“Homosexuality Is Bad for Me”: An Analysis of Homosexual Christian Testimonies in Christianity Today Magazine

Abstract

This article reviews first-person testimonials written by gay and lesbian Christians in the evangelical newsmagazine Christianity Today between 2000 and 2010 to identify the common and dominant themes on how homosexual Christians negotiate their faith with their sexualities. It addresses how Christianity Today affirms the call by some queer theorists to provide a space for gays and lesbians to speak in their own voices, while framing their experiences so as to uphold, rather than disrupt, evangelical beliefs of homosexuality. The article discusses the strategies used by evangelical media to negotiate between acknowledging the lived experiences of gay and lesbian Christians without challenging traditional beliefs about homosexuality. It also considers how evangelical media appropriate gay and lesbian voices to limit what it means to be a gay Christian rather than explore new perspectives on religiosity and homosexuality.