#Peterson Toscano

[abravefaith]

Surprising outcasts - Joseph and the Canaanite woman

Revd Sonia Hicks is a British Methodist minister who was elected to serve as President of the Methodist Conference from June 2021 to June 2022 – the first Black woman to hold this position. TODAY, as part of my training as a Methodist local preacher, I shared the following reflection at a Black majority church in inner city Liverpool. The inspiration came from two of the recommended readings…

[a-queer-seminarian]

In the latest episode of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers, I share a sermon on Isaiah 56:3-8. This bit of scripture proclaims God's message of not only tolerance but radical welcome for the ultimate Others of the biblical world: eunuchs.

How did Isaiah 56's author come to understand divine affirmation for this denigrated group, when Deuteronomy 23's author had offered only rejection? And why does this scripture resonate deeply with many transgender persons of faith today?

Listen wherever you get podcasts, or click here for a direct link + episode transcript.

And look under the readmore for my direct translation of Isaiah 56 from the Hebrew, along with image descriptions and resource links.

ID for the above two images:

On a trans flag background, text titled "Isaiah 56:3-8 reworked for a trans context" reads:

Do not cause the child who’s grown up in your church to believe, “I don’t belong here anymore.” And do not let the trans person who has tried again and againto find welcome lament, “See, no one cares about me.” For thus says LIVING GODto these beloved children made in Their own divine, boundless image: I give to you, in my own home and within my own heart, a place of honor, better than any church that fails you. Your chosen name is cherished, and I’ll make sure you’re not forsaken or forgotten.

The passage continues on the next image, reading:

For everyone who comes to me for solace, everyone who seeks my liberation, everyone who joins me in making justice roll like water will be brought to my holy mountain. Joy will be theirs, and a welcome that far surpasses tolerance — their wisdom, their gifts, their leadership will be accepted with gratitude; for my kin-dom is for all peoples — the outcasts most of all. If you don’t see them among you, it is you who must move — come, seek them and find me, the God who gathers more, and still more people to my table, till all have their honored place. / end ID

ID: Text on a sunset sky background is titled "Isaiah 56:3-8, My translation from the Hebrew" and reads:

Do not let the foreigner who grafts themself to LIVING GOD say, “LIVING GOD will sever, will utterly exclude me from His people.” And do not let the eunuch say, “See, I am a dried-out tree.” For thus says LIVING GOD to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose what delights me, and hold fast to my covenant: I will give to them, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. A name everlasting will I give to them, that shall not be cut off.

The translation continues on the next image, reading:

And the foreigners who graft themselves to LIVING GOD, ministering to Them and loving the name of LIVING GOD, becoming Her servants – every one who keeps Sabbath undefiled, and holds fast to my covenant —

[These] I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their offerings and their sacrifices will be welcome on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

A declaration of the Lord, LIVING GOD, who is gathering the outcasts of Israel: “I will gather still more to them, beyond those already gathered.”

Further reading:

Check out my translation notes here!

I also write about biblical eunuchs in the "Better than Sons or Daughters" section of this webpage — with more quotes and links from Austen Hartke, Peterson Toscano, and others.

[arwainian]

Reading This Week 2023 #38

little late getting to sorting thru last week's reading but that's okay it was a big strange week

Finished:

Pedagogies of Crossing : Meditations on Feminism, Sexual Politics, Memory, and the Sacred by M. Jacqui Alexander:

Introduction Chapter 2: Imperial Desire/Sexual Utopias: White Gay Capital and Transnational Tourism Chapter 3: Whose New World Order? Teaching for Justice Chapter 6: Remembering This Bridge Called My Back, Remembering Ourselves

Loving Her by Ann Allen Shockley

Started and Finished:

"'Blind' Jews and Blind Christians: The Metaphorics of Marginalization" by Edward Wheatley

Where Research Begins by Thomas S. Mullaney & Christopher Rea

Chapter 1: Questions Chapter 2: What's Your Problem?

"testosterone is for girls, too: in defense of transmasc womanhood & genderfuckery & all the reasons someone might want t" by Tor Lowell (zine)

46 fatt fics for the marathon

Started and Ongoing:

Lighting the Way: An Anthology of Short Plays About the Climate Crisis edited by Chantal Bilodeau & Thomas Peterson, among which I finished:

Ice Flow by Philip Braithwaite Steamy Session in a Singapore Spa by Damon Chua Absolutely Nothing of Any Meaning by Sunny Drake Six Polar Bears Fell Out of the Sky this Morning by Alister Emerson There Goes my Bow Tie with the Storm by Zainabu Jallo The Story of the Bountiful Window and the Last Rope by Vinicius Jatobá Tres Marias: Categories and Luz by Shy Richardson and Karina Yager Bigger Love by Peterson Toscano

The Gospel According to Matthew from The New Oxford Annotated Bible

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

My Sense of Silence: Memoirs of a Childhood with Deafness by Lennard J. Davis

Ongoing:

Performance by Diana Taylor

[petersontoscano]

Witches, Barbie, and Quakers!

If you are looking for a short form podcast that I packed with unexpected and thoughtful conversation, I humbly recommend Quakers Today, a show I host and produce. The guests stimulate and enlighten. Here are two recent episodes. Actress and eco-activist Daryl Hannah speaks with host Peterson Toscano about her announcement that “Mattel intends to go 100 percent plastic-free by 2030 in all their…

[yourdailyqueer]

Peterson Toscano

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay

DOB: 17 February 1965

Ethnicity: White - American

Occupation: Playwright, actor, scholar, blogger, podcaster, activist

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

"In the end the only righteous person I can think of [in the story of Sodom] is Lot's wife, who can't turn her back on this destruction. Who can't turn her back on the women and children who weren't even considered when they were counting who was righteous and who was not.”

- Peterson

“What I see around me today is many, many people who also cannot turn their back on the suffering around them, and the destruction, and the ways that we are complicit in that. There are still those of us who can't turn away. And she's been vilified, right, as being disobedient -- ‘you were told not to look back; you looked back.’ Well. Maybe that's an interesting place to enter the story, right? What does it mean to look back, and when do we disobey?”

- Liam

- Peterson Toscano and Liam Hooper on The Bible Bash Podcast, episode 25: "Sodomy, Terrorism, and Looking Back"

[milkboydotnet]

But what if we look at Acts 8 and Isaiah 53 from the perspective of the eunuch? Imagine you are a child taken from home and parents, taken to another country. Men held you down. They operated on you as you lay frozen with fear. You felt the searing pain of castration and suffered a long recovery.

[queertheology]

A Call for Queer Theology

There is an impulse in LGBT activism toward fitting in. That we are just “the same as you, we just happen to like people of the same gender.” Or, “I’m just a woman, just like any other woman.”

This desire to not to rock the sexual or gender status quo is an authentic reality for many people. Many trans* people are in fact men or women and nothing more. And many gay people are the same as their straight neighbors, save for the gender of their lover.

But it is not true for all of us. The beauty of gender and sexual minorities is that we get to upend everyone’s notions of sex and gender. That is our gift, not our hindrance.

Similarly, there is an impulse in religious dialogue around LGBT issues to place queers in the existing boxes. We are all “brothers and sisters” in Christ. Gay people can be “loving, committed, monogamous, married” too. The prevailing discussions are around why (or why not) gay relationships should be affirmed. The “clobber passages.” Adam and Eve (not Adam and Steve), Sodom and Gomorra, Leviticus and abominations, Romans 1 and unnatural passions, 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy and homosexual offenders. “Those don’t say what you think they say about us” is our reply.

Enough.

I will no longer be defined by what I am not. If you have questions about my worth and dignity, read “What The Bible Says (and Doesn’t Say) About Homosexuality” by Mel White, read Jesus, The Bible and Homosexuality by Jack Rogers, watch Fish Out of Water, watch Call Me Malcolm, read Trans-Gendered: Theology, Ministry and Communities of Faith. For the love of God stop asking me about it. Stop asking your gay friend, your lesbian daughter, or your genderqueer coworker about it. Talk to your therapist or your pastor. Talk to my pastor, if you need to.

We have more to offer the world than what we are not.

There is something liberating and life-saving about the Gospel. Ask me about how as I waited in the silence and isolation of the closet–scared to tell anyone that I was gay–Jesus gave me the courage and God washed me with the grace and love to stay strong and true to myself. Ask Bram Wispelway about how the Gospel motivated him–without knowing a single gay or transgender person–to join the Equality Ride and be an advocate for LGBT justice across the country. Ask Micah about the inspiration he finds when the scriptures say that “God has given you a name greater than sons and daughters.” Listen to Shay talk about crucifixion and resurrection and the real, tangible meanings they have in his life. Let me talk to you about how questioning my sexuality caused me to look seriously at my faith and find one deeper than I ever thought possible.

Ask me about how the queers I know embody the church in Acts where “there were no needy persons among them” in a more real way than I have ever seen before. How we replaced Leo’s clothes when he was mugged, how we chipped in for Micah’s surgery, how we supported Asher’s business. Ask about how Matt Beams will drop whatever he is doing to talk you down from your own drama. How Mayra David and Jay Bakker will stand on milk crates in Madison Square Park to take a literal stand for justice.

Listen to Peterson Toscano weave beautiful stories about gender transgression in the Bible. Listen to Vincent Cervantes tell you how he pieced his life (and soul) back together after an exorcism. Listen to Brian Adkins preach without even trying while he talks to you over coffee and muffins about experiencing the Holy Spirit at a drag show. Listen to anything Allyson Robinson has to say (especially about faith, family, and self-care).

Talk to any of the queers in your midst and let them awe you in so many deep and profound ways; ways shaped by their orientations and identities but certainly not limited to them.

Jesus hung out in the margins. With the outcasts. With the ones the religious elite deemed “outside” and “undesirable.” He didn’t do that because he felt sorry for them. He did that because God is, literally, there. (Tweet it!)

And so when you, straight people, talk about “homosexuality and the Bible” or “LGBT issues and faith” do not talk to us about what you have to offer us. Do not bring conflicted feelings or journeys or open arms or apologies. It is so much easier than that. The only thing you need to bring is yourself. Come, rather, with questions and an open heart because what you will find is something transforming, liberating, and awe-inspiring. We will teach you about ourselves and you will learn more about yourself than you imagined possible.

And you will find God in our midst.

The table is ready, you are welcome there with us.

[doubleattitude]

OCPAA

Hall of Fame Dance Challenge, Ontario CA 2019 Results: SOLOS

Rookie League: Beginner

American League: Intermediate

National League: Advanced

High Scores:

Little League Solo (Ages 6 and Under)

1st: Liana Li-’Still Breathing’

2nd: Avery Olson-’Oh La La’

4th: Everleigh Soutas-’Respect’

5th: Jessie Saigusa-’Crazy In Love’

6th: Leighton Godlewski-’Stupid Cupid’

7th (3 way tie): Charlotte Delong-’Wonderful World’

7th (3 way tie): Isabella Schmidt-Yu-’Baby I’m A Star’

8th (tie): Dylan Reuss-’PYT’

10th (tie): Kennady Peterson-’Getting Good at Being Bad’

10th (tie): Cerys Cogswell-’You Are My Sunshine’

Didn’t Place

Audrina Mossembekker-’Great Balls of Fire’

Olivia Gonzalez-’Beat’

Olivia Armstrong-’Live For the Applause’

Ashley Issa-’My Boyfriend’s Back’

Jeanna Garcia-’Wild Child’

Future Hall of Famer Solo, Rookie League (Ages 7-8)

4th: Riley Stem-’Grown’

Future Hall of Famer Solo, American League

5th: Sophia Fleischman-’The Dream’

7th (tie): Kayla Nagel-’WOMAN’

8th: Jessalyn Nguyen-’Steam Heat’

9th: Helena Olaerts-’Boss’

10th (3 way tie): Ariel Lantz-Loza-’Stone Cold’

10th: (3 way tie): Jordyn Rockett-’I’ll Be Your Clown’

Didn’t Place

Alyssa Mastroianni-’Child Within My Heart’

Madelyn Bartolo-’When She Loved Me’

Liliana Mastroianni-’Into the Dark’

Leila Kim-’Jar of Hearts’

Grace Howerton-’Never Saw Blue’

Brady Reuss-’Hallelujah’

Kylie Gonzalez-’My Immortal’

Kylie Gonzalez-’Kill the Lights’

Kayla Nagel-’I Did Some Bad’

Jordyn Rockett-’Wind It Up’

Sara Von Rotz-’Sugar Pie Honey Bunch’

Grace Montano-’Applause’

Brooke Edwards-’Cruella’

Leila Kim-’Locomotion’

Jillian Mahan-’Vanity’

Sophia Fleischman-’Baby’

Future Hall of Famer Solo, National League

8th (3 way tie): Morgan Turner-’Go the Distance’

Didn’t Place

Olivia O’Connell-’Run with Wild Horses’

Alexandra Collins-’Wonderland’

Junior Solo, Rookie League (Ages 9-11)

2nd: Kelsey Pastian-’Work Me Down’

4th (3 way tie): Kaylee Bish-’Runway Walk’

Didn’t Place

Jaidyn Alefosio-’Run the World’

Hannah Gullickson-’Dance With Your Daddy’

Junior Solo, American League

1st: Naia Parker-’One More Time’

4th (3 way tie): Olivia Magni-’Numbers’

4th (3 way tie): Kendyl Fay-’Hold Your Breath’

4th (3 way tie): Hope Edwards-’Fields of Gold’

7th (tie): Ella Montano-’Little Bird’

7th (tie): Alyssa Park-’Like A River’

8th: Rylee Young-’Lost Without You’

Didn’t Place

Alyssa Park-’I’ve Got Rhythm’

Brooke Volkert-’One of the Boys’

Grier Mclarand-’Easy’

Leighton Werner-’On My Own’

Leighton Werner-’Mr Monotony’

Kaedyn Toscano-’Your Girl’

Kate Dunst-’You Don’t Own Me’

Kate Dunst-’Tainted Love’

Naia Parker-’Amen’

Delaney Bojorquez-’Rescue’

Delaney Bojorquez-’Single Ladies’

Isabelle Monge-’Like You Do’

Isabella Monge-’Light’s Out’

Ella Montano-’Wonder’

Arabella Kim-’Let Me Entertain You’

Arabella Kim-’No One Knows Who I Am’

Kendyl Fay-’Weird’

Mackenzie Gregorio-’Bang Bang’

Ashlyn Blanpied-’Something’s Got A Hold of Me’

Zoey Garcia-’Let Me Think About It’

Madelyn Laussade-’Work It’

Kelsey Gampol-’Holding Out For A Hero’

Olivia Magni-’Rhapsody’

Junior Solo, National League

5th (3 way tie): Presslie Novits-’Roses Turn’

9th: Alexa Hedlund-’Seven Nation Army’

Didn’t Place

Dylan Forsman-’Wildest Dreams’

Teresa Smith-’Tiny Dancer’

Kiley Lowe-’Shake and Shimmy’

Emalene Heitz-’Gimme Gimme’

Emalene Heitz-’Make Me Feel’

Brynlee Swinhart-’Fix You’

Keira Pagaza-’Home’

Teen Solo, Rookie League

1st: Cambria Antonelli-’Big Spender’

2nd (tie): Caitlyn Mcnabb-’Emergency’

2nd (tie): Lyla Farnsworth-’Burning Up’

Didn’t Place

Haley Tran-’Bring On the Rain’

Natalia Ferrufino-’River’

Teen Solo, American League

2nd (tie): Sammi Chung-’Blue’

4th (tie): Michelle Cheng-’Labor’

10th (3 way tie): Olivia Nguyen-’Killing Me’

Didn’t Place

Audrey Kim-’You Say’

Sammi Chung-’Bohemian Rhapsody’

Sammi Chung-’Otic Disruption’

Claire Tidwell-’Raunchy’

Libby Haye-’For My Help’

Jaidyn Saigusa-’Joga’

Kaitlyn Wu-’Firelight’

Sydney Fitzmaurice-’Machines’

Emma Mcginnis-’Organs’

Lana Salem-’Ellie’s Theme’

Peyton Heitz-’6 Foot Under’

Peyton Heitz-’The Source’

Madeline Hicks-’Spare Change’

Danni Jaime-’Bitter End’

Delanie Munger-’Sorry’

Riley Willis-’When the Party’s Over’

Cameron Chen-’Change’

Ella Cron-’Hanging On’

Ella Cron-’Forest Fire’

Ashley Cravens-’Stones’

Delaney Haye-’Oops I Did It Again’

Delaney Haye-’Man’s World’

Michelle Cheng-’Dangerous’

Libby Haye-’It’s Just A Game’

Kyla Moore-’Sights’

Teen Solo, National League

10th (tie): Avery Archung-’Angel By The Wings’

10th (tie): Benny Garcia-’Cocky’

Didn’t Place

Haley Kosonen-’Not For The Life of Me’

Andi Flores-’Integral Silence’

Andi Flores-’Fearless’

Katelyn Rhodes-’Mercy’

Arianeli Sandoval-’Escalate’

Haley Rhodes-’Wild Horses’

Senior Solo, Rookie League

1st: Ximina Hua-’Bored’

Senior Solo, American League

5th: Caitlyn Guntle-’Delivery’

8th (3 way tie): Aleialanee Ponce De Leon -’At Last’

Didn’t Place

Amberly Higgins-’Good God’

Aleialanee Ponce De Leon-’Wilhelm Scream’

Aleialanee Ponce De Leon-’Queen of Serpents’

Diana De La Paz-’I’d Rather Be Blind’

Stephanie Dy-’Dance For You’

[aautiemiller-rockcenter]

OCPAA Masterlist - 2018 (HOF Ages)

Alamo: Teen Open Small Group

Fiorella Baclit, Cameron Chen, Michelle Cheng, Alli Chu, Ashley Cravens, Emily Park, Reese Willis, Cortnee Wilson, Annika Zaborniak

Angels: Junior Lyrical Small Group

Mckenna Brown, Lyla Farnsworth, Emma Garcia, Shab Ghaffari, Alexa Hedlund, Hailey Kim, Katie Langan, Delilah Ortega

Bang Bang: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Large Group

Faith Chung, Clare Dunst, Faryad Ghaffari, Emalene Heitz, Kiley Lowe, Liliana Mastroianni

Bathing Beauties: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Line

Jaidyn Alefosio, Grace Aragon, Elika Esmaeili, Elysee Esmaeilli, Mackenzie Griffith, Hannah Gullickson, Kayla Heaton, Kaili Hoang, Kailey Lawwill, Ivy Maclean, Madeleine Mai, Jovana Mortazavian, Karen Nishimura, Sarah Nishimura, Olive O'connell, Kelsey Pastian, Ava Pereira, Alexi Slipakoff, Riley Stem, Sarah Weiler

Big Spender: Teen Jazz Small Group

Kendra Adams, Jada Alexis, Stephanie Dy, Danni Jaime, Faith McCain, Emma McGinnis, Kyla Moore

Black And Gold: Teen Jazz Small Group

Cameron Chen, Alli Chu, Ashley Cravens, Lauren Lanning, Chandler Linn, Emily Park, Madelein Rupe, Reese Willis, Annika Zaborniak

Blue Jeans: Junior Jazz Small Group

Ella Cron, Sydney Fitzmaurice, Madeline Hicks, Jenae Holmes, Emma Mcginnis, Lana Salem, Sarah Wu

Candy Man: Junior Jazz Large Group

Jaidyn Alefosio, Elika Esmaeili, Mackenzie Griffith, Hannah Gullickson, Kaili Hoang, Kailey Lawwill, Ivy Maclean, Jovana Mortazavian, Sarah Nishimura, Kelsey Pastian, Ava Pereira, Alexi Slipakoff, Sarah Weiler

Candy Shop: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Small Group

Ariel Lantz-Loza, Jillian Mahan, Alyssa Mastroianni, Grace Montano, Helena Olaerts, Brady Reuss, Jordyn Rockett, Everleigh Soutas, Sara Von Rotz

D3: Future Hall of Famer Contemporary Small Group

Ashlyn Blanpied, Delaney Bojorquez, Hope Edwards, Kendyl Fay, Alyssa Park, Naia Parker, Laci Stoico, Leighton Werner, Rylee Young

Dirty Diana: Senior Jazz Small Group

Fiorella Baclit, Darby Cron, Lindsey George, Evan Guinet, Hallie Haupert, Lilah Haye, Tate Relock

Dream State: Junior Open Small Group

Michelle Cheng, Sammi Chung, Peyton Heitz, Ella Montano, Delanie Munger, Ollivia Nguyen, Jadyn Saigusa, Haley Stoico, Riley Willis

Eyes Of The Artist: Junior Open Small Group

Makayla Abadie, Alyssa Bindra, Delaney Haye, Libby Haye, Danni Jaime, Haley Kosonen, Mia Oronoz, Claire Tidwell, Kaitlyn Wu

Fire Under My Feet: Teen Jazz Large Group

Cambria Antonelli, Natalia Ferrufino, Samantha Fessler, Jessica Gallardo, Natalie Hays, Ximina Hua, Caitlyn Kazanjian, Caitlyn Mcnabb, Kayla Potter, Grace Schumerth, Haley Tran, Taylor Wehne

Girls Just Want To Have Fun: Junior Lyrical Small Group

Avery Archung, Jacine Davis, Shab Ghaffari, Mackenzie Gregorio, Alexa Hedlund, Isabella Monge, Presslie Novits, Teresa Smith

Ground Shake: Senior Contemporary Small Group

Fiorella Baclit, Alli Chu, Darby Cron, Lindsey George, Catilyn Guntle, Hallie Haupert, Lilah Haye, Tate Relock, Cortnee Wilson

Higher Ground: Senior Open Large Group

Hayden Antonelli, Fiorella Baclit, Darby Cron, Lindsey George, Hallie Haupert, Lilah Haye, Lauren Lanning, Chandler Linn, Tate Relock, Sarah Stenzel, Reese Willis Hocus Pocus: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Small Group

Brooke Edwards, Sophia Fleischman, Kylie Gonzales, Emalene Heitz, Millea Hill, Arabella Kim, Leila Kim, Kayla Nagel, Keira Pagaza

Human: Teen Open Large Group

Ashley Cravens, Ella Cron, Sydney Fitzmaurice, Peyton Heitz, Jenae Holmes, Delanie Munger, Haley Stoico, Reese Willis, Riley Willis, Sarah Wu, Annika Zaborniak

I Gotcha: Teen Jazz Large Group

Cambria Antonelli, Natalia Ferrufino, Samantha Fessler, Jessica Gallardo, Natalie Hays, Ximina Hua, Caitlyn Kazanjian, Caitlyn Mcnabb, Kayla Potter, Grace Schumerth, Haley Tran, Taylor Wehner

I Of The Storm: Junior Contemporary Large Group

Makayla Abadie, Kendra Adams, Avery Archung, Alyssa Bindra, Jaeleigh Catalano, Sydney Fitzmaurice, Delaney Haye, Libby Haye, Madeline Hicks, Danni Jaime, Haley Kosonen, Emma Mcginnis, Mia Oronoz, Lana Salem, Arianeli Sandoval, Chloe Solinger, Claire Tidwell, Kaitlyn Wu

I’m A Brass Band: Junior Musical Theater Small Group

Delaney Bojorquez, Sammi Chung, Hope Edwards, Kendyl Fay, Ella Montano, Alyssa Park, Naia Parker, Laci Stoico, Rylee Young

Land of 1000 Dances: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Small Group

Peyton Bartolo, Kyle Chen, Leighton Godlewski, Ashley Issa, Kennady Peterson, Dylan Reuss, Isabella Schmidt-Yu, Charlotte Watters

Le Jazz Hot: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Small Group

Delaney Bojorquez, Kate Dunst, Hope Edwards, Kendyl Fay, Alyssa Park, Naia Parker, Laci Stoico, Leighton Werner, Rylee Young

Little Bit: Junior Contemporary Small Group

Alyssa Bindra, Libby Haye, Madeline Hicks, Haley Kosonen, Olivia Magni, Chloe Solinger, Claire Tidwell, Abby Veiga, Kaitlyn Wu

Locomotion: Teen Jazz Small Group

Kassidy Aslay, Amberly Higgins, Sarah Stenzel, Nicole Stiles, Delaney Williams

My Best Friend: Junior Musical Theater Duo/Trio

Avery Archung, Presslie Novitz

National Pastime: Junior Musical Theater Large Group

Avery Archung, Mckenna Brown, Lyla Farnsworth, Emma Garcia, Shab Ghaffari, Alexa Hedlund, Hailey Kim, Katie Langan, Presslie Novits, Delilah Ortega, Haley Rhodes, Katelyn Rhodes, Teresa Smith

Never Never Land: Future Hall of Famer Open Small Group

Madelyn Bartolo, Monica Liu, Jillian Mahan, Alyssa Mastroianni, Grace Montano, Helena Olaerts, Brady Reuss, Jordyn Rockett, Jessie Saigusa

Not What You Thought You Were: Senior Contemporary Small Group

Hayden Antonelli, Fiorella Baclit, Alli Chu, Darby Cron, Lindsey George, Evan Guinet, Hallie Haupert, Lilah Haye, Tate Relock

Penguins Unite: Future Hall of Famer Musical Theater Large Group

Clare Dunst, Brooke Edwards, Sophia Fleischman, Faryad Ghaffari, Kylie Gonzales, Emalene Heitz, Millea Hill, Arabella Kim, Leila Kim, Kiley Lowe, Liliana Mastroianni, Grier Mclarand, Grace Montano, Kayla Nagel, Keira Pagaza

Peter Gunn: Junior Jazz Small Group

Ashlyn Blanpied, Jacine Davis, Audrey Kim, Madelyn Laussade, Olivia Magni, Isabella Monge, Chloe Solinger, Abby Veiga, Brooke Volkert

Phantom: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Large Group

Ashlyn Blanpied, Delaney Bojorquez, Kate Dunst, Hope Edwards, Kendyl Fay, Mackenzie Gregorio, Alexa Hedlund, Arabella Kim, Madelyn Laussade, Ella Montano, Kayla Nagel, Alyssa Park, Naia Parker, Kaedyn Toscano, Brooke Volkert, Leighton Werner, Rylee Young

Pon De Replay: Junior Jazz Duo/Trio

Delaney Haye, Libby Haye

Prison: Teen Contemporary Large Group

Cameron Chen, Michelle Cheng, Ashley Cravens, Ella Cron, Peyton Heitz, Jenae Holmes, Faith Mccain, Kyla Moore, Delanie Munger, Ollivia Nguyen, Emily Park, Jadyn Saigusa, Reese Willis, Riley Willis, Sarah Wu, Annika Zaborniak

Reaching For Higher Ground: Junior Contemporary Small Group

Kendra Adams, Avery Archung, Jaeleigh Catalano, Presslie Novits, Haley Rhodes, Katelyn Rhodes, Arianeli Sandoval

Rolling In The Deep: Teen Contemporary Large Group

Hayden Antonelli, Cameron Chen, Ella Cron, Evan Guinet, Amberly Higgins, Lauren Lanning, Chandler Linn, Madelein Rupe, Sarah Stenzel, Nicole Stiles, Delaney Williams, Sarah Wu

Rut: Senior Contemporary Large Group

Hayden Antonelli, Fiorella Baclit, Alli Chu, Darby Cron, Lindsey George, Evan Guinet, Catilyn Guntle, Hallie Haupert, Lilah Haye, Amberly Higgins, Lauren Lanning, Chandler Linn, Tate Relock, Madelein Rupe, Sarah Stenzel, Delaney Williams, Cortnee Wilson

See The Light: Future Hall of Famer Lyrical Small Group

Gandohm Ghaffari, Ashley Issa, Liana Li, Sophia Modiry, Dylan Reuss, Isabella Schmidt-Yu, Annika Tootikian

Show Off: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Small Group

Grace Aragon, Elysee Esmaeilli, Kayla Heaton, Madeleine Mai, Karen Nishimura, Olive O'connell, Riley Stem

Sweet Dreams: Junior Jazz Small Group

Michelle Cheng, Sammi Chung, Peyton Heitz, Ella Montano, Delanie Munger, Ollivia Nguyen, Jadyn Saigusa, Haley Stoico, Riley Willis

The Chain: Junior Contemporary Small Group

Kendra Adams, Jada Alexis, Stephanie Dy, Delaney Haye, Libby Haye, Danni Jaime, Faith Mccain, Emma Mcginnis, Kyla Moore

The Mimes: Future Hall of Famer Open Small Group

Brooke Edwards, Sophia Fleischman, Kylie Gonzales, Emalene Heitz, Millea Hill, Arabella Kim, Leila Kim, Kayla Nagel, Keira Pagaza

The Press: Junior Musical Theater Large Group

Makayla Abadie, Kendra Adams, Avery Archung, Alyssa Bindra, Jaeleigh Catalano, Delaney Haye, Libby Haye, Madeline Hicks, Danni Jaime, Haley Kosonen, Emma Mcginnis, Mia Oronoz, Haley Rhodes, Katelyn Rhodes, Lana Salem, Arianeli Sandoval, Claire Tidwell, Kaitlyn Wu

Together: Junior Contemporary Duo/Trio

Olivia Magni, Abby Veiga

Toy Story: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Large Group

Avery Amat, Peyton Bartolo, Kyle Chen, Cerys Cogswell, Charlotte Delong, Stevie Gilbert, Leighton Godlewski, Ashley Issa, Liana Li, Brinley Lowe, Sophia Modiry, Avery Olson, Kennady Peterson, Dylan Reuss, Isabella Schmidt-Yu, Annika Tootikian, Ariella Troung, Sofia Valdez, Charlotte Watters

Turn To Stone: Future Hall of Famer Lyrical Small Group

Madelyn Bartolo, Faith Chung, Clare Dunst, Ariel Lantz-Loza, Kiley Lowe, Liliana Mastroianni, Sara Von Rotz

Under Control: Junior Open Large Group

Sammi Chung, Jacine Davis, Kate Dunst, Audrey Kim, Madelyn Laussade, Olivia Magni, Isabella Monge, Ella Montano, Naia Parker, Chloe Solinger, Laci Stoico, Kaedyn Toscano, Abby Veiga

Villains: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Large Group

Madelyn Bartolo, Harper Burton, Faith Chung, Gandohm Ghaffari, Ariel Lantz-Loza, Monica Liu, Jillian Mahan, Alyssa Mastroianni, Helena Olaerts, Brady Reuss, Jordyn Rockett, Jessie Saigusa, Robert Smith, Everleigh Soutas, Morgan Turner, Andrea Valdez, Sara Von Rotz

Welcome To Bedrock: Future Hall of Famer Jazz Small Group

Avery Amat, Harper Burton, Cerys Cogswell, Charlotte Delong, Leighton Godlewski, Brinley Lowe, Avery Olson, Robert Smith, Morgan Turner

When You Wish (Future Hall of Famer Lyrical Small Group

Avery Amat, Harper Burton, Cerys Cogswell, Charlotte Delong, Brinley Lowe, Avery Olson, Ariella Troung, Morgan Turner, Andrea Valdez

Who’s Dorothy: Junior Open Small Group

Ashlyn Blanpied, Delaney Bojorquez, Kate Dunst, Mackenzie Gregorio, Olivia Magni, Teresa Smith, Kaedyn Toscano, Brooke Volkert

You Gotta Get A Gimmick: Teen Musical Theater Large Group

Cameron Chen, Michelle Cheng, Ella Cron, Sydney Fitzmaurice, Peyton Heitz, Jenae Holmes, Kyla Moore, Delanie Munger, Ollivia Nguyen, Jadyn Saigusa, Lana Salem, Chloe Solinger, Haley Stoico, Claire Tidwell, Riley Willis, Sarah Wu, Annika Zaborniak

Solos:

Abby Veiga (Final Descent)

Alexa Hedlund (Beneath My Wings)

Alli Chu (School Night, Flight)

Alyssa Bindra (See Me Now)

Alyssa Mastroianni (Hero)

Alyssa Park (Miss Banana, Machine Routine)

Annika Zaborniak (Without The Lights, Breath And Receive)

Arabella Kim (I Dreamed A Dream, Show Off)

Arianeli Sandoval (Intro)

Ashley Cravens (Painting Greys, Haunted)

Ashlyn Blanpied (Move)

Audrey Kim (Motivate)

Avery Amat (Zero To Hero)

Avery Olson (Big And Loud)

Brady Reuss (Wonderland)

Brooke Edwards (Evil Like Me)

Brooke Volkert (Lola)

Caitlyn McNabb (Poker Face)

Cambria Antonelli (Home)

Cameron Chen (Pulse)

Cerys Cogswell (Barbie Girl)

Chandler Linn (Piece Of My Heart)

Chloe Solinger (Too Darn Hot, I Gave You All)

Claire Tidwell (Growing Boy)

Clare Dunst (Eternal Flame)

Cortnee WIlson (Stolen)

Danni Jaime (Covergirl)

Darby Cron (Ready To Lose)

Delaney Bojorquez (That Man, Secret For The Mad)

Delaney Haye (Shake The Room, Faking Bright)

Delanie Munger (Unchained Melody)

Dylan Reuss (Little Shirly Temple)

Ella Cron (Lilo)

Ella Montano (Big Spender, Nature Boy)

Emalene Heitz (Yacht Club Swing)

Emily Park (Song For You)

Evan Guinet (Man’s World, Looking Too Closely)

Everleigh Soutas (Lip Gloss)

Faith McCain (Somewhere Only We Know)

Fiorella Baclit (Give Us A Little Love)

Grace Monatno (Whip My Hair)

Grier McLarand (Mr Personality)

Haley Kosonen (Don’t Tell Mama)

Haley Stoico (Lost It To Trying, The Passenger)

Haley Tran (Wild Horses)

Hallie Haupert (Can’t Let Go)

Hope Edwards (St Jude)

Hayden Antonelli (Love Ridden, Dynamite)

Isabella Monge (Angel)

Jacine Davis (Fergalicious)

Jadyn Saigusa (Trust In Me)

Jenae Holmes (Tesselate)

Jillian Mahan (Cupcake)

Jordyn Rockett (Youl’ll Be In My Heart)

Kaedyn Toscano (Big Noise)

Kaitlyn Wu (Easy)

Kassidy Aslay (Salute)

Kate Dunst (Brown Eyed Girl, Business Of Love)

Kayla Nagel (All That Jazz)

Kendra Adams (Hot Stuff, Life Of The Party)

Kendyl Fay (Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Hopelessly Devoted)

Kiley Lowe (Rotten To The Core)

Kyla Moore (Yeah I Said It)

Kylie Gonzalez (Wrecking Ball, Route 66)

Laci Stoico (Breath, Feel It Still)

Lana Salem (As Long As You Love Me)

Leighton Werner (Lost Girl, Diamonds)

Leila Kim (True Colors)

Libby Haye (Nothing Like This, Numbers)

Lilah Haye (Selah, Mothers)

Liliana Mastroianni (Tale As Old As Time)

Lindsey George (River)

Mackenzie Gergorio (Hollaback)

Madelein Rupe (Aquarium)

Madeline Hicks (Le Jazz Hot)

Madelyn Laussade (Salute)

Makayla Abadie (Work)

Mia Oronoz (Got It)

Michelle Cheng (I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Roxie Heart)

Morgan Turner (Colors Of The Wind)

Naia Parker (Mad World, Hit Me With A Hot Note)

Olivia Magni (Ocean Eyes)

Ollivia Nguyen (Does She Even Know)

Peyton Heitz (Muse, Not Enough)

Presslie Novits (Hollywood)

Riley Willis (In My Mind, Writer In The Dark)

Rylee Young (Yesterday, Mr Sandman)

Sammi Chung (Mynd Race, Ice Ice Baby)

Sara Von Rotz (In His Kiss)

Sarah Wu (Time To Say Goodbye)

Sophia Fleishman (Cabaret)

Stephanie Dy (Beautiful People)

Sydney Fitzmaurice (Vengeance)

Tate Relock (Possibility, Every Heartbeat)

Teresa Smith (Hallelujah)

[a-queer-seminarian]

Image descriptions in the alt text, as well as under the readmore.

In O Beautiful Dust, RW Walker explores what difference traditional, queer, and Christ-centred common prayer might make in a chaotic and divided world.

I had the honor of narrating the audiobook put out by Squirrel House Publishing — and I’m offering A FREE COPY of that audiobook to the first 10 people who email me for it (or who message me here on tumblr)!

In this episode, I share 6 of the over 40 prayers contained in O Beautiful Dust — and I offer some cultural context behind one of those pieces, which explores the story of the gender non-conforming water bearer to whom Jesus sends his disciples shortly before the Last Supper.

Listen to the episode wherever you get podcasts; or visit this webpage for direct links + a link to the transcript.

Visit https://obeautifuldust.carrd.co/ for all the links for where to purchase RW Walker's book, as well as for info about the author, narrator, and publisher. (This page is still being updated as more purchasing links go live.)

And if you want to watch Peterson Toscano's film Transfigurations: Gender Outlaws in the Bible, click here!

ID: Blue banners at the top and bottom of the image read, “RW Walker provides traditional, queer, Christ-centred common prayer for Lent; Listen to excerpts on Blessed Are the Binary Breakers. A photo of Walker shows a light-skinned person with short brown hair, close-shaved beard, and glasses looking downward and towards the right. Beside this photo is the cover art of Walker’s book, with the title O Beautiful Dust: Walking the Wilderness toward Common Prayer displayed over desert dunes with two small figures walking among them.

A painting by James Tissot of a figure carrying a water jug past tall stone walls; as they pass, two figures in the foreground turn their heads to watch, whispering to each other. Text to the left of the painting reads, Jesus sends his disciples into town on a strange errand: to find someone carrying a water jar who will lead them somewhere they can celebrate the Passover meal. What’s so strange about this water-bearing figure? As Peter Toscano explains in his performance of this scene, collecting water at the well was women's work. B. P. Morton agrees: "A man who is carrying a jar of water - in public – in ancient Jerusalem, is a man who either 1) doesn’t give a hot damn about local gender conventions, or 2) is actively doing their best to live publicly as a woman."

On a background of desert dunes and blue sky, a poem by RW Walker reads, Jesus, Let me show your apprentices to the Upper Room, And let my household’s master grant a spacious place As you prepare to eat the Passover. Yes, I know I’m carrying water on my head, An (Essene) man doing a “woman���s job” (whatever that means!). I know it’s a gender-queer thing to do in public— And yet my people will be happy to host you. Remember me— and all queer folk who grant you hospitality— when you come into your Kingdom. / end ID

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Ahhh my goodness, that would be such beautiful art!! i also need that in my life.

i can’t draw or paint, but i once designed a Joseph made of stars for an embroidery project i did of various queer figures in the Bible. (And i offer that Joseph design as a patch on etsy.)

[image is of an embroidery hoop with olive green fabric bearing the text “we have always existed.” Around that text are various images - at the top, a figure with a body like space, black with white stars, and a rainbow garment overlaid; other images are a pitcher, a scroll, a mother hen, a manger, a well, a bone, and a crossed sword and pruning hook. / end id]

________________

If you’re interested, i once made a post with my favorite art of Joseph that depicts Joseph in a feminine or gnc way. 

And if you’re interested in more on Joseph as a trans or gender nonconforming figure, here are some more sources for that!

check out my little article on Joseph on this webpage

I posted links to several articles on Joseph by Jewish scholars that are all great

Watch Peterson Toscano’s video “Transfigurations,” where he acts out the stories of several Biblical characters. He starts discussing Joseph’s garment around 17 minutes in. 

Purchase OtherWise Christian by Chris Paige for their discussion of Joseph! All their books are on sale for $15 for the month of June, so this is a great time to buy them! 

I learned something new today. Listening to the “Blessed Are the Binary Breakers” podcast by Avery over at @queerlychristian talking about the character of Joseph in Genesis. Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob and his father gave him a garment I’ve always heard described as a colorful coat or robe. But it turns out the Hebrew term for this garment only ever shows up once more in scripture describing the dress of a princess. Jacob gave Joseph a princess dress and his brothers took it away and sold him. Apparently there is midrash about Joseph being feminine and that being a threat to his brothers...

Times like this I wish I had better eye hand coordination and understanding of proportions and perspectives cause this scene needs to be painted! I’m talking altar panel size triptych: 1) getting the dress, 2) betrayed, dress torn and bloody, and 3) meeting the brothers again in Egyptian dress, jewelry, and makeup!!!!

[susquehannalife]

We're excited about the debut of our new podcast, Susquehanna Life Out Loud, created by Peterson Toscano. Take a listen, and let us know what you think!

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Hi! Can you recommend any resources from the Bible study yesterday? I wanted to attend but was prevented by a giant anxiety attack

Hey, sorry to hear about your anxiety attack. I hope you're feeling a little better today. <3

Here's the PowerPoint I used for the study in Google Drive!

And here are some more resources on eunuchs, since the slides don't go into as much detail:

My essay on Isaiah 56 from a trans lens -- scroll down to the section on the webpage titled "Better than sons and daughters"

Eunuchs in Esther by Peterson Toscano

my podcast ep on Acts 8's eunuch! (ep 42 in the list)

my vid on Isaiah 56 from a disability theology perspective!

If you like books, I highly recommend Chris Paige's book OtherWise Christians -- there's a whole big section on eunuchs and how they relate to trans persons

[spankyward]

THE "Hello, I Love You" motion picture soundtrack is in all major music stemming stores. Here are just a few. iTunes Apple Music Spotify Deezer Amazon Napster Tidal Google Play And many many more on the way! Just search for "Hello I Love You" (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Check out the album and take a listen! Four songs and lots of score tracks that will soothe, entertain, and paint beautiful images in your mind. I was blessed to work with amazing, talented musicians who's music provided a huge portion of HEART to this film. Thank you all! Spanky Ward Russ Whitelock Julie Eastman Vance Brita Peterson Andrew Gulledge Lesley Gulledge #helloiloveyou #helloiloveyoumusic #helloiloveyoumovie #helloiloveyoumoviesoundtrack #helloiloveyoumoviemusic #spankyward #grizzlychihuahuafilms #otayproductions Sadie Saunders Day Kalani Peterson Atkinson Susan Tomaso McEvoy Tony Toscano Jill Adler Nathan Riddle Bus Riley Casey William Walker https://www.instagram.com/p/B3aC71ThCFX/?igshid=1ubh8ccrh995e