God hates fags
the rhetorics of religious violence
By Michael L. Cobb
This provocative academic work examines how religious language and rhetoric have been strategically reclaimed by LGBTQ+ communities as tools of resistance and expression. Michael Cobb presents a counterintuitive argument that challenges conventional thinking about the relationship between religion and queer identity in American culture.
Drawing from literary analysis of works by James Baldwin, Tennessee Williams, Jean Toomer, Dorothy Allison, Alice Walker, and Stephen Crane, Cobb explores how marginalized voices have transformed religious discourse into powerful forms of activism. The book weaves together insights from critical race theory, queer theory, and political analysis to reveal unexpected opportunities within religious hate speech.
Beginning with the tragic story of Matthew Shepard's funeral, where protesters displayed hateful religious messages while activists responded with symbolic angel costumes, Cobb traces how religious rhetoric has functioned in complex ways throughout twentieth-century American politics. He examines Supreme Court cases, anti-gay legislation, and the strategies of religious right organizations to understand how condemnatory language has been repurposed.
The author's central thesis suggests that hate speech, rather than love and tolerance, may offer unique rhetorical possibilities for queer communities seeking to respond to violence and discrimination. Through careful analysis of political declarations, websites, and media from religious organizations, Cobb illuminates how marginalized groups have found unexpected power in appropriating the very language used against them.
This scholarly exploration offers fresh perspectives on religion, politics, and identity in contemporary American discourse.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Umschulungswerkstätten für Siedler und Auswanderer
- ✓ Explore Religiöse Sprache
- ✓ Explore Discours politique
- ✓ Explore Politik
- ✓ Explore Medien
- ✓ Explore Homosexuality
- ✓ Explore Homosexuality, political aspects
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2006
- Publisher
- New York University Press, NYU Press
- ISBN-13
- 9780814716694
- ISBN-10
- 0814716695
- Pages
- 229
- Language
- EN
