Mazzoni Center recently launched a new drop-in support group, aimed at allowing LGBTs to explore their spirituality in a safe and affirming space.
The Born This Way group meets at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 12 at Mazzoni Center, 21 S. 12th St.
The eight-week pilot program launched last month, spearheaded by Mazzoni Center intern Evan Harbaugh, who is pursuing his master’s degree in social work from West Chester University.
As part of his tasks at Mazzoni, Harbaugh was asked to pitch several ideas for a new discussion group, and the spirituality focused session was selected as the prevailing proposal.
“I think for LGBT individuals, the waters of spirituality can sometimes be un-navigable,” he said. “I wanted to offer the LGBT community something that would be both unique and helpful.”
Harbaugh said the group can be a resource for people at any stage of their spiritual journey.
One group member shared an experience of continuing to heal after being forced into a religious conversion-therapy program, and another said he was brought to the group while “church-surfing” for an LGBT-affirming congregation.
“It’s a safe environment for people to develop their own spirituality, to question how their status as LGBTQ fits into religion or spirituality, to express thoughts or concerns about a higher power, to get more information about organized religion or to learn about non-traditional faith groups,” he said, noting that the group isn’t tailored to any specific religious tradition. “I use spiritual quotes, secular belief systems and non-Western spiritual traditions, so it’s open to everyone.”
The sessions begin with introductions, a review of the group’s mission statement and rules, and then participants take part in a group exercise — such as a word-association practice focused on spiritual phrases — followed by discussion, sometimes anchored around exploration of a spiritual quote.
“We were talking in the group and asking the question of what is spirituality, and one of the things we came up with is the definition that spirituality is faith in a higher power without the dogma of mankind,” Harbaugh said. “That’s not necessarily saying that’s true for everyone, but I think that definition encapsulates the idea of the general direction of the group. My biggest hope is that people take away an understanding of the difference between spirituality, religion and dogma. I’d like people to really be able to add meaning to their lives in this area.”
For more information, contact Harbaugh at 215-563-0652 ext. 432.