel us to be supporters of, and advocates for, our siblings in this process. Jesus says that as we visit those in prison we visit him, but freedom for the imprisoned is also a sign of the day of jubilee, of God’s reign of peace. The prophet Micah says “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Divine;” any examination of current-day US prison policy demonstrates a lack of justice for all caught in it, most especially for LGBTQ+ individuals. Together with a LGBTQ+ person on the inside, we will formulate theological statements that elucidate the spiritual experiences of incarcerated LGBTQ+ people. Using these statements, we can then, again in partnership with those on the inside (“Nothing about us without us”) create a project to convey the spiritual needs and desires of those on the inside to those in the free world, enabling them to spiritually support their incarcerated LGBTQ+ siblings.