I grew up as a Southern Baptist with a lot of structural homophobia around me. Homosexuality was viewed as an irrefutable sin, and nothing else in the Biblical narrative could say otherwise. Over the years, I’ve questioned much about the religious tradition I was handed. I am still a Christian, but my faith takes a much different form that values education, a lack of bias, and a role for history in religion. In fact, now, I am an advocate and ally for the LGBTQ+ community in my professional and personal lives.

I picked up this book because I realize that I have imbibed a lot of homophobia over the years. I’ve always been fairly muted in my expressions, but fear surrounded me and certainly permeated how I thought of myself. Structurally, it was all over my evangelical religion and in American culture. I picked up this book to understand homophobia better so that I might better combat – it in myself first and in others.

This anthology consists of 17 essays, each on a different subject. Topics are grouped into four categories: Definitions, families, social manifestations, and freedom. It makes the case that homophobia is like racism: It hurts everyone in a myriad of ways, not just the oppressed but the oppressors, too. Gender roles, personal inhibitions, the machismo culture, and a general ignorance all hold us back. Given my faith journey, I especially appreciated the chapters on Judaism and Christianity.

Compiled in 1992, this book is certainly dated. Many events referred to difficulties in the Reagan and Bush administrations. Still, the discussed concepts and ideas are surprisingly still relevant – even after the end of DOMA. It reminds me just how precarious American political and legal culture still is about issues of gender and sexuality. I appreciate the ability to think about these issues more carefully. I think my daughter and any grandchildren will appreciate my efforts. ( )