Religion, Sexuality, and Queer Asylum

Abstract

Abstract Religious beliefs are often considered to be a key driver of sexuality and gender-based persecution, perpetuating “backward” and “conservative” traditions that justify and encourage violence toward non-heteronormative people. However, this chapter draws on interdisciplinary research to demonstrate the important but often overlooked ways in which religion and faith can inspire solidarity, care, and strength in the face of adversity for queer refugees. Far from depicting a situation of unbridgeable difference, such examples highlight how a queer politics of inclusion is being developed through the ethical imperatives and practices of diverse faith traditions. Such examples demonstrate the value of engaging with faith, particularly among scholars working at the intersection of sexuality, migration, and displacement.