Introduction: A Sin Invented
Homophobia, as we know it today, is not an ancient instinct or a natural moral truth. It is a construct—one largely birthed, nourished, and globalized by religion. More precisely: by religious institutions aligned with patriarchal, colonial, and imperial power.
Before theology turned queerness into a threat, many cultures viewed gender and sexuality with fluidity, reverence, or simple neutrality. But once religion gained institutional power, that changed. Queer people were cast out, criminalized, converted, and in many cases, killed—not because they were “immoral,” but because they disrupted a system.
This post is not a condemnation of faith itself. Many queer people are deeply spiritual. Instead, it is a reckoning with the violence done in faith’s name—and a map toward something freer, truer, and more holy.
Queerness Before Condemnation
Across history, queerness was present—and often accepted or even celebrated—long before religion criminalized it.
Africa
- Chibados of Angola: assigned male at birth but lived as women and held spiritual roles.
- Dagaaba people of Ghana: recognized nonbinary and same-sex intimacy without stigma.
More examples via OutRight International
Asia
- In China, male-male relationships were part of court culture and literature.
- In India, deities like Ardhanarishvara embodied gender fluidity; the Kama Sutra addressed same-sex acts.
The Americas
- Two-Spirit people across Native tribes were revered as healers and spiritual leaders.
- Navajo nádleehi and Lakota winkte held respected social and spiritual roles.
Europe
- In Ancient Greece and Rome, same-sex relationships were accepted and sometimes celebrated.
- Roman Emperor Hadrian deified his male lover, Antinous.
The Rise of Monotheism: Codifying the Closet
Christianity
While Jesus never condemned homosexuality, later Christian leaders did. As the church gained state power, it weaponized scripture.
Common “Clobber Passages”:
- Leviticus 18:22 / 20:13 – Ritual purity laws, not modern relationships.
- Romans 1:26–27 – Condemnation of excess, not love.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 – Mistranslations distorted original meaning.
Breakdown of verses by The Reformation Project
Islam
The Qur’an does not explicitly mention homosexuality. Interpretations of the story of Lot shaped later Sharia law.
- Many early Islamic societies tolerated queer expression in poetry and art.
- Fundamentalist interpretations hardened with colonial and political shifts.
Explore Kugle’s work: “Living Out Islam”
Judaism
While Orthodox branches cite Leviticus, progressive branches embrace LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Jay Michaelson explains the context
Colonialism: Globalizing Homophobia
- British Penal Code 377: criminalized same-sex acts across India, Uganda, and beyond.
- Missionaries destroyed gender-diverse traditions in the Americas and Pacific Islands.
Watch: Human Rights Watch on Colonial Homophobia
The Invention of “Homosexuality”
The term emerged in the 19th century and was pathologized. It shifted queerness from a behavior to an identity—a problem to be studied, fixed, or feared.
Modern Echoes: Faith-Based Harm Today
Conversion Therapy
Still active in many places, often religiously driven. The trauma is real and well-documented.
Trevor Project FAQ on Conversion Therapy
Legislation
- U.S. “Religious Freedom” bills weaponized against LGBTQ+ people.
- Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws backed by American evangelicals.
See: The Shoulders We Stand On – Harvey Milk
Reclaiming the Sacred: Queer Faith and Resistance
Christianity
- Rev. Troy Perry – Founded the MCC for LGBTQ+ Christians.
- The Reformation Project
- Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco
Islam
- Imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed – France’s first openly gay imam
- The Queer Muslim Project
Judaism
Other Paths
Internalized Homophobia and Religious Trauma
Even after leaving hostile religious spaces, many queer people carry spiritual wounds—guilt, shame, or estrangement. Healing means rewriting our own sacred stories.
Read: The Shoulders We Stand On – Audre Lorde
From Fear to Fire: A Call to Action
We don’t need to destroy faith. We need to liberate it.
- From weaponized scripture
- From colonial binaries
- From sacred shame
Queer liberation is a spiritual act. Reclaiming our bodies and our stories is holy work.
Final Blessing
May the great tragedies wrought by religion-fueled homophobia not break us, but call us to rise—tall, proud, and unshakable—as we transform fear into friendship.
