Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Brittny Habibti and Ashley Errington, two Mormon women who participated in the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Baton Rouge, LA in July 2016. They were part of the protestors who took refuge on the lawn of a woman who gave them permission to be on her private property, and yet the police dressed in riot gear pushed past and arrested many of those present. Brittny and Ashley speak to their experiences, resulting in PTSD symptoms for months to come… as well as to why this movement exists… why this remains such an important dialogue to be having… and the implications for Mormons in particular when it comes to addressing racial issues within our faith community.
This episode does include imagery that may provoke anxiety and includes explicit language that was used by the police.
*Correction: Brittny prefers to identify as “queer,” not “lesbian” which is how the interviewer made a reference at one point.
Race and the Priesthood – LDS Essay
Black Mormon: The Story of Elijah Ables
Many thanks to The Lower Lights for the beautiful bumper music.
Donations to Mormon Mental Health are tax deductible and go directly to support the costs of producing the podcast.
Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She writes at The Mormon Therapist for Patheos: Hosting the Conversation of Faith, runs Mormon Sex Info and is the current president for the Mormon Mental Health Association.
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