What Happens When a Queer Muslim Meets a Lesbian Reverend?

Set in Toronto, Ontario, this Webby-winning episode of Brave Spaces brings together two dynamic faith leaders to talk about religion. Summeiya, the founder of the newly formed Queer Muslim Network and the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, share space, worship, and have a radical and powerfully candid conversation about reconciling queerness and faith.
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Welcome to Brave Spaces, an eight-part video series hosted by Devin-Norelle, a model, trans educator and writer, here to share stories of triumph, transformation and celebration! In the face of policies designed to exclude Queer folk, they are shattering barriers and claiming their own spaces: from book clubs resisting efforts to erase their stories, to sports leagues making competition accessible to all! Join zim as we meet courageous heroes who have stood up to centuries of hate in order to shape a world where love always wins. These are more than just safe spaces. These are Brave Spaces. Subscribe to PBS Voices, so you never miss an episode!
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This episode is now Webby Nominated! Please help us out by casting a vote! vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2024/video/general-video/diversity-equity-inclusion

[@vitob.]

My jaw dropped off the floor. As an exmuslim and atheist, I'm both confused and happy. This is something impossible in most Muslim schools/teaching, completely unacceptable. But I'm happy that more and more people interpret religion into more liberal and unstrict.

[@XavierPersuades]

Its just wrong and disgusting. Damaging islam

[@rora26roro57]

“Exmuslim” 😂

[@ihsanali6355]

How many rakats are in wudu

[@jorgedacosta1689]

Very true but our church welcomes ever one her at mcc we fined peace in our heart and the spirt of god amen

[@XavierPersuades]

@@jorgedacosta1689 your church doesn't celebrate pride though, do they?

[@leftistmuslim]

I just hope you realize how many people you are helping here. Like my ♡ feels so heavy but in a good way, I feel heard and seen, and so beyond confused lol. But I think that’s a good thing. Fellow Canadian in the GTA appreciating y’all ✌🏽

[@YouGuessIGuess]

The most positive role model in my young life was a queer woman who never missed church. In the small town I grew up in, everyone who was queer was closeted. She had a family as a straight woman and came out in her sixties. I remember sitting in church with her grandkids and her girlfriend. At the time I didn't understand but now I see that she was modeling self actualization, honesty, and courage.

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

I’ve got room in my life for everyone to be themselves.

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

I'm a dinosaur

[@TheScrubExpress]

I am neither queer nor religious but this, to me, is what religion *should* be. These people all just seem so loving and welcoming to others and just wanting to help. So many religious groups feel exclusive rather than inclusive and its just bad.

[@XavierPersuades]

Religion shouldnt be like this. No rules, no morals, just people being who they want to be. All ending up in their own delusions. Not very good for society

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

Should be? Well it's not

[@Rogerlevif]

Disgusting, Islam does not tolerate this sickness

[@KevinWillcock]

love love love this video and the work we do at Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto for the last 50 years. This is a great example of what we can accomplish together!

[@jorgedacosta1689]

I am at Portuguese with Canadian Roman Catholic all my life and was an ultra boy and Roman Catholic churches in parish is very much so I know the faith of the Roman Catholic in my Portuguese community or Canadian but I’ve been going to MCC since 2000 and I see the same spirit of God in our church, the gospel and ultra Chalice host communion, the wine or juice, a call and water across candles every different time of the year to change the liturgical colours of choir where all loving people come from all different page and we understand and love each other. That’s what empathy is all about is the church of embracing and welcome each one of us and I’m proud that I’m part of this church, I became a member last year but I’ve been going to church since 2000 congratulations to our new pastor, Deana Dudley for great work more to come because she is guided by the Holy scripture and spirit of god amen

[@aquamarinekepha6483]

This is so beautiful. It warms my heart, especially after learning how Bishop Carlton Pearson’s celebrate of life was… restrictive (to say the least) in honoring his legacy. Inclusion, acceptance, and compassion are powerful gifts that God gave us as a way to express divine love.

[@robinmcdonald14]

Just beautiful! Thank you!! We all need more content like this!

[@---l---]

Thank you for highlighting these spaces and people.

[@johnplumadore4258]

So great to see our faith community sharing space with Islam. God loves us all!

[@mountolympus1098]

Always on sided

[@fallinginthed33p]

Any country that allows people to embrace their own paths to faith is a great one.

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

But not a religious one

[@merlapittman5034]

This sounds like my kind of church! I'm straight, but I've never understood how people can be condemned for who they love. As long as you're not hurting anyone, I don't see a problem. Jesus preached love and acceptance

[@TheCdnIvy]

There’s lots of straight folks, couples, families that go to MCC Toronto. The pews are a filled with such a diversity in every way. You should visit!

[@merlapittman5034]

@TheCdnIvy If I was anywhere near there, I think I would, in spite of my hermit tendencies!

[@harrisonsamson]

It is a sin whether you like it or not.

[@VLADAJEBAC06]

He said go and sin no more, He preached repentance and turning away from sin. It's written in Bible that man who lays with another man is abomination to God. Read Bible

[@girlfan]

This was a really interesting video and also it delighted me to see cjthex

[@norikadolmy7274]

I am from the toronto area and I had a queer muslim boyfriend, he was a wonderful person

[@delta5263]

Jahannam

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

U cannot be lgbt and remain muslim

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

U cannot be lgbt and muslim

[@PokhrajRoy.]

This is such an interesting video! Also, I’m watching this as an atheist lol Edit: It was so wholesome that I almost welled up.

[@Starla_Darling91]

Watching this as an ex witch still in the Catholic faith. I definitely want to go to their shrine since they said it was open to all faiths to worship. I’d love to show my respects. 💛

[@jorgedacosta1689]

I been going there over 23 years and it’s all faith it’s amazing church as the next, Roman Catholic. I feel the same presence of the Jesus and theocracy in the communion with brothers and sisters, and the love, and the Holy Spirit so strong in our church.

[@rora26roro57]

Brother/sister don’t be fooled, its hard to understand this but they are not muslim, they say they are but they are praying wrong and reciting wrong and pushing their own beliefs. Do not listen to them this is false, ask any muslim scholar. they straight up lied about stuff in the quran.

[@FJB_TheBigGuy]

The point of Propaganda is emotional manipulation

[@tranxmatthewcaubang3369]

Are there any churches similar to these at the Buffalo, NY area? This video is uplifting and inspiring 🥹

[@jesusisthetruegod777]

This is heresy from all sides

[@Wind-oh-Wishp]

@@jesusisthetruegod777 GOOD.

[@jorgedacosta1689]

Great keep it up

[@coolguy-zm7tn]

I shared this with all of my Muslim queer friends, they would be so happy to watch it, thank you for this remarkable piece

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

U cannot be lgbt and remain muslim, this is very clear

[@heather-ks8st]

Didn’t think i would see cj in here!

[@jordancorp]

what an uplifting story!

[@minabish1783]

This is so beutiful, and this girl smile is even more beutiful❤️

[@rrrosecarbinela]

May it be so.

[@SHDWBLDZ]

Whoever that is, they cannot call themself a Muslim

[@iconoclastic-fantastic]

"there's a reason they call me reverend duke around here" 🤣

[@anuel3780]

7:59 yo is that CJ the X?

[@ohdarah]

💖💖💖💖

[@nittyarizza]

The group hug got me 🥺

[@Tom-zy4dj]

😂

[@ShaharmNaady]

Wt was she praying😂...? Eid prayer or wt

[@SheliakDragon]

If I grew up in a religion that practiced this much love and acceptance, I might not be a closeted apostate. Even though I'm not a queer individual, I've always struggled with how religion is practiced by those around me, focused on gatekeeping and hate, so judgemental and demonizing those who differ in opinion. I'm too much of a coward to go against society and my family. I'm sure I will live my life to its end pretending I share their ideals -- or at least, not blatantly objecting to theirs. But seeing how the people in this video have broken free from their chains of stigma, I'm filled with a bit of hope and warmth. Maybe one day I'll be brave like them.

[@KaliKali-hv9bt]

I understand but being “coward” is something we all struggle with…You’re just doing what’s right for you and your society doing feel too bad about it

[@xwtea]

hellfire bro

[@purplecouch4767]

"God is love and God created diversity."

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

Did u make that up?

[@purplecouch4767]

@@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk No a person in the video said it. At like 2:30? It just seems like a fun saying. Why? Do you prefer God is hate and God created monotony? I think 1 John 4:16 says that God is love. And the Bible says that God created the world and the world seems pretty diverse to me. I don't know what all the different plants are just that they look cool. There are a lot of verses so I'm not quite sure which other ones to quote at the moment. I think Galatians 3:28 says that we're all one in Jesus Christ. And I think Matthew 22:39 says to love thy neighbor. Ect. Also I can't tell if you were genuinely curious or if you were trying to be rude lol.

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

@purplecouch4767 first of all I'm not a Christian, I'm a muslim. Yes there's a lot of diversity in the world,but also a lot of hate, so why not say God is hate? Of course I don't believe this but I'm just using your own logic against u. God is too mysterious to even begin to describe him,but we know what he wants as he has given us the Quran (or Bible if u believe in Christianity), and it's pretty obvious what God has told us what he thinks about homosexuality, unless u are prepared to ignore scripture completely (like the imbeciles in this video) u cannot possibly call yourself a Christian, just like I couldn't call myself a muslim if I deny the Quran or try to twist the words of Allah to fit with my modern worldview.

[@Readera]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@shiney94]

But how do you interpret the story of Lot then? You say interpretation, then inform me how you can interpret those verses any other way?

[@sammyangra]

Devon boy crazy

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Imagine.

[@luthfiivansyah6244]

Bro skipped surah Hud and A-Naml

[@anaiyahluther]

Oh wow! Cool to see Cj the X in appear in this video

[@ahmadghananim3343]

Islam has a khalif though

[@Tom-zy4dj]

USA 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@SuburbanoidMisfit111]

This is nice, but my question is an honest one as someone who understands being different and 'spiritual'. Why, why, why lean into beliefs that pretty much hate you being you? I think queer folks aren't safe in these religions and religious spaces. I think they should blaze their own spiritual path for their own personal safety. I truly hope they get their own worship place. Nobody deserves to feel ostracized and we all know outside of these tiny enclaves, the rest of the religion won't accept them. Both Islamists and Christians tend to despise women preachers and queer peeps. I hope they stay safe.

[@oliviasonell960]

Many of us are pushing and creating our own spaces. Praying only with other queer people is extremely common.

[@johnnyearp52]

I am agnostic but I think a lot of people hold a special place in their heart for the religion they grew up in. My partner does.

[@SheliakDragon]

I think what they're trying to highlight here is that these faiths never explicitly said being queer is wrong -- it's that most people who practice have held on to these interpretations. I don't see anything wrong in trying to reclaim their faith but I do agree with you that this can be extremely dangerous for many people. Perhaps in 20 years or so, we'll see these tiny enclaves as the starting point for a much larger movement that changed the landscape of all religions. One can hope. But as they say in the video, sometimes it's necessary to choose being safe over being your authentic self. Please be safe out there.

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

​@oliviasonell960 what is your religion called? Because it's not islam

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

​@SheliakDragon every muslim scholar says u cannot be lgbt and remain muslim

[@thevengnesb2319]

Stop listening to shaytan and com back to allah

[@Onedayyoullrespectthegoodkidmc]

Allah, please forgive all of my sins, and all of their sins ya allah

[@Mikaeel10]

Ameen

[@Sunflowertea_10]

Astarghfurallah may Allah put you back onto the right path

[@Wind-oh-Wishp]

Well, it'd need to exist to perform any actions.

