Holding Every Body in Liberating Love
Side With Love is hosting our annual 30 Days of love, and this week's theme is Possibility : Bodily Autonomy (LGBTQIA+, reproductive, gender, and disability justice).
Imagine a world where everybody - every body - was treated as truly sacred. Every body, whatever shape, size, expression, ability - was revered as one of the infinite expressions of the Divine. A reflection of God. An opportunity to celebrate the holy diversity that makes up our humanity.
When we witness our shared humanity we are called to care, to defend, protect, and affirm OUR very existence and our inherent worth. In this world, every body is cared for. Everybody has the ability to make the decisions they need to be safe and whole in their being. Every body has access to the resources they need to thrive. Everybody - every body - is held in a truly liberating love.
Unfortunately, we know that the world as it is today does not treat every body as sacred. Our country's dominant narrative of "safety," heavily influenced by ongoing colonization, criminalizes black and brown bodies. An oppressive and exclusive definition of gender, perpetuated by conservative Christian supremacy, dehumanizes queer and transgender bodies. The denial of access to even the most basic spaces and resources, exacerbated by a "profit over people" healthcare industry, invisibilizes disabled bodies. Injustices rooted in the capitalist and white supremacist systems that have shaped our communities for generations have created an apocalyptic world, brutalizing sacred bodies in a vicious cycle of exploitation, violence, and death. Our society’s dependence on these immoral forces has moved us so far away from our shared humanity that we no longer regard one another as threads woven together in a Divine tapestry.
These attacks on our bodies are attacks on our existence. They are neither isolated nor unrelated. We know this because there is a unified strategy and single solution. Devalue and criminalize our identities and institutionalize our people. We know the tactics and the institutions - prisons, jails, conversion therapy, conservatorship, detention, surveillance. These are the many tentacles of the carceral state that are strangling so many of our Beloveds.
And yet, it is within this fight where we can remind ourselves that another world is possible, but only if we commit to creating it together. In the midst of what is, there are glimmers of what could be. There are holy moments of possibility that we must lean into during these desperate times. From the quiet moments of self-determination and action, to the power of thousands showing up for collective liberation, there is hope in all of those moments that connect us.
Click here to read the full reflection for 30 Days of Love from Side With Love Disability Justice Associate Rev. Amanda Schuber, Trans Support Specialist Rev. Jami Yandle, and Congregational Justice Organizer Rev. Ranwa Hammamy.
This week's offerings: a Time for All Ages from Rev. Hannah Villnave, a body practice by Rev. Catharine Clarenbach, a prayer from Rev. Mykal Slack, a grounding practice by Canedy, and a blessing from Kaden Colton.
Upcoming Events:
February 7: UPLIFT Trans/Nonbinary+ Pastoral Small Group
5pm PT / 8pm ET
This is a space to share the hard stuff and to hold the hard stuff that others are navigating in their lives. During our time together, our lead chaplain/facilitators will share opening and closing words, and in between, there is time for everyone to share what's on their hearts, and receive what others are sharing about their own lives. It's a supportive, judgment-free place to connect with other trans/nonbinary+ people. Register to join.
February 22: Faithful Grounding
4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
Join our Side with Love Fun & Spiritual Nourishment Squad for an hour of spiritual sustenance and grounding with others organizing on the side of love. Come drink in the music, meditation, play, and prayer. We end with a Connection Cafe for those who wish to talk together. Show up as you are, whatever is in your heart, and with your camera on or off as you need. Register to join.
February 27: UPLIFT Trans/Nonbinary+ Monthly Gathering
5pm PT / 8pm ET
Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings for trans, nonbinary, and other not-entirely-or-at-all-cis UUs and friends of UUism. Join us to connect with other trans/nonbinary+ UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. This is a drop-in space, where folks can come and go as works best for them, and where people can join us at any time. You can be a regular or someone new, someone who's been curious for a while but hasn't yet checked us out, somebody who is rejoining after time away, and all other ways of relating to this space! You are welcome here, and you are loved. Register to join.