Catholic Perspective on LGBT+ Experiences 

Peyton Voorheis 
Staff Writer 

The Office of Evangelization hosted a talk in the Gentile Gallery for the first time since it became the temporary chapel. Monday night, Oct. 21, students filled the lower floor of the gallery-turned-chapel for a talk by graduate student Manny Gonzalez on “Journeying with Friends who have LGBT+ Experiences.” 

Beginning at 7 p.m., Gonzalez opened by addressing the location and said that although he does not frequently speak before the tabernacle, he ultimately came to the conclusion in prayer that it was the ideal place for the talk.  

Gonzalez said that there was “no better place for a conversation about human sexuality,” as it allowed struggles to be brought to the foot of the cross and a personal topic to be entered into with reverence. 

Gonzalez addressed questions he’d heard around campus asking why the talk was happening, saying, “because it matters. This is not an ‘us versus them’ issue, this is an ‘us’ issue.”  He added that this is a relevant issue for everyone saying, “it’s not a matter  of ‘if’ you know someone (with an LGBT+ experience), it’s a matter of ‘when.’” 

One of the things that Gonzalez presented was a list of practicals, illustrating how to walk with individuals with this experience. This included perspective shifts, like separating individuals from a sin as well as from ideologies they may or may not align themselves with. 

Gonzalez also encouraged his audience to invest in the whole person, and to avoid seeing them as a project saying, “that is not how we are called to approach anyone.” He added that a more specific part of this is to understand the reality of coming out, and elaborated on how these tips apply to receiving someone who comes out. 

The talk portion of the evening concluded around 7:40 p.m. and transitioned into a question and answer session. The audience had several questions and although the talk was scheduled to end at 8 p.m., Gonzalez continued to answer questions until 8:15 p.m. 

When asked, Gonzalez also elaborated on how, leading up to the talk, there had been some small instances of pushback, posters being taken down and comments being made. However, at the end of it, he said he was ultimately satisfied with what the Spirit had led him to say, and that, “if you get caught up in numbers and attendance, you’ll lose your mind.” 

After the talk, many students lingered outside discussing what had been presented. “I think it raises awareness about an important issue that so many Catholics don’t acknowledge, or simply don’t want to acknowledge, for the sake of saving face,” said Braedon Eckert a sophomore social-work major. 

Senior english major Michaela Walther gave a similar sentiment, “I just think it was something that was needed for a lot of people. And I think that more people than were here needed to be here, but they’ll get there eventually.”