[@walkerjobe6964]

Haram

[@Theballonist]

I fully support queering every fandom.

[@S.B1989]

People choose everything for themselfs. But everything has a consequence. So God judges everybody on there actions! This girl is really confused. That's why good dads are so important. God created diversity in the form of languages, races, skin colours etc. You are not a scholars. You CAN not interperate the faith your own WAY. Never! Please this is just BS.

[@buuqmarabo2778]

😂😂

[@ofivibglogogovov]

They always live in west

[@BonafideMan500]

This is not right. We can’t change the rules and message of god just to bc we don’t like the rules of it!

[@sythereaper8403]

This ain’t Islam this is Izlam

[@Mikaeel10]

Yea exactly

[@rora26roro57]

She must be a shia 😭, astagfulahhhh “creating their own islam?” Shirk sister, she does not sound muslim at all

[@MattMurdockswife]

Im 100% none of these ppl are muslim they are just trying to ruin the image of islam. There is no Interpretation it’s literally wide and clear in the quran for EVERYONE to read

[@user-rk8cn4ck5y]

*These are the types of people that support Palestine.*

[@frankiecal3186]

Pure nonsense.

[@FJB_TheBigGuy]

Propaganda

[@squadra8747]

Ofc it will be in the usa what did i expect tbh

[@evangeloevoxi]

God loves us all. Fck what anyone else says. If you're happy and not hurting anyone, then you should be free to be yourself and show love wherever you go 🧡🩷💜💙🩵💚

[@SuburbanoidMisfit111]

The real world awaits, dear. It's unfortunate that life is so grimy, ugly and hateful, but so it is. Ppl need to dwell in reality, not fantasy.

[@evangeloevoxi]

​@@SuburbanoidMisfit111 I'm almost 30 with kids, I don't need a lecture on how shitty the world is. I'm well aware, thank you.

[@johnnyearp52]

And you live in a fantasy world as well.

[@SuburbanoidMisfit111]

@@johnnyearp52 I can't afford to do that.

[@johnnyearp52]

@@SuburbanoidMisfit111 You do. The world is hate and it is love. To deny either is to live in a fantasy world.

[@themelodymission23]

I’m scared by watching this.

[@BlogofTheW3st]

5:17 Serious question: I believe this church is, at best, the result of a fashion trend, and that it represents almost nothing eternal or lasting. I’m sure you would let me in your church a few times. But don’t you think there would be a point where I would be no longer welcome?

[@GB-sh9st]

I agree in part -- hopefully this isn't a fashion trend alone but also a modernization trend for a very hateful faith

[@BlogofTheW3st]

@@GB-sh9st Specifically, I wonder how much this church possesses a sort of (unspoken) demand that people are zealously on page with the cause.

[@jasonGamesMaster]

Why would you not be welcome? I'm an atheist, but I have long studied religion, and religion is ultimately about community, even more than faith, ritual, or even specific teachings. That couldn't be clearer from the way evangelicals have cherry picked the things in the bible that reinforce their politics while rejecting the actual teachings of Christ, which are fairly radical, pacifist, and left-leaning. Each denomination has coalesced around a community that interprets (and even warps and changes, in certain cases) the concepts of that faith in a certain way, and it goes to the core of that community, because that is the real purpose of religion to begin with. Something might change in generations, as all the current denominations look different than they did 100 years ago, but that is something that can't be helped. New generations change what old generations made, because that is the way society works, and has since the first historical records could illustrate it for us.

[@BlogofTheW3st]

⁠@@jasonGamesMasterMaybe look at my second comment there; the bit about zeal. I think they want zeal from people.

[@stephengonzalez1801]

If the laity wills it then it will last. A decade ago a new priest came to my (catholic) church and was welcomed with open arms because he was a good 30 years younger and the hope was that he could re-energize the community and young people. He was young, charming, and a good orator. But after a couple months his sermons suddenly became a lot more fire and brimstone. He got very political, directly addressing policies in the Obama administration he disagreed with. Sermons would end and half the church would stand up and start clapping and the other half would stay seated fuming. The diocese very quickly moved him to another church. If the Metropolitan Community Church has a laity that supports its efforts and clergy, then there is no reason it cannot be eternal.

