Finding community in pride and faith with the Reverend Kate Harford

The Reverend Kate Harford reflects on her transformative years at 皇家华人, where her involvement in student leadership and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights laid the foundation for her future work as a priest.

5 September 2024

Kate鈥檚 university journey began in 2004 when she joined UCL to study a BA in Archaeology, Classics, and Classical Art. She immersed herself in campus life and became actively involved with Students鈥� Union UCL and the LGB Society (now ), where she eventually became co-president in her first term. Kate shares, "Joining the Students鈥� Union was one of the first things I did at 皇家华人, and it was good for me to get involved in the community straight away."听

Kate鈥檚 role in the LGB Society was a significant confidence booster. It gave her a sense of belonging during a time when being an LGBTQ+ student of Christian religious faith was particularly challenging. The LGB Society offered her a supportive community where she could reconcile these aspects of her identity, making it an invaluable experience.听As a (then undiagnosed) neurodivergent student, it provided structured social spaces to support her transition to university. 听

鈥�"I found my time with the LGB Society very safe. Whenever I encountered hostility, there was always someone I could talk to, someone who had my back, or someone nearby who was prepared to challenge the hostility. Some of that is the power of being in London and being part of an international community."

Kate鈥檚 involvement in Students鈥� Union UCL extended beyond the LGB Society, as she took on various leadership roles involving student experience and success. These positions allowed her to advocate for greater inclusivity and support for queer students, helping her develop leadership skills and pursue her commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all students.听

Life and career after UCL听

After graduating from UCL, Kate's dedication to advocacy and community building only grew stronger. She continued her work within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly focusing on the intersections of faith and sexuality. Kate was ordained in the Metropolitan Community Churches, an explicitly LGBTQ+ affirming church, where she works to raise awareness about the existence of LGBTQ+ people of faith and the unique challenges they face.听听

She has worked at Oxford Brookes University as a University Chaplain and Pastoral Care Lead which听has been an affirming experience and given her many opportunities to start conversations with students, staff and alumni who might be struggling with issues of faith, sexual identity/sexuality and gender identity.听听

"My experience of being out at Brookes has been a really positive one鈥攑eople are sometimes surprised to find a married queer priest in the Multifaith Chaplaincy office, but it鈥檚 a good conversation starter," she notes.听 The university has been a very affirming workplace for Kate, with a culture that fosters learning and inclusivity.鈥欌€櫶�

Kate also regularly speaks on queer and feminist theologies and mental health, focusing on how experiences of oppression and societal pressure impact the mental health of queer individuals. She has had exciting opportunities to share her insights, including on platforms like the Guilty Feminist podcast. In addition to her speaking engagements, she plays the flute with the Brookes Orchestra and joined with London Gay Symphonic Winds in their founding year.听

Looking to the future听听

Looking to the future, Kate hopes to further develop her advocacy for queer young people of faith, emphasising the importance of small actions and learning about others' experiences. She is particularly concerned about the hostility faced by the trans community and refugees.听

Kate encourages LGBTQ+ students and alumni to guard their emotional resources carefully. "You are not obliged to speak for the whole community all the time. You don't have to answer every hostile remark or threat. It's absolutely fine to decide that someone isn't worth your energy and to walk away. Be okay with walking away. Be okay with not being liked. If I had learned to be a bit less likable in my 20s, I might have had a much easier time with it.鈥欌€櫶�

After many years of advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, Kate鈥檚 passion to continue finding ways to make a difference is as strong as ever. She adds, "I hope to find ways to be more active in the future for my community. There is so much hostility now, especially towards trans people. Doing the small things every day can make a real difference and eventually lead to real change."听

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