Gender, as it is often understood in a binary, is a myth, but it is a myth that we are trained to believe from an early age and influences the way we interact with each other. Quakers believe that there is that of God in everyone, but that doesn’t mean we are inherently perfect in seeing how Spirit is calling each of us to be in the world. To see each other fully, we must resist the harmful stereotypes and stories that society tells and open to ones that embrace the integral and deepest selves of those around us and in the wider world.

If not the gender binary, then what? So many stories in modern cultures center people who are male or female, nothing else. We will explore notions of gender, particularly identities beyond the binary, through the lens of storytelling. Included will be mythic stories and photographs from Cai Quirk’s upcoming book ‘Transcendence,’ and time to reflect and play with our understandings of gender together. Come as you are, whether you are a gender nerd or new to these topics. If you are interested in thinking about gender, or intrigued by myths that tell of communities where gender exists differently, or a fable about how gender was created, come!… there is something here for you.

Leader(s)

Cai Quirk (they/them or ey/em) is a lifelong Quaker with passions for Witness, personal discernment, and diverse methods of spiritual deepening. With a gender that transcends binaries, Cai is practiced at deeply questioning societal expectations and norms and in shifting towards roots of individual and group integrity. Spiritual deepening, Witness, and integrity are expanded in Cai’s music and photography practices. Eir photography series ‘Transcendence’ connects themes of spirituality, mythology, and gender diversity as related to global and timeless patterns. See more at caiquirk.com.

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