Angels and Monsters: Queer and Trans Religion

Gender and sexual diversity is often described in religious terms: before “gay” became shorthand for homosexuality, German activist Karl Heinrich Ulrichs proposed “Uranian” in the 1860s, based off Greek mythology; in 2023, a Florida state representative called trans people “demons.” Queers have used religious language to make sense of experiences and carve our space for gender and sexual non-normativity to flourish. At the same time, those who decry such forms of life also use religious language to make their case. In this seminar, we use religious studies and queer and trans studies to examine the relationship between queerness, transness, and religion, thinking across religious difference through fiction, film, poetry, and academic work alike. Students will undertake an independent project of their choice, building analytical and argumentative skills. What might thinking queerly about religion, or religiously about queerness, do for us?