Location
Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
Description
In the United States, there is a perception that the gay rights debate situates Christians against gay rights advocates. According to this perception, Christians oppose gay rights, because the Bible condemns homosexuality as a sin, and those who support gay rights do so using purely secular arguments. This perception of the gay rights debate is flawed and overly simplistic, because simply not all Christians oppose gay rights. In fact, there are multiple interpretations of biblical texts that support homosexuality and have caused a gay rights debate within the church that is as complex and intricate as gay rights debate outside of the church. Within this debate, gay Christians must negotiate their own identities.
Keywords
Bible and homosexuality; Christian gay men; Christian gays; Christian lesbians; Christianity; Gay liberation movement; Gay men; Gay rights; Gay rights--Religious aspects; Gay rights--Religious aspects—Christianity; Gays; Homophobia; Homophobia--Religious aspects—Christianity; Homosexuality; Homosexuality--Religious aspects—Christianity; Homosexuality in the Bible; Lesbianism--Religious aspects—Christianity; Lesbians; Male homosexuality
Disciplines
Biblical Studies | Christianity | Gender and Sexuality | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Religion
Language
English
Included in
Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons
The Rhetoric of Gay Christians: Matthew Vines and Reverend Nancy Wilson as Exemplars
Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
In the United States, there is a perception that the gay rights debate situates Christians against gay rights advocates. According to this perception, Christians oppose gay rights, because the Bible condemns homosexuality as a sin, and those who support gay rights do so using purely secular arguments. This perception of the gay rights debate is flawed and overly simplistic, because simply not all Christians oppose gay rights. In fact, there are multiple interpretations of biblical texts that support homosexuality and have caused a gay rights debate within the church that is as complex and intricate as gay rights debate outside of the church. Within this debate, gay Christians must negotiate their own identities.