As language has evolved, newer generations of LGBTQ+ individuals have decided to reclaim the word queer for various reasons. Some folks prefer the identity queer because they enjoy the fluidity of the term. Others use queer because they don’t want to get into the “rabbit hole” of explaining their gender identity and sexual orientation, especially if their identities don’t align with more well-known binary identities. For example, if someone is a trans-masculine nonbinary individual who is also a grey ace demisexual, they might just say they’re queer to avoid needing to give a lengthy explanation to someone unfamiliar with all those terms. 

Additionally, queer is the term used in academic spaces to study LGTBQ+ experiences:  queer theory, queer theology, etc. 

That said, not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community is comfortable with the word. Many of our elders who received unspeakable hate and violence during the peak of the AIDS crisis still dislike this term and avoid using it for themselves. We honor and respect that for some people, this word will never be a safe word for them. For that reason, we won’t force anyone to use this word, but neither will we ask people to stop using it as an identity for themselves. 

As FPI grows, we hope to be a place for interfaith dialogue because LGBTQ+ people across all faith traditions are doing remarkable work. If you are some of those people, reach out to us! We would love to hear your story.

Queer theology typically seeks to subvert the harmful heteronormative patriarchal traditions within scripture and religion. By subverting oppressive theologies, it hopes to “queer” our understanding of how things “must” work. In order to articulate such subversions, queer theologians are not afraid to get provocative– some might even say risque. It pulls heavily from queer theory for the basis of many of its arguments. Foundational queer theologians include Marcella Althaeus-Reed and Robert E. Shore-Goss, among others.

Affirming theology rejects the foundational assumptions of queer theology that religion and scripture need to be subverted. Instead, affirming theology argues that nothing is wrong with the Bible, but rather our interpretive approach to it is flawed, leading to homophobic renderings of specific passages. From that perspective, affirming theology claims that if we can fix our interpretation, “queering” the Bible isn’t necessary. This theology is supported by many churches and Christian organizations, such as The Reformation Project.