New Orleans Voodoo, a syncretic religion blending West African spiritual traditions with Catholicism, has historically offered a more inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community than many mainstream religions. Rooted in ancestral veneration and spirit communication, Voodoo often embraces gender fluidity and diverse expressions of identity. There are gender expansive and gender non-conforming spirits, dual-gender spirits, and spirits with a special fondness for LGBTQ+ people.
Voodoo is not a fertility cult, so there is no special pressure for procreation, which seems to have made it possible for queer people to find a home in the tradition. In Haitian Vodou (a close relative), certain lwa (spirits) are associated with or embody queer characteristics, like Erzulie Freda protecting gay men or Erzulie Dantor linked to lesbians.
This spiritual framework allowed for the acceptance of individuals whose gender or sexual identities diverged from societal norms. While views within Voodoo can vary, its emphasis on individual connection to spirits and less rigid gender roles provided refuge and leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ people, fostering a unique intersection of spirituality and identity in New Orleans.
