Wednesday, May 03, 2023
"universal" washroom
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
mr mike's "he she" hallway
Saw this at the Mr. Mike's restaurant in North Edmonton - an open hallway with multiple doors, each with moustache and lips (some also with wheelchair and baby logos).
Not perfect, as the signs are still based on a gender binary, but pretty good.
It provides the second best alternative to truly gender-neutral washrooms: single-user washrooms with dual gender signage. This means that transgender and non-binary patrons can go into any available washroom without anyone hassling them for being "in the wrong washroom" No one will hassle them for what door they go through, and no one will hassle them for which washroom they are actually in (cuz they'll be in there by themselves).
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
[Kent Monkman at the alberta gallery of art]
If you are a fan of Kent Monkman as I am, and live in the Edmonton area, here's an opportunity to see four of his works -- at the Alberta Gallery of Art.
On until May 21, 2023, the Generations exhibit includes the three works seen above plus one more in another gallery.
Of particular interest to me were the two paintings seen at the centre and right above (Resurgence of the People, and Welcoming the Newcomers, respectively). As you can see, they are large and detailed -- yet these are the studies for the final versions that are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art... final versions which are monumental at 11' x 22' in size. Nonetheless, as I can't get to New York anytime soon, it was amazing to see them this close up!
The artwork in the front is a "sculptural installation Museological Grand Hall by the contemporary Mi'kmaw artist Ursula Johnson [which] evokes a silent vigil for her female ancestors - makers of baskets..." (from the museum label).
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
six of my favouritist books
- Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf (more)
- transforming: the Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians, by Austen Hartke (more)
- God is a Black Woman, by Christena Cleveland (more)
- Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality, by Richard Beck (more)
- Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Radical Inclusion, by Yvette A. Flunder (more)
- Grace (visual edition) by Philip Yancey (more)
Wednesday, April 05, 2023
[an excerpt from "a booklet of uncommon prayer: collects for the #blacklivesmatter movement"]
This is an excerpt from the poem a prayer against the marginalization of queer people:
Triune God,
You exist beyond categorization and beyond the limits of what we can understand.
Reveal to us the fluid, all-embracing community of love and light that is at the heart of your character in three persons.
End all oppression and indignities...
Read the whole poem: https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/a-prayer-against-the-marginalization-of-queer-people/
Find out more about and order the Booklet of Uncommon Prayer: https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/booklet-of-uncommon-prayer-prayers-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement/
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
land and water, only!
You may have heard the saying that there are two kinds of people in the world—
those who divide people into two kinds,
and those who don’t...
We love categorizing things, especially into opposites: land and sea, sun and moon, day and night, light and dark, male and female. And it's easy to read a passage in the Bible and assume that this is how things are. For example, that when God made humankind and it says, "male and female he created them", that this is all there is. There are men and there are women.
Let's step back and take a look at some earlier verses in Genesis 1:
And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:9-10 NIV)
God took one thing (the water under the sky) and divided it into two things. Land. Seas. That's all there is.
But that's not all there is. Land meets sea and sea meets land, and where they do, there are things like marshes, which are not land and not sea. Oh, oh. They are in between, sort of land and sort of water. They don't fit the creation story. Are they bad? Evil? The result of the fall? Or a natural part of God's creation? And what about swamps and bogs?
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
marshes and transgender folx
This cartoon will make more sense to you if you read my other post.
I want to focus on one key part of what God says above: "... that people would take everything so literally and unkindly..."
Why do we take things so literally and unkindly? Why do we default to suspicion over grace, to being right over relationship, to not giving the benefit of the doubt?
Isn't this the opposite of grace, the opposite of Jesus?
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
strategically inclusive leadership #3: the table I long for....
[core topic]
This is part of an ongoing series
on strategically inclusive leadership.
Read the introduction here.
Wednesday, March 08, 2023
[Happy International Women's Day!]
Celebrating International Women's Day and all women, transgender and cisgender - recognizing also that there are some who present as women and have similar experiences to women but are non-binary.
Picture is of a Hershey chocolate bar with packaging specifically for this month: "Her for She". Featuring Fae Johnstone of Wisdom 2 Action. Art by @gosiakomorski
Picture is of a Hershey chocolate bar with packaging specifically for this month: "Her for She". Featuring Autumn Peltier. Art by @gosiakomorski
Wednesday, March 01, 2023
sil #2: Indigenizing the academy (part 2: exercises)
[core topic]
This is part of an ongoing series
on strategically inclusive leadership.
Read the introduction here.

- A company or institution where you are involved in an Employee Resource Group
- A religious institution or faith community where you provide leadership in one particular location or sub-community
- A municipality where you are involved in a community association or cultural organization
Things our company / institution / organization /government currently does that matches each of the three categories: | |
---|---|
Denial, status quo, continuing, etc. | |
Helping minoritized and racialized employees succeed in existing structure | |
Transforming the organization and building a new one together | |
Other thoughts and ideas |
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
[supporting Black lgbgtq+ communities - resources]
Coming Out: Living Authentically as Black LGBTQ People
Download page for this 68-page guide: https://www.hrc.org/resources/coming-out-living-authentically-as-black-lgbtq-people
Black & LGBTQ: Approaching Intersectional Conversations
If you’re considering engaging (as a Black queer person) with people who identify as non-Black in your life about your identities, it’s important to remember that the process of having difficult conversations does not begin or end with the discussion itself. It is essential to consider your well-being and safety at each step in the journey. Here are some approaches to consider before, during, and after a difficult conversation to make sure the dialogue — and your mental health — stays safe.
Direct download: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/intersectional-conversations-1.pdf
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
[braves wear braids documentary]
If you are a TEACHER, this is a must-watch video!
The Braves Wear Braids documentary looks at the spiritual meaning of braids, and the struggles faced by Indigenous youth to keep this important piece of the culture alive through interviews with Ethan Bear, Elders, and other Indigenous men who speak to their own personal experiences with their braids. (from video description)
So... hopefully by now most of us know not to touch other people's hair! Much of what I've seen on that topic has been about Black people having their hair touched by strangers.
While of course I wasn't going around touching anyone's hair, this video gave me a better understanding of the important role of hair in Indigenous culture. Note the important role that parents, along with teachers and principals, have in educating others and in addressing and preventing bullying, in the context of Indigenous male youth with long hair and braids.
Wednesday, February 08, 2023
sil #2: Indigenizing the academy (part 1: concepts)
[core topic]
This is part of an ongoing series
on strategically inclusive leadership.
Read the introduction here.

Friday, February 03, 2023
my thoughts on "‘radical inclusion’ for L.G.B.T. people, women and others in the Catholic Church" by Cardinal McElroy

On January 24, 2023, an article titled Cardinal McElroy on ‘radical inclusion’ for L.G.B.T. people, women and others in the Catholic Church, written by Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, was posted at America Magazine. I am sharing some key quotes from that article here, along with the link, for two reasons:
- Cardinal McElroy speaks frankly about the topic of radical inclusion in regard to the Roman Catholic Church, including references to patterns of racism or how church marginalizes victims of clergy sexual abuse.
- The quotes and surrounding text resonate with some of the themes that are a key part of my thinking these days, particularly related to strategically inclusive leadership.
The five quotes and some brief comments by me (I encourage you to read the six-page article to get the full context):
Quote 1:
“Many of these challenges arise from the reality that a church that is calling all women and men to find a home in the Catholic community contains structures and cultures of exclusion that alienate all too many from the church or make their journey in the Catholic faith tremendously burdensome.”
- My comment: That’s a pretty bold statement for a Cardinal to make in the second paragraph of this article. Read on for more…
Quote 2:
“A culture of synodality is the most promising pathway available today to lead us out of this polarization in our church. Such a culture can help to relativize these divisions and ideological prisms by emphasizing the call of God to seek first and foremost the pathway that we are being called to in unity and grace. A synodal culture demands listening, a listening that seeks not to convince but to understand the experiences and values of others that have led them to this moment. A synodal culture of true encounter demands that we see in our sisters and brothers common pilgrims on the journey of life, not opponents. We must move from Babel to Pentecost.”
- It seems so common sense to me to see others as comrades in the journey, but somehow it isn’t obvious for everyone. Or we decide that certain people are not our brothers and sisters but are instead children of the devil, so that we can be justified in casting them out, oppressing them, treating them as enemies….
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
[Alok on "the grammar of gender"]
I follow Alok Vaid-Menon on Instagram. They are an author, speaker, poet, comedian...and I've been learning so much from them.