[@smaqsmar]

All my brain cells died by the end of the video except the two that questioned the existance of this video and my own exisistance and they too died when non of this made sense

[@sarahussen9678]

Astaghfurulah

[@user-rk8cn4ck5y]

*Now you know who supports Palestine.*

[@sythereaper8403]

_make your own Islam_ bruh

[@sythereaper8403]

If you want any to change a religion don’t change mine

[@Mikaeel10]

💯% a shia

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

😅😅but even what she is doing is far from Shia too brother, she making up her own religion

[@Mikaeel10]

@@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk yea

[@mountolympus1098]

*Identity crisis

[@aarizkhan3530]

Hahah come to Saudi

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

Doesn't the prince accept all this madness?

[@aarizkhan3530]

@@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk Yes, he gets to see deaths lol

[@Omar_PS9inchhs]

This is a clown show 😂

[@raazirazz4216]

As a Muslim🇮🇳. But it's weird. I didn't expected this 🤔😐 Edit: anyway,may Allah protect you

[@MTAwithyou]

Even Satan is Confused with them... Wallahi these are the people who are spreading the corruption on Allah's Land and are the propogators of profanities among others. May Allah destroy them and their evil intentions and May allah protect all People from their Evil plans...Ameen

[@moe12e]

even shaitan is confused 💀

[@rora26roro57]

Fr 😂😂

[@sythereaper8403]

This is so wrong😢

[@zacharyarons6950]

Why?

[@sythereaper8403]

@@zacharyarons6950 they’re justifying something that isn’t accepted in islam

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

@zacharyarons6950 because lgbt is haram in Islam. If u try to make halal what Allah SWT has told us is haram then u are no longer a muslim

[@rainnmoon114]

Nah Christians and Muslims why are yall letting this slide?

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

Muslims will never tolerate it

[@cnt_offnd]

Their making their own religion right there 😂

[@kierahalexis]

Judgement is haram is it not. But here you are

[@cnt_offnd]

@@kierahalexis you can inform them of making a mistake without judging them or assuming yourself better than them. Did I say I’m better no I’m just laughing at how blind they are they didn’t even read the book

[@kierahalexis]

@@cnt_offnd only allah swt is to judge me

[@cnt_offnd]

@@kierahalexis Yk it’s wajib to stop the haram when a Muslim is doing it?

[@cnt_offnd]

I’m pretty sure if Allah judged them they won’t even smell Jannah for many many years

[@user-vj6us1nn9q]

Is the most greatest sin ever. ⚔💀🕌

[@Mikaeel10]

True

[@Fatima-ud9qx]

this isn’t the true ways of Islam Allah punished the people of Lut (AS) who were LGBTQ+, please come back to Islam 😞😞

[@Mikaeel10]

Ameen

[@Yusf12336]

this is haram and a sin

[@MinstrelEmpire]

haram

[@davidnl1579]

Absolute Garbage

[@abbasarab1821]

They live in an imaginary world and they will pay the price on the day of judgment

[@uxninja_guy]

Just love. That’s all I have! 🫶🏼

[@BrianFinnegan-cn5mk]

They also have a lot of confusion

[@akhragee]

🏳‍⚧🔥THAT SKIRT🔥 🏳‍⚧ (ahem) Summeiya's comments at 9:45 are exactly the realization that broke me of being anti-faith. It still doesn't work for me personally, but I've come to see that as neurodivergence. Having no access to that common human source of comfort, joy and community is really a disability, and I'm not going to wish less of those in anyone's life just because I need to find other ways to them.

[@minabish1783]

This is so beutiful, and this girl smile is even more beutiful❤️

[@minabish1783]

This is so beutiful, and this girl smile is even more beutiful❤️

[@minabish1783]

This is so beutiful, and this girl smile is even more beutiful❤️