Sandra Lawson, one of the first openly queer Black women to be a rabbi, spoke at the 2024 Pride Keynote Lecture at Carnegie Mellon University in the Simmons Auditorium at the Tepper School of Business(opens in new window). The event was held on June 11th to celebrate Pride month(opens in new window) at CMU and around the world.

Lawson is a thought leader and anti-racist policy and training advocate who has been the inaugural director of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism(opens in new window) since early 2021. She has a wealth of previous professional experiences that inform her current perspectives; she has served in the military, supported HIV/AIDS communities, worked in higher education and collaborated with advocacy organizations to combat hate groups.

Lawson's work, it was noted by herself and university leadership throughout the program, was inspired by trailblazers and civil rights leaders like Kimberlé Crenshaw and bell hooks, whose pioneering writing and transformative theories explored the complexities of intersectionality in American society.

Lawson was first introduced with remarks from Wanda Heading-Grant(opens in new window), vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at CMU; and subsequently from Provost and Chief Academic Officer James H. Garrett Jr(opens in new window).

"Rabbi Sandra Lawson is a thought leader known for tackling difficult questions surrounding complex dimensions of identity within systems and cultures," Garrett said during his introduction. "As one of the first African American queer female rabbis, she has consciously worked to alter perceptions of what a rabbi can look like."

Lawson started the event by sharing three blessings for those in attendance — one blessing for first experiences, one for gratitude and one to honor the pain of those feeling unseen.

During the event, Lawson described how the intersectionality of her experiences as a Black woman, a Jewish leader and a member of the LGBTQ+ community has informed her life and connections with others.

"Tonight I'm honored to share my experiences, including the joys and the challenges I've faced for being my authentic self — joys like the day I married my wife, Susan. Our marriage is a same-sex marriage, which wasn't legal when I met her in 2012. And as an interracial couple, marriages between Black folk and white folk wouldn't have been legal in my parents generation.

"When I reflect on my life, I see a tapestry woven from multiple identities. Each thread represents a part of who I am — Black, Jewish, queer, a woman and a rabbi. These threads intersect in ways that profoundly shape my experiences and perspectives.”

Lawson described the important role that communities play — and the responsibilities they have — in recognizing these intersections and fostering connection across different identity groups.

"Navigating the challenges of living in the intersection of multiple identities has taught me the importance of building bridges between communities," Lawson said. "I believe that when we see and understand each other's full humanity, we can break down the walls of fear and prejudice that divide us. I believe that our liberation is interconnected. The struggles for racial justice, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus rights, and religious freedom were all part of a larger movement toward a more equitable world."

Lawson concluded the lecture portion of the event with one final blessing for the audience, centered on the idea that differences are not just to be tolerated, but celebrated.

"May we go forth from this space with our hearts open to understanding, minds eager for connection and hands ready to build bridges toward the divides that separate us,” she said. “May we recognize the divine spark within each person we encounter, celebrating the beautiful tapestry of the human experience. And may we strive to create a world where all feel seen and heard and valued, where justice and compassion guide our actions."

The event ended with a Q&A between Lawson and Mark D'Angelo(opens in new window), diversity, equity, and inclusion learning and development consultant and trainer at Carnegie Mellon, the final question of which ended on the subject of joy.

"In that process of fighting and coming together and building coalitions, how do we also not lose joy or be defined by trauma?" D'Angelo asked.

"It is easy to focus on how bad this world is," Lawson replied. "Focusing on joy doesn't change that, but it changes your perspective, and so you start to see the joy in all the things that exist. I think that by operating from the space of joy, you're more resilient and better able to make change.”