Here they are speaking about the grammar of gender:
Visit Alok's Instagram page for more great content.
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
strategically inclusive leadership #1: names that matter, and who is at the margins
[core topic]
This is part of an ongoing series
on strategically inclusive leadership.
Read the introduction here.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
introduction to "strategically inclusive leadership"
Friday, January 06, 2023
Tuesday, December 06, 2022
introducing yourself the "triplet" way
Here's a tip for introducing yourself - including pronouns - to someone else.
Use a triplet, or triad, as follows:
- Name
- Pronouns
- Job title, or position on team, etc.
Example:
Hi, I'm Marcelino, my pronouns are he and they, I'm a stockbroker.
Why the triplet? Two reasons:
- First, if sharing your pronouns is new(er) to you, putting your pronouns in between two items that you are used to sharing might make it easier.
- Second, if the other person wants to share, you've modelled a way of sharing. But if they do not wish to share their pronouns, they can still use the outer two parts: name and job title/position.
Possibly awkward | Hi, I'm Jacquelyn, my pronouns are she/her. | Oh, hi, I'm Hassan... |
---|---|---|
Not awkward | Hi, I'm Jacquelyn, my pronouns are she/her, I'm an architect. | Oh, hi, I'm Hassan, I'm the service manager. |
Sunday, December 04, 2022
how to invite and make space for the sharing of personal pronouns
Individually
There are various steps individuals who are comfortable with sharing their pronouns can do to invite and make space for others to also share their pronouns if they wish. Here are a few examples:
- Share your pronouns first. This lets others know that sharing of pronouns is okay, and models one way of sharing them.
- When asking people to introduce themselves (at a meeting, for example), invite them to share pronouns by saying something like “Introduce yourself with your name, your role on this project, your pronouns if you like, and what you hope to accomplish in today’s meeting.”
Note: extend this invitation equally to everyone. Do not single out the people that you think look gender-diverse. - Share your pronouns in your email signature and with your screen name on video conferencing services.
- When meeting someone new in a work or formal context, use this three-part introduction: Name, Pronouns, Job Position. This models the sharing of pronouns and sets an example for how the other person could share, yet leaves it open for them to just share Name and Job Position. Note that having three parts to your own introduction, means that someone who prefers not to share their pronouns still has two items to share, which is less awkward than only saying their name.
- If attending an event where name tags are provided, adding your pronouns after your name is an easy way to normalize the sharing of pronouns.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
why sharing personal pronouns must be optional

Sharing of pronouns is increasing as diversity and inclusion awareness and initiatives grow. It is far more common to see pronouns listed in email signatures or beside attendee names during a video conference.
More organizations are promoting the use and sharing of pronouns. Some organizations, however, are now requiring employees to share their pronouns. This is problematic and not recommended for a number of reasons:
- Someone who is not sure about their pronouns can be pushed into making a premature choice simply to comply with the requirement to list their pronouns, and then may face additional scrutiny if they later change their pronouns upon further consideration.
- Some transgender or non-binary folx might be quite sure about their pronouns but might not be ready to share them. Perhaps they are still getting used to their identity themselves, perhaps it’s not safe to be out at work, perhaps they have other reasons. If they are required to list their pronouns when they do not want to, there are really only two options: lie about their pronouns by listing ones that are not true to them and possibly feeling like they have negated their transition, or tell the truth and out themselves before they are ready to. Neither option is ideal.
- Someone might not want to share their pronouns as past experience has taught them that it’s not safe to do so.
- Some people might not be familiar with sharing pronouns, and might not know what to do or be concerned about not doing it wrong, especially if put on the spot in person or at a meeting.
- Someone might be comfortable sharing their pronouns and identity in some contexts and not in others. For example, someone might be fine sharing with close friends and with colleagues in their work group, but prefer not to do so with acquaintances and strangers. Depending how much their role needs to interact with others outside of the work group, being obliged to share their pronouns might be uncomfortable and awkward for them. For example, a non-binary employee might have asked their friends to use “they/them” to refer to them, but when interacting with the public at work, the employee uses “she/her” as it matches what customers expect and is easier.
- Some cisgender people do not like pronouns or see the point of them, or do not like trans folx. Requiring these persons to use pronouns can result in a backlash, one that will often be directed back at trans people.
