There is no mention of or reference to homosexuality in any Bible prior to this-only interpretations have been made. “Homosexuality was first mentioned in the Bible in 1946, in the Revised Standard Version. On the Amazon page for the Queen James Bible, the publishers included a brief note about the anti-LGBT history of biblical interpretation:
What Is Internalized Homophobia? (And 4 Ways We Might Experience It)Īncient Civilizations Where It Was Okay to Be Gay The revision makes clear that these passages lack any inherent anti-gay sentiment, but rather have been perverted by bigoted minds who wish to use them to their own ends. In their new interpretation of the Bible, these eight specific verses have been clarified to allow their true meanings shine through. In creating the Queens James Bible, the publishers meant to set the record straight about certain passages that have been used to support homophobic arguments for years. 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.