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Photos of a transgender Episcopalian chaplain with his cats, a transgender Methodist minister who regularly challenges his own denomination to end discriminatory policies, a same sex couple with their daughters and an openly gay Episcopal Bishop all have three things in common: they are all smiling, they are all part of the Family Diversity Project’s “We Have Faith” exhibit and they’re all hanging in Ripley Chapel, along with a dozen other photos as part of Winchester’s PRIDEFest celebration.
“We’re hoping to challenge people’s misconceptions of what a house of worship or a faith community can be,” said Maeve Hammond, associate pastor at First Congregational Church of Winchester, which houses the Ripley Chapel.
Family Diversity Projects’ “We Have Faith” exhibit celebrates queer clergy and people of faith through photography and stories.
From left: The Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge shares his story of being one of only a handful of openly transgender clergy in the Episcopal Church; Macky & Nick and their kids are just one of the families portrayed in the ‘We Have Faith’ exhibit; and Bishop Gene Robinson shares his story from a poor boy in Kentucky to the first openly gay Episcopalian Bishop. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTOS/CHRIS STEVENS
“Some of the stories are a bit hard to read,” Hammond said. “They’re about folks who were very qualified, but denied jobs, defrocked or kicked out of institutions of faith because they were part of that (LGBTQ+) community or supported someone who was.”
The exhibit is also one of the non-profit’s older shows. Hammond said it was initially put together before many of the mainline protestant churches were accepting of the LGBTQ+ community let alone allowing for ordinations of gays or same sex weddings.
“It takes us back to another era that is incredibly relevant to today and reminds us of how far we’ve come in a decade or more,” Hammond said.
The exhibit also intentionally tries to challenge the stereotype that all people of faith are anti LGBTQ+, she added. While the show itself might only represent a small number of people of faith in the LGBTQ+ community, those pictured represent 100,000 more, Hammond said.
And they represent a broad swath of denominations. Along with Methodists and Episcopalians, there are also Pentecostal, Latter Day Saints, Jews and Presbyterians all telling their stories.
“The most famous is Bishop Gene Robinson,” Hammond said, pointing out a smiling man in a white cleric collar, the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop.
The exhibit opened Sunday, June 1 and will run through Tuesday, June 10. It’ll be open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., now through June 9 and from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on June 10.
All ages and families are welcome to attend the exhibit, and Ripley Chapel has an accessible entrance for wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
Hammond said she’d love to see multi generations of families show up together to view the show. And while last year’s exhibit had a decent showing, she is also hoping this year does a little better.
“We had about 50 people attend but I’m hoping to increase that,” she said.
She called it a great way to demystify the stereotypes of people of faith along with getting the chance to take in some beautiful artwork and beautiful stories.
“And we’re asking people, if they are so moved, to donate to the Family Diversity Projects, and all the money will go toward more projects like this,” Hammond said.
The Family Diversity Project is a nonprofit out of North Hampton devoted to helping eliminate prejudice, stereotyping, bullying and harassment of people discriminated against due to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, national origin, religion and disabilities of all kinds.