While pronouns sharing should never be required, it should most definitely be allowed and facilitated, especially as it can make a world of difference to people who are trans or gender non conforming, along with being helpful when connecting with people whose names are gender neutral or unfamiliar.
Saturday, November 12, 2022
[resource: queers the word: a 40-day devotional for lgbtq+ christians]
"Have you ever wanted a daily devotional but couldn’t find one that affirmed your sexuality/gender identity? or took social justice seriously? Do you want something you can do in five minutes in the morning or can use for an extended time of study? Are you looking for a devotional that takes Scripture seriously, but also affirms the goodness of queer and trans people?
In this 40-day devotional you’ll find entries from a queer and trans perspective written to support you in strengthening your faith and affirming your identity." (from website)
For more information and purchasing (paperback, kindle and digital pdf), see
https://www.queertheology.com/devotional/
Thursday, November 10, 2022
[God must be a black trans woman...]
Dr. Christena Cleveland's book, God Is a Black Woman, is definitely worth a read or three.
Here's a quote from an interview done with Dr. Cleveland on the Queer Theology podcast:
"And so when the Black Madonna says, I'm completely reordering the pecking order per se, it means putting black trans women at top - on the top.
So when I say if God's a black woman, then she must be a black trans woman. Yeah, I was surprised. I, I shouldn't have been because my trans friends have talked to me about TERFs [trans-exclusionary radical feminists], but I was surprised by how many people - TERFs - were really upset that I included black trans women in my discussion of God as a black woman. And it did make me more, more convinced because that, that behavior suggests that TERFs don't think that trans black women are sacred."
From https://www.queertheology.com/podcast/459/
Find out more about this book and Christena Cleveland:
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
benevolent king edward
According to the Google dictionary,
benevolent means well meaning and kindly and has the following roots:
Both parts are from Latin.
"bene" meaning well; "velle" meaning to wish.
bene volent = well wishing
benevolent.
Something said about royalty, as in "He was a benevolent ruler."
As king, he acted in ways which showed he wished well upon his subjects.
But who needs Latin, when you can speak French.
The word "bene" is quite similar to the French "bien", which in English is "good"
The French word "volent" means to steal.
So benevolent could also mean "good thief"
Something also said about royalty, as in, "He was a good thief."
As in, the king was good at stealing. So good, that no one even thought of him as a thief.
Not even when he stole millions of acres of land from Indigenous peoples around the world. Or when he stole the lives of millions of people by enslaving them...
Just something to think about ...
Monday, August 15, 2022
[more about the fauntleroy residence]
This post has nothing to do with the main theme of this blog, which is an exploration of exclusion and embrace. This is about another love of mine - architecture.
I recently came across a well-designed house by Heliotrope Architects, featured in several magazines.
They all have great pictures similar to this one. One of the articles also includes floor plans of the main floor and lower level, but not of the upper floor. So I created a possible version of the second floor, based on pictures and description from the articles along with the footprint and layout of the lower floors. Am sharing it here for anyone else who appreciates this house and is wondering what the upper floor might be like.
Thursday, July 14, 2022
[anglican diocese of edmonton > finding our way]
The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton has just released a document "Finding Our Way", which summarizes what our new (as of Sept 2021) Bishop has heard and how he wants to move forward.
Intro: https://edmonton.anglican.ca/pages/finding-our-way
Actual Finding Our Way (PDF)
Wednesday, July 06, 2022
links to 'uncertain and declared spaces' resources

Watch the introductory video on uncertain spaces and declared spaces.
Read my article on exploring uncertainty and embrace at your church.
Read my article on why I no longer believe in lgbtq+ friendly churches.
Check out all "uncertain spaces and declared spaces" posts on this blog.
Monday, June 27, 2022
performative allyship... at church
Performative allyship is when your place of worship has an LGBTQ sticker at the door and a Pride flag on their website but it …
doesn't talk about sexuality and gender
doesn't discuss the use of gendered language
doesn't have all gender washrooms
doesn't invite openly LGBTQ speakers to speak
doesn't mention that they perform same-sex weddings
doesn't have clear LGBTQ anti-discrimination policies
And those are just six practical things that are often missed by performative allies...
Now read about the deeper things that many churches are also missing when it comes to actually being inclusive and embracing of queer folx, in my article: