“I felt held and supported by a queer community that had my own personal growth at heart. Space was created for me to be honest, authentic and express my true self.”
– gay male participant
“The three day workshop facilitated by the GERI facilitators was nothing short of amazing. The whole process and everyone who was present was just awesome. What really stood out for me was how I was able to dive deep into my vulnerable state and not be judged about it and I also learnt how to connect with my inner being through breathwork and meditation. After the three days I can proudly say I feel worthy of existing; I feel noticed and celebrated for being myself, and I have made a new family from different gender expressions and sexual orientations. I would do it all over again if I have to. I am grateful to the facilitators and every amazing soul that I shared space with. It brought me joy as a transwoman to be in a space where I was honored, dignified and respected as a human who is holy and sacred.”
~ Transwoman Participant, South Africa
This year we have seen an increase in violence and hate crimes against LGBTQ+ persons. A series of anti-LGTBQ+ legislation have been introduced and sanctioned across different African countries this past year, which have also seen the queer community standing in solidarity from all parts of the world. The transgender community has also been under extreme scrutiny in the United States this past year. The year has seen Pride Month being a beacon of hope and light for LGBTQ+ persons from all walks of life; an event that continues to bring the queer community together. The time for a transformative gender movement to bring people together has never been greater than now.
Throughout the past year, GERI continued to develop its specialized LGBTQ+ program, both online and in-person. An important part of this has been continuing to offer online intro sessions to invite people around the world of all gender identities and expressions to step into this specialized format of the GERI work, so deeply needed in LGBTQ+ communities. Beyond these introductory sessions, and despite the challenges of power and connectivity in so many parts of the world, we also conducted a six week LGBTQ+ Healing Across the Gender Spectrum course, February 27 to April 3 of this year.
GERI three-day in person workshop for LGBTQ+ community: November 1 – 3
We were also delighted for GERI and Genderworks to launch our inaugural specialized in-person GERI LGBTQ+ workshop in November. Twenty diverse people from across the gender spectrum participated in this unique program. Together they created a community and tribe of love, respect and unity where people could show up in all their flaws and the rainbow colors.
As Tristan Johannes, GERI’s LGBTQ+ Project Lead reflects – “we have been dreaming since 2020 to do an in person GERI workshop for the LGBTQ+ community. . . We were able to sit in circle over the last three days and share and express our deepest fears, sorrows, pain, suffering, challenges, hopes, edges and our truths as a queer community. Amidst the tears we also laughed, danced and sang very joyfully. We continue to hold the LGBTQ+ community in prayer as we continue this important work of healing and reconciliation with people of all genders in South Africa and globally.”
As one man reflected on the course, “This GERI offering comes at a time in my world when I am most ripe for transformation. My goal now, with the opportunity offered by these sessions, is to surrender and release these layers of not-me. I want to continue to honor all of these not-mes as I befriend and love their natures. . .”
As other participants reflected,
• “I have felt my anxieties to be and share in groups fall away day by day. I feel encouraged now to step into spaces more authentically”
~ gender nonconforming participant, South Africa
• “I am much more aware and respectful as a gay man of other LGBTQ+ persons, I am honored to share space with a diverse representation of the queer community. I thought my work was only with lesbian and gay people in the church, but this workshop has given me insight into the need to include people of all gender identities.”
~ workshop participant, South Africa
• “The past 3 days were quite intense, intense but in a good way. My personal experience and journey with GERI the past few days were quite eventful on an emotional front as it made me relive my journey as an LGBTQIA+ person. And this journey was wrought with both good and bad experiences and choices. A reminder that I have come a long way….a way or journey that I am happy to have undertaken as it brought me to where I am today. Suffice to say, it also moulded me into WHO I am today. I am eternally grateful to GERI for giving me that reminder whilst attending this most welcoming and highly praised workshop. If need be I will do it over and over again. I recommend this workshop to any LGBTQIA+ person as it gently guides and reminds you that as a queer person, you matter. That you exist with all your uniqueness, despite your challenges you faced and are still facing.”
~ workshop participant, South Africa
GERI workshop for transgender community in Las Vegas, Nevada: December 9 – 10
A team of GERI trainers led a weekend workshop for 27 transgender and queer participants at The LGBTQIA+ Center of Nevada in Las Vegas, December 8 – 10. The program included an introductory evening plus two full and moving days together.
Spanning diverse backgrounds and experiences, participants reflected deeply on their journeys around gender and sexuality, sharing poignant experiences of being queer and trans. It was beautiful to see the process flower and unfold over the weekend, as participants were deeply touched, moved, and struck by the transformative power of this gender reconciliation work, openly sharing their stories.
Through this shared truth-telling, a deep sense of belonging and connection emerged. The community of participants felt seen and became more powerfully bonded as they reconnected to their truth, stories, and authentic selves. The final day concluded with appreciation and honoring of each other for all that had been shared and experienced together, reflecting on the burning flame of the human spirit in each of us, and continuing to hold the intention and prayer for our visions for a gender-healed world for all beings.
As one participant shared in our closing council, “I found my smile – because of you all.”
Our deep gratitude to Gard Jameson, Andre Martin, MJ Jameson, and The LGBTQIA+ Center of Nevada for making this event possible and sponsoring the GERI facilitation team. Special thanks to facilitators Tristan Kyle Johannes, Desireé English, Garrett Evans, and Kara Salter for their heartfelt facilitation and holding of the process.
Our vision for 2024 is to expand our work with the LGBTQ+ community in all its facets – between straight and queer believers, the cisgender and transgender community, training LGBTQ+ people to become GERI facilitators, and working with our existing GERI leaders from various countries to implement the GERI for LGBTQ+ program in their regions. We continue to hold the intention to offer our online LGBTQ+ programs in other countries as well, beyond the United States and South Africa. We also envisage introducing the GERI LGBTQ+ work at universities across interdisciplinary programs working in the social change and diversity fields.
~ Tristan Johannes, GERI LGBTQ+ Project Lead