To Be Queer and Christian in the Philippines

To Be Queer and Christian in the Philippines” is a public presentation by Dr Jayeel S Cornelio, Director of the Development Studies Program and incoming Associate Dean for Research and Creative Work at the Ateneo de Manila University, Dr Jozon A Lorenzana, Chair of the Department of Communication, and Robbin M Dagle, research associate in the Development Studies Program and lecturer at the Department of Communication. This will be held from 10:30am to 12nn at Escaler Hall.

Their presentation draws from the insights of the Queer Christianity Project, an interdisciplinary study that aims to investigate a seemingly taken-for-granted reality in the Philippines: the presence, struggles, and contributions existence of queer Christians. While dominant discourse often depicts hostility between religion and the LGBTQIA+ community, the lived experiences of queer Christians in a deeply religious country like the Philippines offer a much more complex story. Through a narrative approach, this study seeks to weave a rich and colorful tapestry of stories from young adult non-heterosexual males across classes and Christian traditions. At the same time, this study also interrogates the sociological sources of their responses to the contradictions and tensions of their queer and religious identities, as seen in the areas of piety, intimacy, relationships, and politics.