Born in 1978 in Jasper, Georgia, Imam Kelly Wentworth grew up in a blended family with three sisters and a brother. Despite the rural mountain setting and its challenges, she describes her childhood as privileged due to having college-educated parents. Her early years were shaped by progressive Baptist and Episcopalian churches, where liberation theology deeply influenced her understanding of God and set the groundwork for her current leadership at Atlanta Unity Mosque.
A pivotal faith-questioning moment occurred when she told her family that a church taught salvation required full water immersion baptism. To her surprise, her mother and grandmother had not undergone such baptisms. This conversation sparked her first critical change in how she approached her faith.
Another defining moment came when the Georgia Baptist Convention adopted a doctrine requiring women to submit to men. This experience made her aware of how politics shape religious environments. Fortunately, her pastor believed in equality and inclusion, challenging the Convention’s view and reinforcing Kelly’s belief that anyone could lead in a faith community. Although she grew up among Episcopalians, Baptists, and Methodists, her small-town upbringing limited her exposure to other faith traditions.
Imam Kelly began her studies at a progressive Baptist university, initially as a music major before switching to engineering—her current profession, where she was exposed to people of diverse faiths and practices. Her curiosity led her to attend a Catholic church for the first time. Later, after moving to Middle Tennessee, she enrolled at Tennessee Tech University. At Tennessee Tech, the diversity expanded her understanding of different cultures and religions. A sociology class further deepened her knowledge of world religions.
During college, Imam Kelly found herself questioning Christianity, particularly the concept of original sin, prompting her to explore other faiths. She studied Judaism and paganism, seeking spiritual alignment, but remained drawn to the figure of Jesus. Her exploration continued, learning about Islam and Hinduism. At a local independent bookstore, she encountered Buddhism. Eventually, she was introduced to Omid Safi's “Progressive Muslims” book through a friend, and she found her spiritual home.
Discovering Islam’s acceptance of queer and trans people was transformative, especially as Imam Kelly came to terms with her bisexual identity. Encouraged by her family’s openness, she began attending the on-campus mosque and MSA (Muslim Student Association) events, where she engaged deeply with the Muslim community and faculty. A key conversation with one of the campus imams urged her to focus on her personal relationship with Allah—a turning point that led her to embrace Islam and take her shahada.
After college, Imam Kelly married her first husband, moved to Yemen, taught as an EFL instructor through the U.S. State Department, and observed both gender segregation and inter-sect pluralism among Muslims. An imam there taught her how to lead prayers, empowering her leadership despite theological differences.
Upon returning to the U.S., Imam Kelly co-founded the American Islamic Fellowship in Atlanta to unite Muslims and foster dialogue—hosting Friday gatherings and intrafaith events. Partnering with organizations like Muslims for Progressive Values and Queer Crescent, the group became a hub for queer and trans Muslims. This inclusivity led to organizational shifts and a merger with Muslims for Progressive Values.
Inspired by El-Farouk Khaki of Toronto Unity Mosque, Imam Kelly began holding inclusive Jummah services at a conference center in her workplace. Meeting Imam Trina Jackson led them to establish Atlanta Unity Mosque—openly welcoming to LGBTQ+ Muslims. Their focus was on building a safe, intimate, and inclusive space.
Atlanta Unity Mosque grew, collaborating with academics like Prof. Scott Kugle and participating in national LGBTQ Muslim retreats. The mosque adapted to a virtual format after their center had a fire in 2020, hosting weekly Jummah services and partnering for community events like Eid. Imam Kelly and Imam Trina ultimately made the Atlanta Unity Mosque an official non-profit, continuing to serve and advocate for the queer and trans Muslim community.
Imam Kelly is grateful for her supportive family, who participate in Pride events and champion inclusivity. Remarried since 2024 to someone in the United Methodist tradition, she balances roles as a pianist at a United Methodist church and as an imam. She frequently officiates interfaith and inclusive marriages, focusing on service to the community.
A software engineer with nearly two decades in the events industry, Imam Kelly supports future generations through a family micro-foundation, the Wentworth Institute of Science and Health (W.I.S.H), awarding scholarships and travel grants to graduating high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in S.T.E.M. She was a fellow at the Muslim Institute (UK), worked with Oxford University, and researched LGBTQ+ Muslim communities in the UK.
Imam Kelly’s leadership style is rooted in compassion and inclusivity, ensuring all queer and trans Muslims find community, acceptance, and a path for faith. She envisions expanding welcoming spaces, building connections, and uplifting others through service, faith, and advocacy.
(This biographical statement written by Soaad Elbahwati from an interview with Imam Kelly Wentworth and was edited by Wentworth.)
Biography Date: August 2025