Hidden Perspectives: Bringing the Bible Out of the Closet

A ground-breaking project at the University of Sheffield is tackling the fraught relationship between religion and homosexuality by challenging traditional readings of the Bible. The project, entitled Hidden Perspectives, launches this week (11 April 2013) and is aiming to challenge the assumptions often made in mainstream and scholarly readings of the Bible to explore the implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, who can feel alienated from some religious groups by interpretations of the text. The first major event is a daylong festival on Saturday 1 June at The Showroom Workstation during which cabaret acts, vocalists, poets, storytellers, artists and academics will offer re-readings, interpretations and re-appropriations of biblical stories or passages that have traditionally been read as 'anti-gay'. Led by Dr Katie Edwards in the University of Sheffield's Department of Biblical Studies, the project will work with feminist activist collective LaDIYfest Sheffield, and LGBT groups across Sheffield, including the Sheena Amos Trust, Sacred Wing Choir, and the University of Sheffield's LGBT Student Committee. Students from the Department of Biblical Studies are working on the project, including the editor of the student and community led Hidden Perspectives blog, Emily Foster-Brown; talented artist Bethany Fenton, who will be exhibiting her work at the festival, and final year student, Madelaine Oakes, who will discuss the findings of her dissertation on the Bible and homosexuality at the festival.