Fraternal Healing: Brotherhood as Gay Men’s Source of Healing from Homophobia

This session explores the violence done upon gay men by Christian norms and related ecclesiological structures and the correlating effects they have on the internalized homophobia that challenges both the individual as well as the communal experiences of gay and queer men. This conversation draws on systematic review of anti-gay moral norms perpetuated by Christian churches and other major community influencers, along with case studies of gay theologians impacted by the AIDS crisis in the United States and the life and work of Bayard Rustin within and without the Black Church in healing the wounds of racism and homophobia. Collectively, the discussion aims to unravel the violence ecclesiological and civil structures perpetuate upon and within the gay community while positing the notion of fraternity as a source of countering such violence and presenting a new norm of queer-male inclusivity and relationality. The presentations and discussion will be followed by the business meeting of the GMaR.