About

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.