Reading Schedule

**Sources that are not in the assigned textbooks may be found in NewDLE**


Mo Jan 31  Introduction: Religion & Queer Politics
Bring in 1 paragraph:  see blog for assignment
Th Feb 3  Biblical Texts: An Overview
  • Go to this page to see a list of bible verse commonly cited as examples of biblical condemnation of homosexuality.  Click on the blue highlighted verses to see the complete text in the King James Version.  To see other translations/versions of the same texts, click on the box marked with a "V" to the left of the text.  Pay particular attention to the last two verses-- I Corinthians 6:9-10 and I Timothy 1:8-10.   Notice the changing language for the words some recent translations render "homosexual/s."  (For more information on versions of the bible and when they were translated, scroll to the bottom of this page.) 
  • Read: Walter Wink, Homosexuality and the Bible (1996) [a liberal Christian interpretation of these Biblical texts] and Robert Gagnon, The Bible and Homosexual Practice (2003) [a conservative Christian take]
  • Due: blog url and first blog entry (email me the url with subject line LBGT + http://www....blogger.com)
Mo Feb 7 Sodom and Sodomy Laws
  • Read: George Chauncey, “What Gay Studies Taught the Court” -- if this is not available in Newdle or e-reserve, you can find it on JStore
  • D. S. Bailey, “Sodom and Gomorrah,” in Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition (1955; )[both posted on Newdle and in e-reserves]
Th Feb 10 Metropolitan Community Church
  • In class film: "Call Me Troy" on Troy Perry and the history of the MCC.  
  • Read: Chapter 1-5 Our God Too
Saturday Feb 12 Rev. Troy Perry will be speaking at the Church of the Trinity Metropolitan Community Church.  Location: 7225 N Lockridge Rd, Sarasota  Time: 1pm


Mo Feb 14 The homosexual in the mid-20th century
  • D’Emlio, chapters 1-2; 
  • Crocker, "Pastoral Aid for the Abnormal"
  • Chauncey, "Christian Brotherhood"
Th Feb 17  Counseling the Homosexual
  • D'Emilio, chapter 3 (also read chapters 1&2 if you haven't yet)
  • Primary source: Wells, Letter to Thurman
  • Primary source: Bowers, Conflicts of the Clergy
  • These sources continue to give glimpses into the lived experience of gay people in the decade just after World War II.  The letter is written by a man who discusses his military career and his experience of counseling. (There are some surprises here-- read carefully and ask questions about this source) The other source is by a therapist writing about the treatment of a clergyman with "homosexual inclinations."
Mo Feb 21  Homophile Organizing
  • Read: John D’Emilio chapter 4, 5, 6
  • Reading "Background" and listen to "sound bites" at the website for Gay Pioneers.  This is the website that accompanies a documentary about the first public gay rights demonstrations in 1964 Philadelphia.  Rev. Robert Wood was an important figure at these demonstrations.  You can read more about him at the LGBT history documentary project at Oberlin College.  Wood recieved a divinity degree at Oberlin. 
Th Feb 24  The Council on Religion and the Homosexual
  • Read: D’Emilo, chapter 10; CHR online exhibit
Mo Feb 28  Mainline Church Skirmishes
  • Read:  Heather White, “Love is the Only Norm” (look for White-NewMorality in Newdle)
  • Norman Pittenger, selection from "Time for Consent" (in Newdle)
  • Lutheran denominational statement, “Sexuality, Marriage, and Family”  
  • A question: what evidence do you see in the primary sources for the influence of the ethical system of "the new morality"?  what challenges to that ethical system do you see?
Th Mar 3 Conservative Organizers: the Case of Billy James Hargis
  • Read Janice Irvine, “The breastplate of Righteousness" [in Newdle]
  • Janice Irvine, "Days of Rage"
  • Billy James Hargis, "Presbyterian Church Approves Sex Code that Repudiates Biblical View of Sin"
Mo Mar 7  Gay Liberation at the Church of the Holy Apostle
  • Read:  D’Emilio, chapters 12-13; “Freaking Fag Revolutionaries”; Heather White, “The Historical Roots of LGBT Religious Organizing”
Th Mar 10 Lavender Churches & Synagogues
  • Read: Our God Too, chapter 5-7
Mo Mar 14 Homosexuality Declassified and the Origins of "Ex-Gay"
  • 81 Words: How the American Psychiatric Association Decided that Homosexuality was no Longer a Mental Illness  (audio recording from "This American Life")
  • Read:  Lynn Gerber, "The Opposite of Gay: Queerish Ex-Gay Experiments" [in newdle]
Th Mar 17 Ordaining Gay Clergy
** Spring Break**


Mo Mar 28 Anita Bryant: Florida
  • Read: James Sears, “Saving Children,” Rebels, Rubyfruit and Rhinestones:  Queering Space in the Stonewall South, 226-245 
  • Gill Frank, “The Civil Rights of Parents”: Race and Conservative Politics in Anita Bryant’s Campaign against Gay Rights in 1970s Florida
Th Mar 31 “Culture Wars” and “The Religious Right”
  • James Davidson Hunter, The Culture Wars, Introduction and Chapter 1 [Newdle]
  • Didi Herman, from The Anti-Gay Agenda [Newdle]




Mo Apr 4 Confrontation at St. Pat’s: ACT-UP and HIV/AIDS Activism
Th Apr 7 Guest Speaker: Shelbi Day, LGBT Advocacy Project Staff Attorney with the Florida American Civil Liberties Union
Mo Apr 11 The Road to Same Sex Marriage: Secular and Religious debates
  • Sarah Barringer Gordon, “Covenants of Love” in The Spirit of the Law, 169-207
  • "The Conversation in Pittsburgh": Rev. Janet Edwards (Presbyterian) tells of the decision to officiate a wedding between two women and the church conflict that followed.
    • The website links have been disabled.  See here for newspaper coverage of the trial.  Go to this link for the text of the church judiciary's decision. 
Th Apr 14 How are transpeople part of the LGBT faith conversation?
  • In class, we'll watch some clips from a documentary about the ordination process of Malcolm, a transman in the United Church of Christ.  For a synopis of the film, go here

Mo Apr 18 Globalizing the Culture Wars I: Uganda & the Anglican Communion
Th Apr 21 Globalizing the Culture Wars II: Queer Islams
  • Read: Minwalla, Rosser, Feldman & Varga, "Identity experience among progressive gay Muslims in North America"  [Newdle]


Mo Apr 25 -- Bacc Day-- Class Canceled


Th Apr 28 Projects


Mo May 2  Projects


Th May 5  Projects


Mo May 9  Projects
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