Workshops

Including Everyone – the Challenges and Barriers Ahead

This Workshop will help to improve Access and Inclusion for Disabled LGBT people to all aspects of LGCM’s Mission and work. People attending will be encouraged to join in and offer their experiences, thoughts and suggestions. The aim will be to come away with a Plan to apply in our own areas.

Workshop Outline:

• A brief history of Disability and Emancipation
• Stereotypes and Archetypes.
• How and why are Disabled LGBT people excluded from our Organisations?
• What can we do to improve equality and inclusion in our national and local Faith Communities?
• Have you got a Plan?

KAREN SHOOK has over 30 years experience working with people living with a wide range of impairments and long term health issues. She is qualified to teach life, independence and social skills and has worked within many community organisations and health and social care settings. She is also experienced in working in user-led organisations and is a qualified Access Advisor. After 12 years working with local and national Health Services, she now provides training, consultation and advice in areas such as Access, Equality, and Inclusion, community consultation and participation, and Plain English. She is a Committee member of REGARD the National Organisation of the Disabled LGBT Community.

Made in ‘His’ Image

This workshop looks at ways in which a masculine God image is used as the launch pad for persecution of LGBTI people in a Patriarchal third-world society.

Facilitated by a team from United Kingdom Lesbian and Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG) led by PJ SAMUELS, Christian, Jamaican Refugee, Volunteer Coordinator – UKLGIG Interfaith Group.

The UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG) is a charity that promotes equality and dignity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who seek asylum in the UK, or who wish to immigrate to the UK to be with their same-sex partner. Along with legal and practical help and guidance, UKLGIG run a number of social and support groups. The Interfaith group provides peer and social support for people of different religious beliefs, and an opportunity to interact in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

Intersex Conditions and LGBT Theologies: Exploring some Affinities and Tensions

Around 1 in 2,500 people has a physical intersex condition such that their body can’t be readily classified as male or female. Some intersex people have found close affinities with LGBT groups, whilst others believe intersex doesn’t inherently involve gender identity or sexual orientation and that grouping together intersex with LGBT muddies the waters. In this workshop, we will explore some areas of similarity and difference between intersex and LGBT, and think together about the extent to which the theological and pastoral questions raised by intersex might overlap with the theological and pastoral concerns of LGBT Christians.

Dr SUSANNAH CORNWALL is postdoctoral research associate at the Lincoln Theological Institute, Department of Religions and Theology, University of Manchester. Her current research focuses on the experiences of intersex Christians in Britain and the pastoral, theological, and policy implications of intersex conditions for Christians. She is the author of Sex and Uncertainty in the Body of Christ: Intersex Conditions and Christian Theology (Equinox, 2010) and Controversies in Queer Theology (SCM, 2011)

Young LGBT homeless people: how communities can respond

This workshop will explore the issues young people that are homeless face and specific issues young people who are LGBT and homeless face. The workshop will look at how the LGBT Christian community can respond to youth homelessness.

AILSA McWILLIAM is a Support and Development Manager at Depaul UK. She joined Depaul in 2009 after 7 years managing a homelessness Charity in Bristol. The projects included a Nightstop, emergency accommodation for young people, and a Christmas shelter for the long term homeless.

• When you feel excluded from Church because you are D/deaf – where do you go?
• When you feel excluded from Church because you are LGBT – where do you go?
• When you feel excluded from Deaf Church because you are LGBT – where do you go?
• When you feel excluded from LGBT Church because you are D/deaf – where do you go?

DEE JOHNS works in Further education as an Educational Interpreter supporting D/deaf and/or D/deaf-Blind students’ from the age of 14 years. She also provides liturgical interpretation for several churches across London and has worked in Care settings; as an Advocate and in Community Interpreting. Providing: Lip-speaking; Manual Note-taking; D/deaf – Blind Communication and Guiding; SSE (Sign Supported English); and BSL (British Sign Language) as required.

PHILIP NIX attended a Pentecostal Deaf Church with his family for many years until he felt God calling him to attend a church where his sexual orientation would be affirmed. He has been a member of MCC North London for 7 years and is now on the Board of Directors with a portfolio for support and outreach to the D/deaf LGBT community.