A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar What Conservative LGBTQ+ Christians Can Teach Us About Love
Sep 29, 2025
Dawne Moon, a sociologist and co-author of Choosing Love, teams up with philosopher Theresa Tobin to delve into their extensive research on conservative LGBTQ+ Christians. They explore the concept of 'sacramental shame' and its impact on acceptance in religious communities. The discussion highlights the challenges of expecting celibacy from queer individuals, the complexities of intersectionality, and the evolving meaning of conservatism within these contexts. They emphasize the need for humility and the vital link between love and justice in advocacy efforts.
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Darren's Isolation And Ministry Trauma
- Darren Calhoun described years of isolation, surveillance, and being barred from ministry while living under a pastor's control.
- He later found an affirming church but still bore trauma from constant suspicion and racialized expectations in prior congregations.
Kai's Sacramental Shame
- Kai described policing their emotions to avoid intimacy, which led to self-hatred disguised as devotion to God.
- That internalized 'sacrament of shame' produced physical and mental harm and later opened a path to questioning church teachings.
Shame As A Ritual Condition
- 'Sacrament of shame' names how LGBTQ Christians must perform unworthiness to gain acceptance in churches.
- This enforced shame functions as a lived condition that severs people from relationship and well-being.
