The Dragavangelist 

Ms. Penny Cost (a.k.a. Isaac Simmons -They/Them) is reportedly the first Drag Queen in the world to become a Certified Candidate for Ordination within the United Methodist Church. Though she is a member of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the UMC, she considers herself to be a traveling Minister (giving new meaning to the John-Wesley-area notion of Circuit Riding)! That said, Ms. Penny calls Boston, MA her home sweet home and loves to spend her time exploring New England book stores! 

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Though she was born and raised in a small town of Illinois, Ms. Penny was catapulted into International Spotlight due to the liberative power and joyful oddity of her carnivalesque art. Her story has been reported on by Sojourners Magazine, NPR, The Religion News Service, as well as, countless other media organizations. Her art has been targeted by the likes of InfoWars, The Daily Wire, and the Matt Walsh Show.

She has spoken at and presented to churches and organizations in over 30 states and 3 countries and has appeared on podcasts from around the world. 

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It is Ms. Penny Cost's mission to create spaces for deep, difficult, divisive, yet divine conversations around queerness and spirituality. The Love of the Divine flows forth, in new and powerful ways, to new and incredible people: people who have been told they are unreachable, unknowable, and un-holy.  She prays that the tomorrow which we are all creating, will be made more just, more equitable, and more inclusive, by each of our actions today.