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


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Apr 21st, 1:00 AM Apr 21st, 2:30 AM

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.