Out Rev. Whittney Ijanaten Gets 'Gutsy' with Hillary Clinton

EDGE: Why did you decide to become a Rev?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: I realized that I needed someone who looked like me when I was younger. I grew up in the church and being queer in the church had tension points as you may have guessed. I realized that my love for God and my identity could not be at odds. As a young person, I needed someone, in authority, to be able to tell me that it was ok. So, when I did not get it, I said, "Okay, Lord, let me be exactly who I needed when I was younger." So, I took on the cloth.

EDGE: What advice do you have for those within the LGBTQ+ community who have been ostracized from church?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: I had a close friend who was in AA and in the blue book it says, "the God of your understanding" and that language always stuck with me. I use that with anyone queer or not to say if the God of your understanding loves you, then you should be at peace. If that peace is not there, then I do not believe that that's the God that you need in your life. That's the advice I give. Some people try to find God whether it be in church or other spaces. My community of church has been reimagined. I find it in the people of God, rather than the brick and mortar.

EDGE: Tell us about Rev. I, Do?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Rev. I, Do is actually a play on my name. I Do officiating is a wedding officiating business that I started back in February of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. I had academic training with my Master of Divinity, and I also had ministry training as far as pastoral care and chaplaincy training. I had all this ministry training, and I was getting angsty with what to do with it. I've graduated and I'm embarking on this new journey, but I'm not about to pastor a new church. I knew what I wasn't going to do. I needed something that I could do that would join my joy and love for people. Then I got a call from one of my sorority sisters asking me if I could marry her and her fiancé and I said, "Sure, I'm not doing anything else" and I've been hooked ever since.

EDGE: What does marriage mean to you?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Marriage means moving in this direction and I see that you're moving in that direction and I'm going to move with you. If we keep moving together then our two paths will be in alignment. I find when that happens then matrimony is at its most beautiful. It can be challenging at times as well. Marriage, to me, is finding someone who's on the same path or similar one that can challenge you. They invite you, give you feedback, push you, love on you, and when you fall, they pick you up.

EDGE: What makes a strong marriage?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Communication! Open communication is essential. I find that a lot of the pitfalls that I've seen in my premarital counseling is the lack of open communication. I find that once the door of communication is open and you find out how you like to communicate and how your partner likes to receive communication, life can be so much easier. Preventative care in marriage is also necessary. Let me know what your love language is so that you're not loving me in a way that I can't receive. Let's be open about that. Let's have the conversations, no matter how big or small, because a lot of the times when you look back you would have wished you had said something.

EDGE: Why did you decide to become a Rev?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: I realized that I needed someone who looked like me when I was younger. I grew up in the church and being queer in the church had tension points as you may have guessed. I realized that my love for God and my identity could not be at odds. As a young person, I needed someone, in authority, to be able to tell me that it was ok. So, when I did not get it, I said, "Okay, Lord, let me be exactly who I needed when I was younger." So, I took on the cloth.

EDGE: What advice do you have for those within the LGBTQ+ community who have been ostracized from church?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: I had a close friend who was in AA and in the blue book it says, "the God of your understanding" and that language always stuck with me. I use that with anyone queer or not to say if the God of your understanding loves you, then you should be at peace. If that peace is not there, then I do not believe that that's the God that you need in your life. That's the advice I give. Some people try to find God whether it be in church or other spaces. My community of church has been reimagined. I find it in the people of God, rather than the brick and mortar.

EDGE: Tell us about Rev. I, Do?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Rev. I, Do is actually a play on my name. I Do officiating is a wedding officiating business that I started back in February of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. I had academic training with my Master of Divinity, and I also had ministry training as far as pastoral care and chaplaincy training. I had all this ministry training, and I was getting angsty with what to do with it. I've graduated and I'm embarking on this new journey, but I'm not about to pastor a new church. I knew what I wasn't going to do. I needed something that I could do that would join my joy and love for people. Then I got a call from one of my sorority sisters asking me if I could marry her and her fiancé and I said, "Sure, I'm not doing anything else" and I've been hooked ever since.

EDGE: What does marriage mean to you?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Marriage means moving in this direction and I see that you're moving in that direction and I'm going to move with you. If we keep moving together then our two paths will be in alignment. I find when that happens then matrimony is at its most beautiful. It can be challenging at times as well. Marriage, to me, is finding someone who's on the same path or similar one that can challenge you. They invite you, give you feedback, push you, love on you, and when you fall, they pick you up.

EDGE: What makes a strong marriage?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Communication! Open communication is essential. I find that a lot of the pitfalls that I've seen in my premarital counseling is the lack of open communication. I find that once the door of communication is open and you find out how you like to communicate and how your partner likes to receive communication, life can be so much easier. Preventative care in marriage is also necessary. Let me know what your love language is so that you're not loving me in a way that I can't receive. Let's be open about that. Let's have the conversations, no matter how big or small, because a lot of the times when you look back you would have wished you had said something.



EDGE: You proudly proclaim on your website that you specialize in LGBTQ+ nuptials.  Why is that important to you?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: Regardless of however you identify, finding a wedding officiant is a nerve-racking process. Plus, we are going to be in your pictures forever, so you want the right one. So, you got to find someone who is the right fit and has the right energy. If you are someone in the LGBTQ++ community, you want to make sure they accept you. I proudly put that on there because some people get frightened when they see the collar, but I'm going to flip my collar inside out and show you the rainbow. I like for the couples to know where I stand, particularly queer couples, who already have an added layer of fear.

EDGE: How did you get involved with Apple TV+ Gusty?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: How did I get involved with Gutsy? I dared to do something that hasn't been done. I answered an email from a student asking if I could help them with a project. They were looking for a wedding officiate to film a wedding. I will help anybody, so I said "Yes." Well, this was not a school project and to my complete surprise it turned out to be for an episode of "Gutsy." It was for a wedding that features a Latinx queer couple and their journey. Weeks later, after the episode was filmed, they asked me If I would speak with someone else. They asked if I would speak with the Secretary. I was not thinking the Secretary of State. They said, "Great, because Madame Clinton would really like to speak with you." I could not believe they wanted me to speak with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. OMG! was all I could think.

EDGE: What was it like sitting down with the Clintons?

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I couldn't believe my gift was making a way for me. It has really been a roller coaster ride from the beginning to now. The team really helped me with my preparation. They alleviated any concerns and fears I had. I prepared so much and had so many notes and as I was walking in the room for the meeting, they said we really just want you to be your real and authentic self, so I just tossed aside all my notes and preparation. I was so happy to just do me, because it got me in front of her and it got me in a space where she felt safe enough to speak openly. She was able to disclose a lot of things that I hold sacred and dear. We just had a wonderful heart-to-heart conversation. I felt like a child just sitting at her feet and listening to history come alive. It is an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

EDGE: What is your definition of 'Gusty?'

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten: The audacity to be you no matter what. Show up as your full and authentic self and if you can say "yes" to that, then baby, you be you.

For more information about Rev. Whittney Ijanaten visit, https://www.revidoofficiating.com/. Gutsy is now streaming on Apple TV+.