“Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity”
Rev. Elizabeth Edman
Beacon Press, 2017, 200 Pages

At A Glance: “Queer Virtue” offers a transformative view that integrates 2SLGBTQIA+ identity with Christian faith, suggesting that the queer community brings unique insights that enrich and deepen Christian practice and understanding.

Overview: “Queer Virtue” presents a transformative perspective on the intersection of 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Christian faith. Rev. Edman, an openly lesbian Episcopal priest, articulates a compelling argument that 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are not just a part of the Christian community, but are indeed a gift to it. Her book delves into the core tenets of Christianity, illustrating how the faith’s scriptural essence challenges believers to break down false binaries and embrace the inherent ‘queerness’ of Christian values. This ‘queerness,’ as Edman suggests, is about disrupting simplistic notions of identity and otherness, thus illuminating a more profound understanding of Christian teachings.

Edman’s work transcends the typical narrative of tolerance, proposing instead that queer individuals possess unique insights that can lead to a deeper, more ethical Christian practice. By intertwining queer ethics with Christian theology, “Queer Virtue” offers a fresh lens through which to view both queer experiences and Christian principles. Edman argues that the moral complexities and realities faced by queer individuals not only resonate with Christian ethical paths but also serve to enhance and illuminate the sacred. Her passionate and insightful exploration calls for a reevaluation of Christian faith, urging all Christians towards a more authentic and robust engagement with their beliefs, enriched by the valuable contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Thoughts from Readers: