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Center for Spiritual & Religious Life

Black Trans Prayer Book Events

Posted by on Thursday, February 11, 2021 in newsletter.

Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19

More information and registration link: divinity.vanderbilt.edu/tbtpb.php

Religious Life joins the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality at Vanderbilt Divinity School, along with many other campus offices and organizations, to present an unprecedented and exciting series of virtual events February 18-19 featuring the creators and editors of The Black Trans Prayer Book, J Mase III and Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi. J Mase and Lady Dane are poets, performers, researchers, writers, and multi-faith religious leaders. They have worked years to bring The Black Trans Prayer Book to life. Published this spring, The Black Trans Prayer Book is: “an interfaith, multi-dimensional, artistic and theological work that collects the stories, poems, prayers, meditation, spells, and incantations of Black Trans & Non-Binary people. Often pushed out of Faith spaces and yet still deeply connected to a historical legacy of spiritual essentiality, Black Trans People face unprecedented amounts of spiritual, physical, and psychological violence. The Black Trans Prayer Book is a tool of healing, and affirmation centered on uplifting Black Trans & Non-Binary people.”

There are three planned events for the Vanderbilt community:

  • Thursday, February 18 at 3:00pm CST: “Where White Supremacy, Transantagonism & Religious Violence Collide,” an interactive workshop highlighting Black Trans leadership across time and faiths.
  • Thursday, February 18 at 7:00pm CST: Healing space led by and centering Black and Brown trans folk while open to all.
  • Friday, February 19 at 6:00pm CST: Reading from The Black Trans Prayer Book and dramatic performance featuring the editors, J Mase and Lady Dane, along with several contributors.

Promotional poster, white text on a blurred gray/blue background. On the right 3 sticks of incense are burning, about an inch of each has burned down and is gray. Small lines of orange are visible, and smoke rises from the top of the brown, unburned portion. The text reads: The Black Trans Prayer Book, Feb. 18-19 2021, Healing Ritual/Workshop/Worship/Reading https://divinity.vanderbilt.edu/tbtpb.php Followed by a list of 15 co-sponsors: the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality, Vanderbilt Office of LGBTQI Life, Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, Provost's Office of Inclusive Excellence, LGBT Policy Lab, Latino and Latina Studies Program, Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center, Office of University Chaplain and Religious Life, Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Vanderbilt Hillel, Divinity Library at Vanderbilt University, Kelly Miller Smith Institute in Black Church Studies, Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative, Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture, Vanderbilt Divinity School Office of Admission, Vocation, and Stewardship