Biblical Studies, Queer Affect, and the Politics of Respectability

My research challenges and participates in discourses of respectability, focusing on female homoerotic desires, the intertwining of slavery with sexual violence in religion, and the intersection of race, ethnicity, and religion with sexual violence. I argue for the freedom of academic writing to present evidence-based conclusions and personal insights, drawing on contemporary figures like Sudanese anti-slavery activist Mende Nazer. Respecting biblical texts involves differentiating between plausible historical readings and personal ethical views. Misreadings of biblical passages are common, but interpretations such as Rom 1:26–27 condemning same-gender relations or Col 3:22 endorsing slavery are not among them. Early Christian groups rejecting slavery were labeled heretics, prolonging slavery’s existence. A hard, critical examination of where things went wrong both within the Bible and beyond may help to prevent future Christians from supporting new forms of slavery. I hope that my feminist intersectional interpretations are compatible with the womanist biblical interpretation and ethics that are central to all future research on these topics.