Dangerous Dogma 191. William Stell on Evangelicals & Antigay Christianity
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Oct 15, 2025 In this insightful discussion, William Stell, a religious studies professor at NYU and author of the upcoming book *Born Again Queer*, explores the complexities of evangelicalism and anti-gay sentiments. He shares his own journey from a Black Baptist background to academia and discusses how evangelical culture could have taken alternative paths to acceptance. Stell critiques traditional definitions of evangelicalism and analyzes historical influences shaping its current identity. He also reflects on future challenges regarding inclusion and rising anti-trans narratives.
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Personal Journey From Baptist Roots To Wheaton
- William Stell recounts growing up in a Black Baptist church, being homeschooled, then joining evangelical spaces and attending Wheaton.
- He credits his Wheaton education with giving him tools to reconcile evangelical faith and his gay identity.
Evangelical Views Were Contested In The 1970s
- William Stell shows that evangelical positions on homosexuality shifted and were contested, not monolithic.
- He argues a 1970s evangelical gay activist network made anti-gay identity a constructed response.
Midcentury Homophobia Was Broad, Not Exclusive
- In the 1950s–60s evangelicals weren't uniquely homophobic compared with mainline Protestants.
- Factors like psychiatry discourse and Bible translations shaped who spoke about homosexuality first.
