The Queer Interfaith Alliance is a new organization at the University of Mississippi that aims to mend the divide between campus religious groups and the LGBTQ+ community. Kadin Collier, an incoming freshman from Hattiesburg, Miss., is the founder and president of the group.
“The club is all about bringing together people of different faiths, religious practices, beliefs and
sexualities to understand that there is a way for them to live both truths,” Collier said.
Collier emphasized a desire for inclusivity within the club.
“Whether you’re in the LGBTQ community, whether you’re straight, whether you’re somewhere in between (or) whether you’re religious, I simply want it to be a space for dialogue, advocacy and education.”
Collier, an Arabic and international studies double major, came up with the idea after attending JumpStart, a pre-college program held for freshmen, and meeting JumpStart Coordinator and Pre-College Programs Success Coach Jared Ramos.
Ramos, who holds a master’s in divinity from Emory University and a certificate in religious education, is the club’s sponsor. Ramos obtained his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, but he did not start exploring the merging of faith and sexuality until pursuing his master’s degree. At Emory, he joined Sacred Worth, a student organization that shares the same ideals of open dialogue and advocacy.
“I had the opportunity to serve as the chaplain for Sacred Worth in the second year of my
program,” Ramos said. “Sacred Worth provided me with a space to explore and accept my queer identity and all the way that it is perfectly compatible with my faith identity.”
Ramos shared his excitement for the start of the Queer Interfaith Alliance at UM.
“Due to those personal and educational experiences when Kadin approached me and shared his
vision for a queer, interfaith student organization, I was immediately excited about the prospect
of seeing something like that at the University of Mississippi,” Ramos shared. “I was honored
when Kadin asked me to serve as the staff adviser for the organization. I think it is important to
not only center and encourage the experiences of queer and religious students but also invite
conversation and community between students from different faith traditions.”
Among other events, the organization plans to create an open forum for dialogue through historical education and the dissection of religious texts.
“(One of the ideas we have) is bringing professors and giving short talks at meetings,
because one thing that a lot of queer people who are religious struggle with is unpacking all of
the historical context behind the scripture or beliefs that condemn their sexuality,” Collier said.
Collier hopes students feel welcome to help shape the culture and future of the Queer Interfaith Alliance.
“My dreams for the club are to expand it to a visible space on campus — where every Ole Miss
student who is queer or who is religious, who is both or who is neither — can come together and
act and serve, and to be educated and educate others,” Collier said. “Mississippi is one of the most polarized states in the union. But also, it’s one of the most diverse states, and I want people to realize that while we are in the Bible Belt, there are so many people in the Bible Belt that are queer and religious.”
Students who are interested in joining the Queer Interfaith Alliance can find more information on the ForUM or on their Instagram page @umqueerinterfaithalliance.
