Kitchen Drama (Equality) (Essay‪)‬

I was having breakfast with Jesus recently. When I mispronounced his name as Jesus, Jesus corrected me. Jesus has quite a few Latin Kings tattoos. Which made sense when he told me his story. His mother died when he was born, and he was put with foster parents who were Latin King gang members who preyed on his vulnerability in multiple ways. One night at dinner, when Jesus was 13, he told his foster mother that he was gay, and she stabbed him with her fork. Hard. He has a row of scar bumps on his arm and another on his side from the fork attack. Jesus ran away and survived one way or another until he found his way to Trinity Place, the shelter my congregation opened a year and a half ago for homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. Some, like Jesus, have lived a lifetime of trauma. Others are kicked out of previously stable homes after coming out. We offer transitional housing for ten young adults and the biggest drama often centers around the kitchen. Whose dirty dishes are those in the sink? Who cleaned the dishes but left food scraps in the sink? Who cleaned the dishes but left food scraps all over the stove? Who hid the dirty pot in the back of the fridge? Who plugged up the sink by pouring grease down the drain? Who left the crumbs and bits of jelly on the counter? Who left the stinky garbage open? Who put the regular garbage in the recycling container? This is why we have roaches. This is an open invitation to the rat population more evident than ever due to the construction site next door. Not to mention mice. If that kitchen is not cleaned, no one is going to get their metrocards, the free subway passes we give out once a week like prizes to those who follow the purity laws. It seems counterproductive to withhold laundry money. Ah the joys of ministry! Perfect potential indeed!