In response to the changing landscape of religious rhetoric regarding sexual and gender diversities, delfin bautista explores the reclaiming of religious narratives through the lives and experiences of trans people. Adopting an interfaith lens, delfin shares how religious communities engage (or don’t engage) gender diversity. This talk is a starting or sparking off point for the deeper engagement of the complex yet rich dynamics of intersecting religion and gender diversity. Together we will claim and reclaim as trans people and those in solidarity with us that “we are here, we have always been here, and we will always be here.”

A social worker and theologian by training, delfin bautista (who prefers the lower-case spelling of their name) is passionate about engaging the intersections of religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, and social justice as well as creating spaces where individuals and communities are both safe and challenged to wrestle through questions around identity and expression. bautista earned master’s degrees in divinity and in social work. delfin’s background includes chaplaincy, HIV/AIDS case management, LGBTQ advocacy, and trauma therapy.