Joseph and the Amazing Original Neuroqueer Pride Flag (Crossposted) - a podcast by Avery Smith

This episode is a slightly abridged version of part 1 of the Neuroqueer Joseph series over on The Autistic Liberation Theology podcast. Be sure to visit Laura's podcast for parts 2 & 3 once you've finished this episode!

My friend Laura and I explore all the queer + autistic elements of Joseph's story, starting with Genesis 37. Joseph wears makeup and the colorful dress of a princess, toe-walks, and dreams dreams that threaten the status quo — a queer and neurodivergent figure if there ever was one! Why did Joseph’s world — and why does ours — view such a person as threatening? What gifts do neuroqueer folk bring to their communities when empowered to do so? 

Content warnings: discussions of transphobia & anti-autistic ableism, bullying, familial violence, hate crimes.

Click here for an episode transcript.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Introducing the episode

(4:24) Introducing Joseph of Genesis, term "neuroqueer"

(9:00) Rabbi Ruttenberg's article; Midrash about Joseph & Dinah

(12:05) Genesis 37:1-11 & Joseph's neuroqueerness — Joseph's coat; Joseph as "na'ar" or youth; naivety, dreams...

(27:31) Genesis 37:12-36 & Why the brothers can't tolerate Joseph — the danger of dreams to toxic masculinity, primogeniture

(39:45) Being visibly neurodivergent or queer is dangerous; passing or hiding yourself; Joseph's toe-walking

(44:00) "Flavors" of violence in this story — macho escalation; Jacob as fair-weather ally; transgenerational traumas

(49:45) Wrapping up; last bonus clip — Joseph was a hottie who wasn't attracted to women

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Further Reading:

- Article: "(Gender)queering Joseph" by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

- Book: Was Joseph on the Spectrum?

- Sermon: "Joseph Comes Out — Genderqueer Thriving, Reconciliation, and Centering the Margins"

- Webpage of articles about trans Bible figures, including Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, and Joseph

- Sermon: "Jacob and Esau — Imagining beyond Ourselves"

- Podcast ep on Rebecca: "Gender Diversity Pre-patriarchy"

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Blessed  Are the Binary Breakers is part of the Rock Candy Podcast  Network. Find more shows at www.rockcandyrecordings.com.

This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn. This episode also makes use of "Dreamer" and "Theme 1" by Jeremy SH Griffith.

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith