Let’s look at the history of the Queen James Bible and some of the major redactions and reinterpretations that have made this version of the Bible more suitable for LGBT+ Christians. They’re just going to have to deal with the fact that these gay-friendly Bibles are being distributed all over the world. Somewhere out there, there’s someone reading about the Queen James Bible with boiling blood and clenched fists.
Now, thanks to the Queen James Bible, the first gay-friendly version of the Bible, that’s starting to change. It’s described by its creators as a “big, fabulous Bible” and features a big rainbow cross on the front cover.īefore we go into the specifics of what makes this translation different, let’s take a moment to imagine how pissed off certain homophobic so-called “Christians” are about this. Imagine being born into a Christian family and having your sexuality regarded as an act against God rather than what it is: an inextricable part of your identity.įor too long, LGBTQ+ individuals have been made to feel guilty about their sexual identities and struggled with the internalized homophobia that develops in communities where they are seen as sinful. It’s a gay-friendly adaptation of the King James Bible, resolving the interpretive ambiguity of certain passages commonly cited as evidence that homosexuality is a sin.įor much of the history of Christian religious thought, conservative Christians have condemned homosexuality, causing immeasurable harm to the growth and self-esteem of LGBTQ+ members of Christian denominations.The Queen James Bible is an effort to undo that damage and create a queer-friendly space in Christianity for LGBTQ+ folks to find both faith and acceptance.If homosexuality is seen as a sin, how can you possibly be a good Christian and accept your LGBTQ+ identity? For centuries, gay Christians have wrestled with what society has told them is an inherent conflict of identity.