Dear Listeners,
In queer and trans communities, the presence of elders is a rare and precious gift. Too often, these stories are never fully told—shaped by the closet and silence, by risk and the danger of a hostile society, or by the simple fact that there have not always been spaces willing to receive them. And so many of us grow up without a sense that queer or trans life is possible, without clear examples of what it looks like to live a full, faithful life as ourselves.
This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with someone who offers exactly that kind of witness.
I’m joined by Christine Zuba, a transgender Catholic woman whose story first moved me when I heard her speak at the Outreach 2023 conference. This year, she turns 70—and she began her transition just 11 years ago. Her life is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to step into truth, and that what awaits on the other side is not simply relief, but a deep and grounded joy.
Christine is a lifelong Catholic and a parishioner at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Turnersville, New Jersey, where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister and helps lead her parish’s LGBTQ+ ministry, Together In Prayer. She is also active in similar ministries across New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City. Beyond her parish work, she serves on the Board of Directors of Fortunate Families, a national ministry supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics and their loved ones, and has been a leader within its Transgender Ministry.
Christine has written several articles for the Outreach ministry, available to read online here.
What stayed with me most in this conversation is not just the arc of her life—it’s the life she is living now. The relationships, the ministry, the peace, and the joy that have unfolded since her transition. Christine’s story doesn’t end with becoming herself; in many ways, that is where it begins.
These stories matter. They remind us that queer and trans Catholics have always been here. They give us a sense of continuity, of possibility, of hope.
If this episode resonates with you, and you’re interested in helping preserve and learn from queer Catholic history, I encourage you to check out Emma Cieslik’s Queer and Catholic Oral History Project, available to subscribe to on Substack. It’s a wonderful (and growing!) archive of stories like Christine’s—stories that deserve to be remembered. If you want to share your own experience of being Queer and Catholic for this historical archive project, be sure to reach out to Emma.
As always, Whiplash is listener-supported. If you value this work, you can share the episode, leave a rating, or consider becoming a paid subscriber to help sustain the show.
Thank you for listening,
Max
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