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The landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are people of color, remains fraught with challenges, especially in the wake of recent policies from the Trump administration that have increasingly marginalized the transgender community and diminished the importance of diversity within governmental and societal contexts. At the same time, traditional religious institutions are grappling with their own crises regarding issues of sexuality, gender identity, and same-sex marriage, leading to internal conflicts and societal debates. Publishers in the religious sector are responding to these complexities by releasing new works that explore these themes both through scholarly research and personal narratives.
Scholar Katherine Kelaidis draws parallels between the current period and historic transformative events like the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment. Her forthcoming book, The Fourth Reformation, set for release in August by Bloomsbury Academic, seeks to shed light on the inevitable nature of conflict within religious traditions, particularly how gender issues and the voices of the LGBTQ+ community are redefining these traditions. Richard Brown, a senior academic editor at Bloomsbury, emphasizes that Kelaidis’ insights illustrate the deep theological, political, and cultural implications of these changes.
Sociologist Dawne Moon and philosopher Theresa W. Tobin have compiled a collection of personal narratives in their book Choosing Love: What LGBTQ+ Christians Can Teach Us All About Relationships, Inclusion, and Justice, which will be published in June. According to Oxford University Press, this work highlights the ‘change-makers’ who strive to create a synthesis of faith and identity, addressing critical contemporary conversations surrounding these topics. In a similar vein, psychologist Mark A. Yarhouse, who leads the Sexual and Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College, offers the book Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture in November, aiming to provide guidance for pastors, professionals, and families on reconciling traditional biblical teachings with modern personal experiences.
Brandan Robertson, known as the TikTok pastor and the host of the podcast Faith for the Rest of Us, addresses the misuse of scripture against LGBTQ+ individuals in his book Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table, released in May. One chapter, “The Queer Saints of Scripture,” aims to empower readers to reclaim their faith from intolerance, as pointed out by St. Martin’s Essentials, which published the book.
In June, reverend Malcom Himschoot, a trans man, will release a memoir in verse titled Reading Secrets: A Queer Interpretation of Scripture through Flare Books. This work delves into Himschoot’s reflections on his relationship with his late father, a fundamentalist Christian who was privately gay, analyzing their shared struggles with societal homophobia and the complexities of their identities.
Caitlin Cook, a cartoonist and journalist, will soon share her experiences in a graphic memoir titled Ace of Hearts, scheduled for release in December from Street Noise Books. Cook recounts her upbringing in a conservative religious environment and her journey to embrace her asexual identity. Publisher Liz Frances notes that while churches often provide support to individuals seeking belonging, they can also demand conformity that may come at the cost of personal agency and vulnerability.
Additionally, Episcopal reverend Lizzie McManus-Dail’s book, God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us: 40 Devotions to Liberate Your Faith from Fear and Reconnect with Joy, is currently available and aims to assist Christians disillusioned by churches that propagate harmful doctrines. TarcherPerigee describes it as a “feminist, anti-racist, LGBTQ-affirming devotional” that seeks to guide readers on a transformative spiritual journey.
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A version of this article appeared in the 03/03/2025 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Religion Publishers Tackle LGBTQ+ Issues
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