Baby, You Are My Religion 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. Baby, You are My Religion 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. Baby, You are My Religion 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.
Autorentext
Marie Cartier is a scholar, visual /performance artist, queer activist, poet and theologian who has been active in many movements for social change. She teaches in Film and Media at UC Irvine and Gender and Women's Studies at California State University Northridge.
Zusammenfassung
Baby, You Are My Religion 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. Baby, You are My Religion 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. Baby, You are My Religion 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.
Inhalt
Preface 1. Introduction: 'It was the only place.' Part 1: Interviews With Women 2. 1940s: Thank God the Japanese Surrendered 3. 1950s: I Should have Made a List of My Girlfriends! 4. 1960s: It was Hollywood, We Did a Girlfriend Daisy Chain! 5. 1970s: We were Women in Overalls Dancing with Women in Overalls: They Kicked Us Out! 6. 1980s: I really did think I was Jess from 'Stone Butch Blues' Reincarnated Part 2: Theological History and Contexts 7. Historical Antecedents 8. Theological Strands Part 3: The Nature of "Theeology" 9. Experience is Primary 10. What is Theelogy? 11. Four Tentants of Theelogy 12. Conclusion...Last Call!