Rituals are an integral part of most religions around the world, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, etc. These rituals involve various activities such as prayer, meditation, fasting, chanting, singing, dancing, etc., performed within a specific set of rules and regulations to show reverence towards God/gods.
For LGBTQ+ individuals, these practices can be challenging due to their unique needs regarding gender identity, sexual orientation, and relationship status. As a result, they experience ritual, liturgy, and sacred time differently across inclusive and non-inclusive settings.
Inclusive settings allow LGBTQ+ individuals to participate fully without fear or judgment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. They feel safe, included, valued, accepted, empowered, and supported. This enables them to express themselves freely and fully, connect with others, find peace and healing, grow spiritually, and deepen their faith. On the other hand, non-inclusive settings exclude LGBTQ+ individuals from participation in religious activities because of prejudices, stereotypes, and discrimination against their identities and relationships. The exclusion makes them uncomfortable, unwelcome, rejected, disrespected, and devalued. It creates emotional pain, psychological distress, spiritual doubt, and social isolation.
LGBTQ+ individuals often create personal sacred spaces, rituals, and liturgies that reflect their unique experiences.
They may sing, dance, pray, or meditate together at home during festive seasons to celebrate their love, closeness, belongingness, and community. This is particularly important for couples living in countries where same-sex marriage is illegal. The couple finds meaningful ways to honor their bond within the confines of their home.
There are exceptions when some churches offer LGBTQ+ individuals opportunities for inclusion, even if they don't recognize gay marriage. Such churches invite LGBTQ+ members into leadership roles, encourage them to share their stories and struggles, provide pastoral care, and integrate them into church life. This helps LGBTQ+ individuals experience inclusiveness despite their sexual orientation or gender identity. They feel welcomed, valued, accepted, appreciated, and empowered to participate fully in communal life.
Different groups of LGBTQ+ people may have varied needs regarding ritual, liturgy, and sacred time. Some may need more privacy, while others want to be visible. Some prefer individual prayer, while others enjoy group worship. Therefore, religious communities should strive to meet these diverse needs by providing a variety of options, fostering empathy, sensitivity, acceptance, respect, and understanding towards all participants.
How do LGBTQ individuals experience ritual, liturgy, and sacred time differently across inclusive and non-inclusive settings?
As opposed to heterosexuals, LGBTQ individuals tend to have more unique experiences with religious practices due to their identity. When it comes to ritual and sacred time, these people may feel excluded and uncomfortable when attending traditional religious services that focus on heteronormativity. Conversely, inclusive settings can provide them with an opportunity to explore their spirituality and connect with others who share similar identities and experiences.