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A review by melhara
The Queer Evangelist by Cheri Dinovo
5.0
4.5/5
[b:The Queer Evangelist|57749730|The Queer Evangelist A Socialist Clergy’s Radically Honest Tale|Cheri Dinovo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620935974l/57749730._SY75_.jpg|90458254] is a political and religious memoir by former New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Parkdale-High Park, Reverend Dr. Cheri DiNovo.
There are a few things that made this memoir one of the most interesting political memoirs I've ever read:
1. DiNovo is a queer (bisexual) reverend.
She initially came out as lesbian because "bisexuals" didn't exist back in the day.
2. She had a very dark childhood, grew up on the streets, and was victim to both sexual abuse and drug abuse.
3. She grew up an atheist and was skeptical about the Church (being queer and all), until she found a Church that accepted her and welcomed her with open arms, and learned that "You didn't have to like everyone, but you did have to love them." It was definitely interesting (and refreshing) to read about a queer person's positive experience with faith and religion.
4. As a minister, she performed Canada's first legal same-sex marriage in 2001, before same-sex marriage was actually legalized by Parliament (a few years later).
5. During her tenure as MPP, she passed more LGBTQ+ bills than anyone in Canadian history, and is also known for tabling the most tri-party bills and private member's bills than anyone else.
Although I don't live in DiNovo's riding (and didn't really know of her before reading this book), I definitely enjoyed learning more about local history and issues, as well as the history and background regarding some of the bills that have passed in the province that I live in. I also particularly loved (and thought it pretty funny and interesting) reading about DiNovo's experience working in a rural church, and how it differed from churches in the City.
Honestly, reading this book really made me admire and appreciate all of DiNovo's hard work. She's accomplished so much for the LGBTQ+ community. It was also a bit disheartening to read about how difficult it was to garner party support for certain bills (even support from your own party!) that seem like no-brainers... which I guess is why so many people hate politics. I can see how politics can be soul-crushing, which is why DiNovo deserves all the praise she can get for persevering and advocating for marginalized communities.
While some of the content was a bit repetitive and the last few chapters a tad too religious for my liking, this was by far one of the most interesting political memoirs I've ever read.
***#4 of my 2021 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - Read an LGBTQ+ history book***
[b:The Queer Evangelist|57749730|The Queer Evangelist A Socialist Clergy’s Radically Honest Tale|Cheri Dinovo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620935974l/57749730._SY75_.jpg|90458254] is a political and religious memoir by former New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Parkdale-High Park, Reverend Dr. Cheri DiNovo.
There are a few things that made this memoir one of the most interesting political memoirs I've ever read:
1. DiNovo is a queer (bisexual) reverend.
She initially came out as lesbian because "bisexuals" didn't exist back in the day.
There was never a place back then to be bisexual. No one believed in bisexuality. Most still don't. Even though the B became part of the LGBTQ2S acronym, it never was part of the reality. Claiming you were bisexual simply meant that you were still in the closet and didn't have the courage to emerge from it. Still sort of does. Later it meant that you were really straight and just trying to be cool. Either way you were effaced. You didn't exist as you. Funny thing though, I existed. So did and do others. At a recent forum on the Year of the Bisexual (so-proclaimed in 2018), I was astounded to see so many people I thought were gay, lesbian, or straight. I said to the room, "It's so gratifying to see a room full of people like me who don't actually exist!"
2. She had a very dark childhood, grew up on the streets, and was victim to both sexual abuse and drug abuse.
3. She grew up an atheist and was skeptical about the Church (being queer and all), until she found a Church that accepted her and welcomed her with open arms, and learned that "You didn't have to like everyone, but you did have to love them." It was definitely interesting (and refreshing) to read about a queer person's positive experience with faith and religion.
4. As a minister, she performed Canada's first legal same-sex marriage in 2001, before same-sex marriage was actually legalized by Parliament (a few years later).
5. During her tenure as MPP, she passed more LGBTQ+ bills than anyone in Canadian history, and is also known for tabling the most tri-party bills and private member's bills than anyone else.
Although I don't live in DiNovo's riding (and didn't really know of her before reading this book), I definitely enjoyed learning more about local history and issues, as well as the history and background regarding some of the bills that have passed in the province that I live in. I also particularly loved (and thought it pretty funny and interesting) reading about DiNovo's experience working in a rural church, and how it differed from churches in the City.
Honestly, reading this book really made me admire and appreciate all of DiNovo's hard work. She's accomplished so much for the LGBTQ+ community. It was also a bit disheartening to read about how difficult it was to garner party support for certain bills (even support from your own party!) that seem like no-brainers... which I guess is why so many people hate politics. I can see how politics can be soul-crushing, which is why DiNovo deserves all the praise she can get for persevering and advocating for marginalized communities.
While some of the content was a bit repetitive and the last few chapters a tad too religious for my liking, this was by far one of the most interesting political memoirs I've ever read.
***#4 of my 2021 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - Read an LGBTQ+ history book***