What being queer has taught me about faith
I used to make tiktok videos where I would talk about faith, queerness, and theology, but after a few months I decided I enjoyed watching tiktok videos more than producing them. One reason why was that the comments were essentially the same: “you can’t be trans and Christian.” “You can’t be gay and Christian…” and of course they would quote the same five verses out of context. And it was tiring going over the same thing again and again. (Plus I doubt they actually listened or read any of the responses.) It was also tiring because I had wanted to talk about “queering” Christianity and how queerness and Christian faith were linked.
However, those on tiktok couldn’t even handle the historical and socio-political context of the clobber verses. I have no doubt they would be hard-pressed to accept that faith and queerness can go hand in hand, and of course talking about queer theology was absolutely outside of the question. I know others have different experiences on tiktok but for me, talking theology on tiktok was like trying to get a 3 month old baby to eat steak. Not a great idea for all involved. But I do think that those who condemn queerness, in addition to having zero grasp of the academic study of the Bible, are also missing out on different ways of understanding God and viewing Scripture. Despite the hatred being spewed by many Christians, especially those on the more Evangelical and Fundamentalist end, I love being queer and my queerness is vital in how I understand God. So here are some of the lessons my queerness has taught me about faith:
God is beyond our categories-I use the word queer because it encompasses a variety of gender and sexual identities. I don’t feel the need to box myself in. I am free to express myself as I wish. In a similar way, God is beyond our descriptions and categories. Don’t misunderstand me, descriptions are necessary and can be helpful. However, they become a problem when the descriptions are treated as unchanging and as all encompassing. Many Christians, particularly those that insist that their version of Christianity is the only correct one-often treat their descriptions of God as absolute. God can only be found through their expression of faith, the Bible (and their interpretation of it) is the only way God speaks to humanity, God can only act in certain ways. This need to categorize God is a demonstration of their need to control God. Similarly, their insistence that one must be straight and cisgender in order to please God is a way to express control over others. People who do not fit into the easy categories of straight and cisgender are pushing back against societal categories.
God’s preferential option for the marginalized. In many of my congregational contexts the Bible and Christianity is expressed through the lens of the victors and the privileged. And this isn’t just an issue amongst some segments of Evangelical Christianity, but some Mainline churches who care about social justice often find it hard to read the Bible and understand God outside of their socio-location and places of privilege. Which is understandable. Our socio-location directly impacts our understanding of God and our interpretation of the Bible, and this can be neither good or bad, it just is. The issue becomes when we refuse to even acknowledge the impact our socio-location has on our understanding of God and we refuse to try and learn from those from different socio-locations.
Being queer and nonbinary, as well as Latinx, helps me to see how God is on the side of the marginalized. Of course I also have privileges that I need to unpack. But being part of various groups that are often mistreated and hated, has helped me understand a bit better the Bible verses that insist that God is with those who are suffering. It provides a different understanding of the incarnation that is not focused on, “oh Jesus suffered and died because of my sins and so I can avoid hell” but rather, God loved humanity so much, God became one of us. And God showed up as as a poor Jewish Palestinian born to a teenage mother, during the Roman Empire where the majority of the population, except for a select few suffered. Instead of a God of the victorious, God is a God of the marginalized, the despised, the suffering.
Christianity at it’s best-is subversive-Because Christianity is the dominant religion in the US, and has been the religion of some of the most powerful empires on earth-Christianity has become the tool of the status quo. Christianity is often viewed as belonging to the wealthy and powerful and supporting their inane actions. However, Christianity, from it’s very beginnings has been subversive. The early Jesus followers grappled with navigating their faith within the Roman Empire because their faith was often in contrast to the norms and morals of the Roman Empire. Jesus wasn’t killed because of a blood thirsty God’s need for retribution but because he was viewed as a threat to the Roman Empire. Any new idea, religion, political ideology, etc often becomes more tame as it moves into power and becomes the dominant force. But my queerness, often viewed as an abomination and contrary to the “natural order” serves as a reminder that Christianity hasn’t always been a tool of oppression and violence. When Christianity centers the marginalized it challenges the dominant powers.
In the face of increasing queerphobia and transphobia, especially on the part of loud and vocal Christians, it can feel as if one’s faith and queerness are diametrically opposed. But for me, my queerness is entwined with my faith and helps me experience and understand God in new ways. My queerness is a gift.
Note: Hello everyone. I am beginning the process of moving to another state, which is an exciting and stressful time. In addition, my job will be switching me to part time. I have two requests:
1) I know money is tight for everyone but if you can consider either switching to a paid subscription or providing some help via my venmo or paypal:
Veno: @naiomi-gonzalez
Paypal: paypal.me/NaiomiGonzalez
2) If you know of any remote part time jobs that you think I would be a good fit for, please feel free to pass them along to me
Image: white background with a Pride Flag. Text: My queerness is a gift