Book Review by Kathy Vandergrift
Stell, William. Born Again Queer: A History of Evangelical Gay Activism and the Making of Antigay Christianity. Princeton University Press, c, 2026. 275 pages.
“To tell this history . . . is to undermine the myth that evangelicalism’s antigay stances are a timeless monolith. (pg. 10)
The common perception is that evangelicals have always rejected all forms of sexual or gender diversity. A fresh look at the history reveals a different story. It is documented in a book titled, Born Again Queer: A History of Evangelical Gay Activism and the Making of Antigay Christianity, written by William Stell, a teacher in Religious Studies at New York University. The book traces the work of four faith leaders who developed strong support for full inclusion in the 1970’s, and it describes how that work was attacked and deliberately silenced for political reasons. Uncovering historical roots and understanding why voices were silenced can be encouraging for queer members in churches and increase hope for change within church communities.
William Stell lays the groundwork by describing the variety of views in evangelical discourse about homosexuality between 1950 and 1980. He then focuses on four evangelical leaders in the 1970’s, who are called ‘activists” because they worked for greater inclusion of homosexual persons within the church community. First is Troy Perry, who later started the Metropolitan Community Church, which grew rapidly as a welcoming, evangelically-minded but ecumenical space for Christian gays. The story of Ralph Blair, the second leader, is interesting because he explicitly used the basic tenants of evangelicalism to support the inclusion of persons in same sex marriages. He persisted in working for change within evangelical circles by forming Evangelicals Concerned, a caucus within the National Association of Evangelical Churches. It grew in numbers and acceptance until powerful leaders decided to target gays as a symbol of moral decline in America, for the purpose of mobilizing evangelicals behind the political Christian Right movement, later in the 1970’s.
Even more popular was the work of two women, Letha Scanzoni and Virginia Mollenkott, who collaborated on a book titled Is the Homosexual my Neighbour? Combining careful study of the Bible with scientific research and personal stories, the book appealed to evangelicals and debunked prevalent stereotypes. It earned positive reviews, many invitations to speak about their work, and strong book sales for several years. Scanzoni and Mollenkott also promoted equality for women in the church. That combination played a role in the dramatic reversal from early acceptance to becoming a target for personal attacks and concerted efforts to remove their book from evangelical circles, as the politically motivated Christian Right gained dominance in evangelical churches.
William Stell provides detailed evidence to show that these voices were not silenced because of the substance of their Biblical scholarship or their pastoral care for non-heterosexual persons. They and the gay population in general became useful scape goats to rally church members behind polarizing and powerful leaders who wanted power within the Republican Party in the United States. Other factors that contributed to the marginalization of the advocates for widening acceptance within the church were the AIDS crisis, the witness of some “ex-gay”voices, and personality conflicts within evangelical circles.
The book makes a compelling case for its claim that the link between being Christian and being “anti-gay” is not universal or inherent. The details of history show that the strident “anti-gay” posture was brought from secular culture into a church world that was more questioning. Shutting down the questions and discussion was deliberately engineered, and that means it can be changed.
While this book is not an easy read, LGBTQ+ Christians can find encouragement in the work done during the 1970’s that appealed directly to the basics of evangelical thinking. A better understanding of how and why anti-gay forces suppressed their work may help those who continue to work for change in faith communities.