In this episode, Caz and Em explore how the Bible has been used to justify violence and intolerance against the gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities. They focus on the so-called “clobber texts” - biblical texts that have long been used to justify religious intolerance of queer lives and identities. But, as they find out, exactly what these texts are saying is not so clear cut as you might think.

Resources for this episode

BBC News, “Gay couple in Devon called 'abomination' for holding hands.” 27 November 2020.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-55093157

BBC News, “LGBT tolerance 'going backwards' as hate crimes up.” 4 February 2022.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60257602

Will Kohler, “Gay History- June 19, 1983: Founder of the Moral Majority Jerry Falwell: “AIDS Is God’s Punishment For Homosexuals.” Back2Stonewall.

http://www.back2stonewall.com/2021/06/gay-history-june-19-1983-jerry-falwell-aids-gods-punishment-homosexuals.html

Anthony Lucas, “Anti-gay protests at Disney’s Burbank studios turns ugly.” 8 April 2022.

https://tickernews.co/protests-at-disneys-burbank-studios-gets-headed-as-anti-lgbt-demonstrators-rally-against-new-psa/

New Zealand Herald, “Bishop Brian Tamaki blames gays, murderers and sinners for earthquakes.”

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bishop-brian-tamaki-blames-gays-murderers-and-sinners-for-earthquakes/SS2JZCYIQJWDBF3XZ76UJBQIS4/

Eric Nicholson, “First Baptist's Robert Jeffress: Obama ‘Paving the Way for the Antichrist.’”

http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/first-baptists-robert-jeffress-obama-paving-the-way-for-the-antichrist-7110107

The PostBarthian, “The Clobber Verses: Six scriptures cited at gays, lesbians, same-sex relationships, and the LGBTQ+.”

https://postbarthian.com/2017/10/11/clobber-verses-six-scriptures-cited-gays-lesbians-sex-relationships-lgbtq/

QAnon Anonymous podcast, “Episode 185: Attending the Anti-LGBT Hate Rally at Disney Studios.”

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-185-attending-the-anti-lgbt-hate-rally-at/id1428209307?i=1000557187910

Queer Grace, “What Does Paul Mean in Romans 1?”

http://queergrace.com/romans/

Jonathan Tallon, “What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?”

http://www.bibleandhomosexuality.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-homosexuality/

Joanna Töyräänvuori, “Homosexuality, the Holiness Code, and Ritual Pollution: A Case of Mistaken Identity.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament. 45, 2 (2020): 236-267.

Harriet Winn, “Church must renounce biblical-based homophobia.” News Room.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@ideasroom/2019/05/31/610871/church-must-renounce-biblical-based-homophobia

Support services

OUTline helpline (NZ) - https://outline.org.nz/

Rainbow Youth (NZ) https://ry.org.nz/

Be You Project (UK) - https://thebeyouproject.co.uk/resources/

LGBT Foundation helpline (UK) https://lgbt.foundation/helpline

LGBT Foundation (USA) https://lgbt.foundation/how-we-can-help-you

The Trevor Project (USA) https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Reach Out (Australia) https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services