By Ceoli Jacoby
Jude Maloney, a third-year information science major at the University of Maryland and an advocate for LGBTQ-affirming Christian spaces, died Jan. 25 at their off-campus residence. They were 19 years old.
Throughout their life, Jude had one foot in two camps. As a Christian who was active in several different ministries — both university-affiliated and community-based — Jude found comfort in the teachings of Jesus and tried their best to walk in his footsteps. As a nonbinary person who used both they/them and he/him pronouns, though, Jude did not always feel supported by the people and institutions with whom they shared their faith.
Pastor Ray Ranker of The Humble Walk, an LGBTQ-affirming church within UMD’s Lutheran Campus Ministry, explained that while many churches purport to be welcoming of everyone, “part of coming for the LGBTQ community is being told that you’re wrong and that you need to change.”
Sandra Roper, a senior Germanic Studies and English double major, added that because “Christianity in particular has caused a lot of trauma for some LGBTQ people,” discussion of Christian topics in queer spaces is often frowned upon.
This intersection of identities which were often at odds led Jude, along with Roper, to attend (Re)Born This Way — a small student group for the LGBTQ Christian community —from its inception in 2018.
Eventually, Jude stepped into a co-coordinating role for the group and began working for the UMD LGBT Equity Center. They were inducted into the Lavender Leadership Honor Society, became a member of TransU and attended Q Camp as a student leader.
“In Jude’s longing for authentic space, Jude gave back tenfold to others,” said Wes Isberner, former program assistant for The Humble Walk, at a service of remembrance on Feb. 1. “Jude knew all too well the experience of disconnection and wanted to make sure no one else felt that way.”
For Jude, much of giving back meant fierce activism. As a freshman, Jude went on a spring break trip focusing on racial justice in the South. In their sophomore year, Jude took issue with the gendered signage on the bathrooms in their dorm. Despite clear warning from the building’s resident director, Jude took it upon themselves to print and hang new, more inclusive posters.
Even with regard to religion, Jude was not one to back down from a challenge. Whether they were questioning the origins of an ancient church doctrine or espousing their theory that Jesus was transgender, Ranker said that Jude “helped people think deeply.”
“Jude had a wonderfully moving gift for righteous anger at injustice and an inability to be complacent,” Roper said. “That was just part of how Jude loved the world — by being angry that the world didn’t always love people back.”
For all the weight they carried, Jude was a remarkably free spirit. Former roommate and pastoral intern at The Humble Walk Madeline Burbank described how Jude knew “every nook and cranny on campus,” from secret ladders to echo spots. Friend Ray Newby recalled a night spent helping Jude shave their head on a whim in the basement of Hagerstown Hall.
Professor Susannah Paletz suspected that Jude’s playful disposition was part of what drew them to the iSchool, where there is “a culture of being a little quirky and not quite fitting in elsewhere.” Jude would have been a teaching assistant to Paletz this spring.
Jude also enjoyed spending time with children. They spent each summer as a counselor at a Christian camp, singing silly songs and reminding campers to take “WAM,” or Water Appreciation Moment breaks. They taught Sunday school classes each week at Hope Lutheran Church and adored their niece and nephew. With their information science degree, Jude considered pursuing a career as a children’s librarian.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who loved people as much as Jude did,” Roper said. “One of the things I remember them saying was, ‘I don’t have to like someone, but I’m still going to love them.”
Donations to (Re)Born this Way in Jude’s honor can be made through The Humble Walk website under “Support Our Ministry.”
Resources:
Counseling Center After-Hours Crisis Support: (301) 314-7651
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
Featured photo courtesy of Madeline Burbank.