'Sorry for your Loss' Season 2 Episode 6 introduces Tommy, a God-loving queer, whose faith challenges Jules' wariness about religion
In the show's episode 6 this season, Jules Shaw (Kelly Marie Tran) stumbles into an LGBTQ church service by mistake while trying to get to an AA meeting. It is the show's way of tackling how the queer community can incorporate faith and spirituality into their lives. In the episode, Jules meets Tommy (Briana Venskus), a God-loving queer, who represents a distinct contrast to Jules' own approach to religion and spirituality in her life.
Jules is uncomfortable with all the "Jesus-talk" and refers to God as "you know who". She tolerates the "Jesusy" AA meetings because she needs the support to battle her addiction. But, overall, she can be described as an agnostic. She is indifferent to the existence of God and a bit wary of cultish, religious mentalities.
Her attitude is consistent with most people who identify as queer and who have faced discrimination from orthodox religious groups. According to a survey by Pew Research Center of LGBT Americans, 29% of LGBT adults say they have been made to feel unwelcome in a place of worship. Compared with the general public, they are also less religious. Since homosexuality is considered to be a sin in most religions, being queer automatically pushes people to question religious tenets and the existence of God.
Tommy and the other participants in the LGBTQ church service, therefore, represent a minority with the LGBTQ community. On her date with Jules, Tommy tells her that God is always there for her, knows her and loves her exactly as she is. Describing God as a "she", Tommy says God is "my friend, my boss, my partner, my lover" with Jules remarking that it "sounds complicated".
Jules, not knowing why Tommy has asked her out, questions Tommy about whether she gets a "finder's fee" for every new person she recruits for the church, signaling her wariness of the church, even if it is queer-friendly. Tommy clarifies she isn't recruiting and that she had invited Jules out for a date.
Though she apologizes for her talk involving "too much church", it is obvious that religion and God are an integral part of Tommy's life. Though she keeps her distance from her "super Catholic family and their super Catholic rules", Tommy has found her own, deeply personal approach to God and church in her life. She will also probably lead Jules to also explore her own spirituality and relation with God since the character will be returning in the show's episodes 8, 9 and 10 this season, according to IMDb.
Sorry For Your Loss' Season 2 airs new episodes on Facebook Watch every Tuesday at 12 p.m. PT and 3 p.m. ET.