Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Guest Post: All Under Aida Wedo By Tehron Gillis

Guest Post: All Under Aida Wedo By Tehron Gillis

Last updated on: October 24, 2013 at 5:45 am by Guest Contributor

Guest Post: All Under Aida Wedo By Tehron Gillis 2013-10-24T05:45:04-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Tehron Gillis, slam poet and writer.

I am very excited today to feature a guest post from Tehron Gillis. Tehron is a Westchester based slam poet and writer, is a voodoo initiate and rootworker. Practicing magic and tarot for over a decade, Tehron works towards exploring LGBTQ and ethnic themes in the craft.

There were not many worries I had about entering the African Diasporan religions but among them; “Am I pronouncing the spirits’ names right?”, “Where do find functional and chic white clothing?”, “Will I remember the trains to my Mambo’s house?” and more daunting “Will my homosexuality be an issue with my religion”. The first three were assuaged by some time with my priestess and a great shopping trip to NYC, but the latter took me on a trip through my religion to find where do LGBTQ people fit in the African Diaspora religions. Anyone who grew up in African Diaspora communities, like myself, can attest to the struggles that LGBTQ people have gone through within these communities. Often we are the subject of blatant discrimination, isolation, and abuse of all kinds. So naturally, and realistically, I was worried that my sexuality would hinder my ability to connect with the African Diaspora religions. With great joy I have found that this has not been the case.

Finding Family

A popular term that LGBTQ people use to refer to our community and its member is “Family” . It’s a beautiful and discreet way we identify ourselves in open without drawing attention to members of our community that wish to remain, for whatever reason, unnoticed. A common practice I have adopted is looking for family in public rituals, pagan events, on feast days, and in botanicas. I almost always find family in these places. I have talked to many practitioners of Santeria, also known as Lucumi, Ifa and Voodoo, that are family and we usual end up exchanging stories about the Lwa and orisha, particularly Oshun, and how they have manifest in our lives. One particular experience that made my priestess laugh was on one of our feast days. We where honoring Maman Bridgette, one of the many spirits that keep the dead, and I went down to a large botanica to get some supplies. While there I was exchanging some flirtation looks with the clerk that was behind the counter. When I checked out we exchanged some words until I crossed my self with my money a common gesture amongst us in the religion. He invited me to his Ile‘s, Lukumi temple, Oya feast that night. I declined since I had my own feast to attend to but he suggest we go out afterward, which I had to also declined because of aforementioned feast. He looked disappointed and so was I but I did take note that that was the first, and certainly not the last time, a guy used a Oya feast as a pick up line.

The Gods & Goddesses

Another place where I find frequently family and our allies is among the Loa and Orisha. The following is a list of Loa and Orisha that have correspondence in LGBTQ themes

Obatala: Seen as androgynous, is referred to as both the masculine and feminine, and keeps the heads of many homosexual men

Inle: The patron of fishermen and woman and patron protector of homosexuals

Oshun: She who deals matters of love, regardless of race, sex, and sexual orientation. One of my, and many other gay men, person head spirits. I have been told by a Santero that “Oshun loves her gays”

Gede Nibo: A member of the Gede family in Haitian Vodou that is said to have a flamboyant sexuality to match his cinnamon anus

Erzulie Dantor: Said to be a patroness of Lesbians.

Chango: The King of Oyo, the Lord of dance and drums, the Thunder Bringer, Fire incarnate, He who did not hang, the God of masculinity, who will do great drag if it means he will win his battles.

Babaluaiye: The Orisha of healing and diseases made more significant to the Family because of the AIDS epidemic.

Inclusive Not Exclusive.

Voodoo Priest Louis Martinie writes in his book The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot that voodoo is inclusive not exclusive. This is a reference to intuitions that try to repress the religion and to the people who’s spirits are drawn to call of spirit. While as individuals we may fall prey to homophobia and transantagonism, the African Diaspora religions offers a space for healing and a bridge that not only connects us to the spirits of nature but to each other as well. The unfortunate truth is this that that people will carry their prejudice as a sword and shield. But I have hope of seeing VeVes made Bayard Rustin and Harvey Milk. An inclusive spiritual practice I do is add victims of hate crimes such as Matthew Shepard to my spiritual ancestors in hopes to heal the damage done to the family and keep their spirit alive. All under the rainbow, or as we know it as the Goddess Aida Wedo, are always welcome.

Previous Post

October 23, 2013

New Orleans Ritual Voodoo Coffee

Next Post

October 25, 2013 Sell My Soul: Commodification in Voodoo and Santeria (La Regla Lukumi)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ancestors astrology Candomble Crystals Divination Entertainment Goddess Herbs Hoodoo Ifa Pagan Ritual Recipes Santeria Spells Uncategorized Vodou Voodoo Witchcraft

Select a Month May 2025 January 2025 September 2024 August 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 September 2023 June 2023 March 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Hebrews say is sharper than any double-edged sword?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faith The word of God A righteous man's prayer The tongue