Born Again Queer: A History of Gay Evangelicals (feat. William Stell)

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Do all Christians hate gays?

Amazingly: no. Despite how annoying we all are.

In fact, millions and millions of Christians ARE themselves...very gay.

So why is it that we automatically associate Christianity with homophobia?

The answer lies in the brief, but fascinating history of gay evangelical activism you'll find in this episode.

Before the gay rights movement, American Christians weren't more homophobic than anyone else. Homophobia was common in America, but it wasn't yet one of the defining features of American Christianity.

But then: a sexy bear of a Pentecostal pastor, Reverend Troy Perry, launched a successful gay church (the MCC) in 1968. And then: a feminist evangelical lesbian wrote a book about how gays were – surprise! – people, too.

Things started to change: people's hearts and minds shifted on homosexuality. And that's when the Religious Right first got organised. That's when televangelists and Jerry Falwell and Anita Bryant began to wage a campaign not just against gay evangelical activists, but all gay people.

The modern assumption – that all Christians "hate f*gs" (and anyone else they deem queer) – was born.

So this Christmas, while you're putting on your Sunday best (read: Elf-themed jockstrap), join Bash and his fabulous guest, Professor William Stell, as they explore this little-known corner of Christian homophobia.

William Stell is a professor of American religion and queer history at NYU, and his book, Born Again Queer, will be published in May 2026.

Now get ready to get wet and wild, because the gay evangelical hot tub is open and the water is a pipingly warm...human temperature.
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Episode Credits

Written and hosted by Bash

Edited by Alex Toskas

Produced by Dani Henion

Guest: William Stell
Copyright Sebastian Hendra 2025

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