New Black LGBTQ+ spiritual community launches in Nashville

A new spiritual community created for Black LGBTQ+ people launches in Nashville, Monday, September 21, offering a different approach to exploring faith and identity.

The Clearing is a new monthly gathering at Scarritt Bennett Center designed for Black queer people to explore spirituality, healing and belonging through culture rather than a traditional church service.

Today’s first gathering will use Toni Morrison’s Beloved to begin conversations around identity, memory, freedom and healing.

Future meetings will use books, music, visual art, poetry and other creative work as starting points for conversations around Black LGBTQ+ experiences and spirituality.

The project is aimed particularly at people who may not have felt at home in traditional religious spaces, while remaining open to those looking for a different way to explore spirituality and community.

Food and childcare will also be provided at the gatherings. The Clearing launches today, September 21, at Nashville’s Scarritt Bennett Center, with further gatherings planned each month.