Potential New Interest Group for LGBTQ+ Inclusivity – A Call for Interest

Are you a member of Atla and are LGBTQ+? Perhaps an ally to the LGBTQ+ community that would like to contribute to a positive and inclusive community within Atla? Just interested in learning more about inclusive faith communities?

In light of initiatives toward diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as the growing reality that LGBTQ+ people are a common part of all professions, including theological librarianship, I am proposing the creation and inclusion of a new Interest Group specifically for Atla Member LGBTQ+ people, as well as allies within the community, to come to together in celebration, communication, and education.

The purpose of this interest group will be:

• To create an inclusive space where LGBTQ+ members can both feel welcome and know they are growing part of the community,
• To discuss issues in theology, religious studies, and theological librarianship that intersect with LGBTQ+ issues and communities,
• To create LGBTQ+ positive and inclusive educational programming for the Atla community and beyond.

How to Show Your Interest

Those interested in joining this new Interest Group and/or assisting in the creation of the group, or for any questions or clarifications to this call for participation, please contact Alexis Weiss at alexis.weiss@lmu.edu. Once we have collected a large enough number of people to potentially create and sustain the group, a message will go out to attend a Zoom meeting where we can deepen the conversation and begin the process of taking the necessary steps to official Interest Group recognition (i.e., creating a charge, organizational structure, etc.).