Grafted NYC

Grafted NYC A Christian LGBTQ community for New York City. Grafted is a Christ-centered NYC community for those who identify as LGBTQ.

We gather for weekly small groups, monthly socials, service projects, and other special events. Grafted is primarily organized through a secret Facebook group. (Only members of the group can see who's in it.) If you’d like to request access to the group, please send us an email at [email protected], and we can email you an invitation to join the FB group. The name Grafted comes from Romans 11:1

1-24, which describes how wild olive branches are grafted into an olive tree so that they, along with the natural branches, will feed on the nutrients supplied by the roots and bring forth good fruit.

Since 2013, Grafted has been a safe space for LGBTQ+ Christians to explore their faith and identity. This community - st...
04/29/2023

Since 2013, Grafted has been a safe space for LGBTQ+ Christians to explore their faith and identity. This community - started as a small Bible study group - quickly expanded to provide opportunities for socialization, education, community service, and support across New York City and beyond.
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After careful consideration, the leadership team has decided that Grafted’s time as a fully-functioning non-profit organization has come to an end, due to the ever-changing climate surrounding public gatherings and our ability to maintain the group in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Join us at The Gin Mill (442 Amsterdam Avenue) on Thursday, May 11 as we gather to close this chapter in Grafted’s history with one last “official” event. Whatever impact Grafted has had on your life, we would love to spend some time with you remembering the vibrant community Grafted has provided us all for the last 10 years. We will be sharing all you can eat appetizers and the first 30 guests will receive a free drink ticket. We hope to see you there!

Hey everyone. Please take a moment to read this message about the future of Grafted. We will be taking a hiatus from pro...
01/12/2021

Hey everyone. Please take a moment to read this message about the future of Grafted. We will be taking a hiatus from programming until further notice. Our private Facebook group will remain active for community and support whenever you need it. Peace, blessings, and love to you all.
***rchristian ***rlove

To the she’s and him’s. To the they’s and them’s. To the ze’s and xim’s. To all the guys, gals, and non-binary pals. Gra...
10/21/2020

To the she’s and him’s. To the they’s and them’s. To the ze’s and xim’s. To all the guys, gals, and non-binary pals. Grafted NYC wishes all of you a happy International Pronouns Day!
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Cis-gender friends: Have you added your pronouns to your bio yet? Your email signature? Your Zoom name? It may seem like a small thing, but this minor change can help your friends of other genders feel safe and supported by you! Try it today.
***rchristian ***rlove

Our next October Community Spotlight comes from Tim Bogus. A long-standing member and supporter of Grafted, they have be...
10/20/2020

Our next October Community Spotlight comes from Tim Bogus. A long-standing member and supporter of Grafted, they have been an integral part of so many facets of the organization. Tim identifies as a trans woman (they/them) and brings that perspective brilliantly to this short interview.
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How do you want this time in LGBTQ+ history to be remembered in 20 years?: I want this time to be remembered as a moment in history where LGBTQ+ people chose not to be silent - choosing instead to channel the voices of our q***r ancestors and raise our voices in protest in support of our BIPOC, immigrant and otherwise marginalized brothers and sisters. Their fight is our fight.
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What is your favorite moment in LGBTQ+ history? The video of Sylvia Rivera shouting over a jeering crowd at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally in 1973 is incredibly inspiring.  This is one woman fighting not just for herself but for the recognition of other trans women when being trans was not popular in the gay community.
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How has your perspective on LGBTQ+ current events and history changed? I used to think my q***r identity was isolated from other people. However, as I've grown, I've found myself calling those who have come before us our "q***r ancestors" because I've found a sense of family in the broad arc of LGBTQ history. The more I embrace my identity the more an attack or infringement on any one of us becomes personal to me.
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How has your identity impacted your perception of LGTBQ+ history? My fight, today, is focused on the racial and gender inequities within the LGBTQ rights movement itself.  I have privilege because of my origins that others don’t have and it’d be reckless not to fight for those injustices.
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What kind of impact do you want Grafted to leave on LGBTQ+ history? I hope we’re moved to action against inequality inside and outside our movement and we’re known to be individuals who raised our voices alongside other marginalized groups.
***rchristian ***rlove

10/19/2020

This week, on Connecting in Place: Election Edition, is back with more of Nate’s Thoughts! In this episode, Nate talks about the role of third party voting in this election. Spoiler alert: Voting for Biden this time around means third parties will have a greater chance on the national campaign stage in the future!
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Tune in next week for more Connecting in Place: Election Edition.
***rchristian ***rlove

Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr.’s right-hand man was LGBTQ+?•Bayard Rustin was an often under-represented but i...
10/17/2020

Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr.’s right-hand man was LGBTQ+?
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Bayard Rustin was an often under-represented but integral figure in the Civil Rights movement. His social justice work crossed racial, religious, economical, and orientational barriers. Rustin is credited with helping to organize several civil rights efforts including the March on Washington Movement, the Freedom Rides, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, among others. Involuntarily outed early in his career, Bayard identified as a gay man. But, it wasn’t until the 1980s that he used his voice for LGBTQ+ issues. For this reason, he didn’t consider himself an LGBTQ+ activist, but it’s safe to say his presence and his work, along with the work of other civil rights leaders, paved the way for LGBTQ+ activism.
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The National March on Washington for Le***an and Gay Rights was one of the largest demonstrations in US history. After several attempts to organize in earlier years, the March took place on October 14, 1979, catalyzed by the assassination of Harvey Milk. It is estimated that somewhere between 75,000 and 125,000 LGBTQ+ activists and their allies showed up for the March to protest for their civil rights. Demonstrations like this continued to occur in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s including the most recent National Pride March in 2017.
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Without the work of the original civil rights movement and the leadership of figures like Bayard Rustin, it’s possible that the LGBTQ+ civil rights victories we’ve been fortunate enough to see may have been stifled or may have never seen the light of day. Human rights should not be determined by race, religion, sexuality, gender presentation, or any other identifier which makes our nation so beautifully diverse. Stories like that of Bayard Rustin - a Black, gay, Christian - only serve to emphasize the importance of intersectionality in the fight for human rights.
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Illustration of Bayard Rustin by Sr. V.
***rchristian ***rlove

Originally started by Canadian teen Brittany McMillan and picked up and promoted by , LGBTQ+ Spirit Day is a day to stan...
10/15/2020

Originally started by Canadian teen Brittany McMillan and picked up and promoted by , LGBTQ+ Spirit Day is a day to stand in solidarity against bullying and violent action against the LGBTQ+ community, youth and young adults in particular. Your Grafted leaders, pictured above, want you to know that we stand against bullying of our LGBTQ+ siblings in any form. If you need support from us for any issue, including bullying, feel free to reach out via DM or email.
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To find out more about what you can do to support and participate in Spirit Day, head to http://glaad.org/spiritday.
***rchristian ***rlove

Tonight is the second installment night of our month-long, weekly study: Engaging Identity. We’re tackling the self and ...
10/13/2020

Tonight is the second installment night of our month-long, weekly study: Engaging Identity. We’re tackling the self and society. Join us Tuesdays in October at 7PM EST on Zoom! Link is in our bio.
***rchristian

Meet Allyson and Bethany! These lovely ladies met at a Grafted event and the rest was history. We here at Grafted are so...
10/13/2020

Meet Allyson and Bethany! These lovely ladies met at a Grafted event and the rest was history. We here at Grafted are so thankful for their support, their positive spirits, and the energy they bring to every function. We did a little interview with them for our weekly October Community Spotlight. Check it out below!
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How do you want this time in LGBTQ+ history to be remembered in 20 years?: “We want our generation to be remembered for our resiliency, determination and unity in standing for the most vulnerable in our community.  We want our q***r family to be known for winning full equality and human rights for our trans and QPOC siblings who began the good fight for us all.”
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What is your favorite moment/event/movement in LGBTQ+ history?: ALLYSON: “Most immediately, it would probably have to be marriage equality. Especially with the recent news, we feel the importance of that momentous win even more.” BETHANY: “Learning about the life of Harvey Milk was quite impactful for me. As a kid, politics didn’t mean much. Now, I see the impact policies have on my daily life and that of my LGBTQ+ family.”
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How has your perspective on LGBTQ+ current events and history changed? “In a lot of ways, we have taken our history for granted. Now in the current climate where nothing is guaranteed, we’re more engaged and more aware of the need to continue the work that was started for us many years ago.”
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What impact do you want Grafted to leave on LGBTQ+ history? “For some of us, Grafted has granted us the ability to reconcile our two identities and reimagine our faith, leaving behind the oppressive teachings of our past. For some, it gives us the permission to let go and continue forward, perhaps without the label of ‘Christian’. Either way, Grafted allows for the reincorporation of the whole self and allows for two factions, that are often at odds, to come and sit at the same table. We hope Grafted’s legacy is one of expansive inclusion.”
***rchristian ***rlove

On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten and tied to a fence outside Laramie, Wyoming in a hate crime which cast a...
10/12/2020

On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten and tied to a fence outside Laramie, Wyoming in a hate crime which cast a spotlight on the very real and brutal treatment of LGBTQ+ people in America. Matthew died of complications from his injuries on October 12, 1998.
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Twenty-two years later, bullying and violence against LGBTQ+ people in America is still part of our reality: physical violence from civilians and police, mental and emotional violence from the Church and its rejection of q***r people, and legislative violence in the form of repealed protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
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Matthew’s parents, Judy and Dennis, have made it their mission to share Matthew’s story to change hearts & minds and stamp out hate crimes and bigotry against LGBTQ+ people. To learn more about Matthew’s story and The Matthew Shepard Foundation, visit http://matthewshepard.org.
***rchristian ***rlove

10/11/2020

On this week’s episode of Connecting in Place: Election Edition, gives us a quick rundown on how to make a plan for voting and how you can make a difference on Election Day.
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Check the link in our bio for the sites mentioned in this video.
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Tune in next week for a new episode!
***rchristian ***rlove

We all have our own journey. No matter where you are on yours, we at Grafted want you to know that you are loved and you...
10/11/2020

We all have our own journey. No matter where you are on yours, we at Grafted want you to know that you are loved and you are welcome here.
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Happy National Coming Out Day!

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