In the UK, February is LGBT history month (unlike the USA, where this is October). For LGBT History month 2014, I will spoke at the University of East Anglia on “Saints, Sinners and Martyrs in Queer Church History: The continuing evolution of religious responses to homoerotic relationships“, as part of their LGBT History Week.
I was in some distinguished company. Other speakers & topics in the series :
- Music in Queer Fiction – Dr Clare Connors (3 February)
- “Marriage is so Gay.” The battle for same sex marriage in the US and Britain: A comparative perspective – Dr Emma Long (6 February 2014)
- Southeast Gaysia!: LGBT Heritage and Activism in the ASEAN Region – Yi-Sheng Ng (10 February 2014 )
- Pitching Harmony: Thinking differently about the assimilation and difference debate – Dr Jonathan Mitchell (13 February 2014 )
- “A Quiet Place”: Gay & Bisexual Classical Composers in 20th Century America – Malcolm Robertson (17 February 2014 )
- The Homosexual Steamroller: Queer “Propaganda” through Literature – Dr B.J. Epstein (20 February 2014 )
- Saints, Sinners and Martyrs in Queer Church History: The continuing evolution of religious responses to homoerotic relationships – Terry Weldon ( 24 February 2014)
- Trans & Gender Variant History 1800s onwards – Katy J Went (27 February 2014 )
I’ve summarised the content of my talk as :
History contradicts the common assumption that Christianity and homoerotic relationships are in direct conflict. There have been numerous examples of Christian saints, popes and bishops who have had same-sex relationships themselves, or celebrated them in writing, and blessed same-sex unions in church. There have also been long centuries of active persecution – but recent years have again seen the emergence of important straight allies for LGBT equality, and a notable reassessment of the scriptural verdict.
To mark this month here at QTC,and also to help myself to prepare for this address, I republished at this site a number of earlier posts, revised and updated, on the history of LGBT people in church history. as well as some fresh material, in two series. Look out for the following (and possibly more):
People in the Church: The Story of the Queer Saints and Martyrs
- Before Christianity
- LGBT (Church) History: The Early Christians –
- Saints and Sinners in The Medieval Church
- LGBT (Church) History Month: Martyred BY the Church
- The Renaissance Paradox: Gay and Gay – friendly Popes.
- Modern Saints and /Martyrs
The Distorted Christian Tradition on Sexuality:
- Marriage and Family
- Biblical Interpreation
- Natural Law
Recommended Books:
- Bailey, Canon Derrick Sherwin: Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition (1955)
- Boisvert, Donald: Sanctity And Male Desire: A Gay Reading Of Saints
- Boswell, John: Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century (University of Chicago Press, 1980)
- Boswell, John: Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe (Harper-Collins, 1994) 412 pages
- Crompton, Louis: Homosexuality & Civilization
- Naphy, William G: Born to be Gay: A History of Homosexuality
Related articles
- The Story of the Queer Saints and Martyrs: Synopsis
- Queer Saints and Martyrs, February
- Queer Saints and Martyrs for January
- David Kato: Ugandan LGBT rights activist (jesusinlove.blogspot.com)
- Holocaust Remembrance: We all wear the triangle (jesusinlove.blogspot.com)