Baby, you are my religion
Subtitle: women, gay bars, and theology before Stonewall
By: Marie Cartier
Series: Gender, theology, and spirituality
Publisher: Acumen
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Durham
Language: eng
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9781844656493; 9781844658947; 9781844656509
Subjects: Family and Relationships; Religious aspects; Religion; Homosexuality; Religieuze aspecten; Gay/Lesbian Interest; Homobeweging; Gay bars; Homosexualität; History
Description: This book argues that American butch-femme bar culture of the mid-20th century should be interpreted as a sacred space for its community. Before Stonewall when homosexuals were still deemed mentally ill, these bars were the only place where many could have any community at all. This book explores this community as a site of a lived corporeal theology and political space. It reveals that religious institutions such as the Metropolitan Community Church were founded in such bars, that traditional and non-traditional religious activities took place there, and that religious ceremonies such as marriage were often conducted within the bars by staff. It examines how these bars became not only ecclesiastical sites but also provided the fertile ground for the birth of the struggle for gay and lesbian civil rights before Stonewall.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-243) and index.
Table of contents: title: Preface: Myrna's story; title: It was the only place; title: The 1940s: "thank God the Japanese surrendered."; title: The 1950s: "I should have made a list of my girlfriends!"; title: The 1960s: "it was ... Hollywood! We did a girlfriend ... daisy chain!"; title: The 1970s: "we were ... women in overalls dancing with women in overalls. They kicked us out."; title: The 1980s: "I really did think I was Jess from Stone butch blues reincarnated."; title: Historical antecedents; title: Theological strands; title: Experience is primary; title: What is theology?; title: Four tenets of theology; title: Conclusion ... Last call!; title: Appendixes: A. Demographics; title: B. Sources.