During the course of our conversation, we talked about Christian rebranding, colonization, and conversion as a large-scale queerphobic social practice. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. What are some of the throughlines or themes related to political and religious movements in the United States? Of the 17 stories, the vast majority are from evangelical or White Christian fundamentalist spaces, which aligns with the disproportionate prevalence of conversion practices in these contexts.
I would also say that shame, which is a theme throughout, is what brings people into conversion therapy. Shame is also the number one fruit of these experiences. How do you see changes in conversion therapy or discussions for conversion therapy over time, particularly with the recent far-right shift in the United States? Sara Moslener explored elements within purity culture of racism, ableism, and transphobia in her podcast Pure White.
How do you see those as part of, or how does your collection explore, if it does, those elements of overlap? As I say in the afterword of Shame-Sex Attraction , I regret not presenting a more diverse collection when it comes specifically to race and ethnicity, especially because people of color are disproportionately affected by conversion practices. Coercive conversion and proselytizing are predicated upon superiority—the desire for a homogenous Christian world.
For some Christians, this superiority entitles them to mold others in their image—sometimes through violent means—to behave or act like straight, White Christian followers. As such, this coercive practice of conversion is a colonizing effort. I do, however, think the collection is important for survivors themselves.
I hope this collection makes its way into their hands. For these folks to see themselves in it is super important. Queer folks throughout their lives have received explicit or implicit messages from a number of people—especially those who are influential in their lives—that constitute conversion practices.
