Queering the Cross, Tomb, and Resurrection - a podcast by Avery Smith

Now are the days that God lies dead — the God who, in dying, expressed ultimate solidarity with all who have been unjustly killed across the ages. Let's explore how various queer theologians between 1993 & 2006 — plus some trans poets more recently — have connected Jesus's Passion, death & burial, and resurrection to LGBTQ experiences.

CONTENT WARNING: graphic depictions of hate crimes, including the murders of Matthew Shepard & a (fictional) Argentinian trans woman; deaths of gay men with AIDS; uses of dated LGBTQ+ language; mentions of religious homophobia

Click here for an episode transcript (works cited at the end).

Avery invites you to check out their YouTube video exploring theologies of the cross;

and to revisit last year’s Good Friday and Easter eps: they’re episodes 39 and 40 here.

Talking Points:

- (0:00 - 4:35) Intro: different theologies of the cross; connecting Jesus’ Passion to contemporary LGBTQ experiences

- (4:36 - 6:01) A poem on the cross by Slats Toole

- (6:02 - 10:30) Queering the Beloved Disciple - Robert E. Goss

- (10:31 - 12:17) Poem by Keaton St. James: “A Portrait of John at the Last Supper”

- (12:18 - 16:59) Maxwell Lawton’s 1993 painting “Man of Sorrows: Christ with AIDS”

- (17: 00 - 20:59) Jesus & Matthew Shepard: Redemption comes in what comes after

- (21:00 - 27:39) The cross as solidarity; Avery’s poem “Your death was nothing special”

- (27:40 - 37:46) Blamed for their own deaths: Jesus & LGBTQ+ Argentinians - Marcella Althaus-Reid

- (37:47 - ) Lingering over Holy Saturday; Avery’s poem

- (42:10 - 48:28) Easter - Jesus comes out; God’s queer surprise – Thomas Bohache & Goss

- (48:29 - end) “Gay Angels?” Rolling back the stone - Rev. Nancy Wilson & Rev. Daniel Smith

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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 includes clips from “Dreamer,” “Theme 1,” “Theme 6,” “Mod 4,” “Dreams,” “Mod 5,” “Camilla,” and “Theme 3” by Jeremy SH Griffith. “The Circles I Went Round In” and “Beaconsfield Villas Stomp” by Doctor Turtle are also used.

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith