The History, Present, and Future of LGBTQIA+ People in Quakerism

Quakers in the liberal unprogrammed tradition historically made many extraordinary contributions to the advancement of rights and legal protections for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Many Quaker communities have developed a culture that extends welcome, acceptance, and a sense of belonging for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. And yet, Quaker communities have struggled for decades and continue to struggle with widening the canopy of inclusion and acceptance for the widest spectrum of gender and sexual minorities. For example, conversations among Friends about the inclusion and dignity of transgender and non-binary persons in Quaker congregations have been particularly painful for Friends in the U.S. and the U.K. in recent years.

Starting with history, and yet also involving an examination of Quaker theology, practice, and culture, this course will explore the fascinating history of Quaker commitments to LGBTQ+ justice and the limits of Quaker acceptance of LGBTQ+ people that persist into the present.

There will be some material to look at before the first session. We will email you around one week prior to the course with information about accessing the course, including this material, on our online learning platform (Moodle).