Good question. Let's try to answer without writing a novel.
The Jonathan Project is a cultural volunteering project created to tell the story of the journey that LGBTQ+ Christian people live every day in their communities, in groups, in parishes, in Christian churches and in their families. We do this because stories, when told and listened to, can open up paths. They can help Christian churches to understand better, society to overcome fears and prejudices and many LGBTQ+ people and their believing family members to feel less alone.
It all started in a simple way, it was born from an idea of Charles and Innocent, a gay Christian couple, who came to life during a spiritual retreat at the prayer house of the convento de la Verna (Tuscany), the place where Saint Francis received the stigmata. From that spark, fueled by the first Vigil against homophobia in Florence in june 2007, the portal was born in September of the same year gionata.org. since then the journey has continued: sometimes slowly, sometimes with a more decisive step, always with the patience of those who know that real changes cannot be improvised.
What do we do
Today the Gionata Project collects with its volunteers on gionata.org testimonies, translations, reflections, news and pastoral experiences related to LGBTQ+ believers, their families and the pastoral workers who walk with them. On the web our task is simple to say and challenging to do: to tell what often remains invisible.
We tell the story of the journey of LGBTQ+ Christians, of their parents who learn to listen to their children and of many priests, pastors, Catholic nuns, men and women religious and lay people who try to open welcoming spaces in our churches. We also talk about hardships, wounds and misunderstandings, because hospitality is not a word to put on display: it is a concrete journey, made up of people, time and some stumbles. The Gionata Project is carried out by volunteers scattered throughout Italy. There are those who write, those who translate, those who layout, those who look for news, those who arrange texts, those who create images and photos, those who network. Nobody does everything, but everyone provides what they do best.
Our journey online
Since June 2009 the Gionata Project has joined theEuropean Forum of lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender christian groups (European Forum of Christian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Groups), an international network of LGBTQ+ Christian experiences.
Since March 2018 the Gionata Project has also been supported byassociation La Tenda di Gionata, born at the request of don David Esposito, priest of the diocese of Fermo, who passed away prematurely, to accompany, train and inform about faith and LGBTQ+ people.
We don't speak for everyone, but we try to listen
The Gionata Project does not claim to speak on behalf of all LGBTQ+ Christian people. It would be impossible and, let's face it, even a little presumptuous. Rather, it aims to offer a space where experiences, questions and paths can be shared, preserved and put into dialogue.
Because a testimony can help someone feel less alone. a Translation can bring to italy a Reflection born elsewhere. a piece Of news can show that something is moving in a parish, in a church, in a diocese or in a group. here, ultimately the gionata Project Is this: an open door on the path of lGBTQ+ christian People and those who walk with them.
Walk with us
The Gionata Project continues because many people, over these years, have voluntarily chosen to put something into it: a translated text, a shared testimony, a reported piece of news, an hour of their time, a skill, a contact, a hand given when needed. You too can be part of it.
You can collaborate with the Gionata Project if you want... There's no need to already have all the answers, and fortunately: otherwise we'd be in a bad situation too. We need the desire to listen, build bridges, share skills, time and passion. If you want to get to know us, propose a text, talk about an experience, lend us a hand or support this journey, write to us. The Gionata Project thrives on volunteering, relationships and trust. And there is always room for those who want to walk with us.
