Washing off Cisheteronormativity: Dr. S.J. Crasnow on centering LGBTQ persons in faith communities - a podcast by Avery Smith

Dr. S.J. Crasnow is a 35-year-old Jewish Californian who has made a home with their spouse in Kansas City, Missouri, where SJ teaches and researches in the religious studies department of a small university. Join us as SJ talks about growing up in a liberal, Jewish family but becoming wary of religious institutions over time; about only gradually recognizing their own queerness and first coming out at 25; and about their journey into academia. 

Dr. Crasnow studies how queer and trans Jews engage with their faith in powerful and innovative ways that can and do shape Judaism as a whole. According to SJ, the LGBTQ community is already present and active within Judaism and other religions -- even when the institutions have yet to do the work to make room for them. It is time for faith communities to center the ones who have been pushed to the margins, for the enrichment of the entire religion.

Find the episode transcript at transchristianity.com/podcast

Find SJ's work at https://rockhurst.academia.edu/SJCrasnow

Talking points: 

- 0:0 - 3:51 - Introducing SJ: religious studies professor, Californian, outdoorsy, moving to the Midwest

- 3:52 - 11:36 - SJ's childhood: attending a Jewish school in the 90s, trying to fit in

- 11:37 - 15:29 - "I just don't think institutions within religions are where it's at for me...I want my Jewish community to improve"

- 15:30 - 23:08 - Journey through higher education; coming out to family and friends, built up emotion and fear; realizing how much they gained from being queer and trans

- 23:09 - 33:05 - The importance of trans and queer Jewish friends; studying queer and trans uses of the Mikvah ritual bath

- 33:06 - 37:40 - Claiming the word "trans"; gender is a process of sedimentation

- 37:41 - 44:54 - SJ's teaching life

- 44:55 - 48:19 - "People are what give religion life and meaning;" "queer, trans, and other marginalized people have a central role" in their religions

- 48:20 - end - Wrapping up

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith