Making Space For Queer Acceptance at a Catholic University
By: Safiyah Simpkins
The United States is currently going through a wave of anti-queer sentiment fueled by conservative and religious institutions. Just this year alone there have been a total of 465 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced, five of which were introduced in my home state of Illinois. During times like this, hope for a better, more inclusive future seems very far away. However, pockets of support can be found everywhere, creating safe spaces for those who need it most, even in seemingly unlikely places.
DePaul University is a 4-year Catholic institution where, with the support of the school, students are doing their part to show solidarity with the queer community. The university has a history of being open and affirming to students and faculty with queer identities. It was the first Catholic university to offer a LGBTQ studies minor, currently has a LGBTQIA Resource Center where queer students can find support and assistance, and the school just hosted its third annual Queer Prom in January, an event where LGBTQ students and allies celebrate and dance the night away.
DePaul’s environment of inclusion, despite its status as a private religious institution, is well known by many. One quick google search will have you finding multiple reddit posts, articles, and forums, all with people talking about DePaul’s reputation as the “gay catholic university.”
A good example of DePaul’s commitment to creating a safe environment for all students is the LQBTQIA+ small group sponsored by the Catholic Campus Ministries, where students who identify as both LGBTQ+ and religious can find community and acceptance.
Payton Ramsey, the current student in charge of the group, took over leadership from a friend at the beginning of the 2023 school year, after being one of only two members the year prior. Describing how she came across the group, Ramsey said, “I saw that they posted a flier for a queer, faith based community, and it was only a few months after I had left my previous Christian organization when I found out how homophobic they were. I was really looking for somewhere to kind of nurture my faith that was affirming and accepting.”
As the group’s leader, Ramsey has worked hard to not only expand participation, but also to create the accepting space she was looking for when she first joined. Her efforts are evidenced by the now flourishing group, which has grown to 15 active members.
Each weekly meeting varies in topic and activity, often changing based on the needs and interests of those in the group. Ramsey said she “… always want[s] the group to serve the people in it. [She wants] the people who are in it to kind of shape the personality of the group.” Activities range from coloring, to group outings at the Art Institute, to deep discussions about Bible passages and students’ relationships to their queer and religious identities. Though it is a Catholic queer group, membership is not limited to people who identify as Catholic or Christian. There are Jewish and Muslim students who participate in the group as well.
Overall, reactions to the small group have been very positive so far, according to Ramsey. Not only has the university been very supportive of Ramsey and her version of the group, but there also has been no serious backlash from the student body. Though in the past DePaul has had issues with unofficial student groups expressing anti-LGBTQ sentiments, there has been no sign of that so far. Ramsey expressed that any, admittedly light, pushback she gets usually comes from those wary of religion and Christianity due to past experiences with discrimination and religious trauma, saying,
“I actually get more pushback from people who are queer and not religious. They’re like ‘Oh, you’re Christian and you’re queer, how does that work’ type of thing…It’s not something that I get hate for or anything though, people really don’t care as long as you’re not harming them.”
Despite some people’s hesitation over the idea that someone can be both LGBTQ and religious, DePaul University’s LQBTQIA+ small group is an example of the difference small pockets of acceptance can make in a time where exclusion and discrimination seem to be everywhere.
One participant, who wished to stay anonymous, said that joining the group made her “grateful for the experiences [she] had…a lot of queer people and religious, Catholic, queer people are very isolated and alienated in their lives, and they don’t get that experience of connection.” She expressed that getting to meet and create community with other queer people was her favorite part of the group.
So often in today’s polarized climate, people are denied the right to truly embody all parts of their identity. The conservatives behind the wave of homophobic and transphobic hate in the US want to force people into strict categories that dictate who they are and what they are allowed to do. They draw a thick border between religiosity and queerness, denying the very real overlap that happens all the time in everyday life.
Seemingly small efforts, like the DePaul LQBTQIA+ small group, are an important part of the fight against this way of thinking, as they combat the idea that queerphobic people get the last say on what “real” faith looks like. Many people use religion as an excuse to be hateful, but this group proves that love is the true core of faith.
When asked how she felt about those who would condemn her for trying to live a life that is authentically queer and Christian, Ramsey was unruffled. “I am a child of God before I’m anything else,” she smiled, “and I’m always gonna be no matter what. Just leave people alone. Let me live my life. Let me live my faith… Love will always win and love can be said and felt a million different ways.”
It’s people like Ramsey and those in the DePaul community, who work everyday to build an inclusive space for everyone, that keep the tide of hate and discrimination in our country at bay. And just by being accepting in your everyday life, you can create a welcoming space as well.
Safiyah Simpkins is a 2023–24 HumanitiesX Student Fellow
