Queer & Christian

Brandan Robertson's "most honest book yet" could be a game changer for queers and allies alike.

When it comes to the space of Christian theology and queer affirmation, there are few voices I trust as much as I do my friend Brandan Robertson.

Brandan has been on the frontlines of this work for many years as a pastor, an activist, a multi-published author, and in the last few years as a massive presence on TikTok. He writes, speaks, and publishes about a number of topics within progressive Christianity, but it’s his clear eyed (and deeply personal) approach to queer inclusion where he truly shines.

His newest book is no exception.

Queer & Christian (St Martin’s Essentials) releases next week and I’m convinced it will be a game changer for queer people and allies alike.

The subtitle, Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table, acutely captures Brandan’s heart for his fellow queer siblings as well as establishes his theological vision for flourishing for all.

In preparation for his launch day I asked Brandan if I could send him a few questions about the new book because I wanted to share it with you all here on Perspective Shift. He took time from his busy schedule (especially ramping up for his book tour) to thoughtfully respond, so take a few minutes a read about Queer & Christian, and then go get your copy today!

What is the main idea of your book?

The main idea of this book is straightforward: the Bible and Christian faith don’t have to be enemies of queer flourishing—they can actually be sources of it.

Rather than offering yet another resource explaining what the Bible says about homosexuality (though it touches on that), this book is about empowering queer people and our allies to reclaim the Bible and our faith in all our queerness.

It invites us to read scripture with queer eyes and to ask what its stories and wisdom might say to us. It’s about drawing from the ancient texts to expand our understanding of sexual ethics, relationships, and what it means to have faith at all.

This is an accessible resource that proclaims: being queer is holy.

It invites all readers—queer and straight alike—to embrace a queerly expansive relationship with scripture and reclaim our rightful place at the table of grace.

Who were you picturing as the reader when you wrote it?

I had two audiences in mind.

First, my TikTok audience—primarily younger folks who may have only encountered toxic, restrictive, queerphobic interpretations of the Bible. I wanted to write something grounded in solid scholarship but accessible and engaging for a wide range of people, regardless of how much they know (or care to know) about theology.

The second audience is non-religious queer people. While the book is written by a progressive Christian pastor making the case that Christianity can be empowering for queer folks, it's also for anyone looking to reclaim the Bible from the hands of politicians and preachers who’ve weaponized it.

I wanted to equip readers to “clap back” with thoughtful, subversive responses to the anti-queer rhetoric that’s rising once again in our culture, especially from Christian nationalists.

What sets this book apart from your previous work on this topic?

I’ve written several books on this topic and didn’t expect to write another. But when my editor at St. Martin’s Press encouraged me to consider it, he helped me realize why a new resource was needed.

A decade ago, my focus was on helping queer folks reconcile their faith and sexuality to be welcomed into traditional churches. Today, after years of study, activism, and ministry, my view has shifted.

I’m no longer interested in reforming the traditional church or in playing by its theological rules.

I don’t believe the traditional church or its theology reflects the radical socio-spiritual movement Jesus actually began. This book is an invitation to queer our faith—to stop playing by rules others have written and instead to let the Spirit lead us into deeper, freer, more authentic relationships with our expansive, queer God.

What was the most difficult chapter to write?

The chapter on sexual ethics.

I wrote, edited, rewrote, deleted, and agonized over it for nearly a year. I take my role as a teacher seriously, and I wanted to be honest about my own understanding while creating a framework that wasn't just a new set of rules, but a set of values people could use to craft an ethic aligned with their own convictions and faith.

The chapter explores a lot—nonmonogamy, hookups, whether lifelong marriage should be a goal—and even touches briefly on things like porn and other hot-button topics.

It’s a challenging chapter, but I’m proud of what emerged.

What do you think might surprise readers?

I hope readers are surprised by the depth and richness of queer theology—and how long it’s existed.

I’ve had the privilege of spending years in theological institutions engaging with work that’s truly transformative, yet much of it rarely makes it beyond the academy into everyday faith communities.

I hope this book pushes readers to think differently, ask new questions, and consider queerness not just as identity, but as a liberating paradigm that can reshape every area of life.

Some readers might be surprised by how far I go in this book. I don’t “play by the rules” I once did.

This isn’t about reconciling faith and sexuality—it’s about reimagining Christian faith from the ground up for queer people.

Is there a section that the Brandan of ten years ago would be shocked his future self wrote?

Absolutely. Ten-years-ago Brandan would’ve thrown this book across the room after reading the first page—literally.

But that version of me was trying desperately to fit into a version of Christianity that demanded inauthenticity and intellectual dishonesty.

Whether you love or hate this book, what you can't deny is that it’s honest. It reflects how I—and many others—have come to embrace our queer identities in ways that challenge traditional Christian boundaries and doctrines. This is the most honest book I’ve ever written, and I truly left it all on the page.

I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see how people respond.