Jun 25, 2021
Mormonism's theology is "queer" in the sense of peculiar,
different, and unique in its connections between ideas and the
particularity of spirit and matter, along with various practices.
Blaire Ostler, in her new book Queer Mormon
Theology: An Introduction (By Common Consent Press, 2021)
plays on that meaning, while also laying out how in many ways that
queer theology has a lot of room for "queer" people: those who
identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual,
pansexual, or in other ways than simply cis-gendered and
heterosexual. She takes a very expansive view of scriptural and
other teachings about God, Jesus, Christ, Families and more and
paints a very open, graceful gospel, while acknowledging that
institutional and cultural Mormonism is currently anti-queer and
harmful for those who so identify. But does that always need to be
the case?
In this episode, Blaire joins Latter-day Faith host Dan
Wotherspoon for a far-ranging discussion of aspects of the
book and her thinking, as well as her own personal journey to
understand and embrace her sexual identities as both bisexual and
intersex and how her life has brought her to a place from which she
can stand both as a Latter-day Saint and a queer person and write
propose such beautiful theology.
Please listen in! You'll find this a very mind- and heart-expanding
episode.