Conditionally Accepted

BAKER A. ROGERS is an assistant professor of sociology at Georgia Southern University. Their research focuses on inequality, specifically examining the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, and geographical location. Their work is published in Gender & Society (2018), Sexualities (2016), Review of Religious Research (2016), and Feminist Teacher (2015).

"The book is of particular value in the ways it explicates its geographical focus. Besides contextualizing gay and lesbian civil rights in a predominantly conservative religious context, the book also sensitizes the reader to develop a multicolor-perspective on the Christian South that goes beyond framing the region as only a place of Christian conservatism....The main message of the book is very clear: we must look more closely to the story of individual Mississippi Christians and how they come to their develop their attitudes towards gay men and lesbian women."— Politics, Religion, & Ideology"In Conditionally Accepted Baker Rogers offers a textured analysis of perceptions of gay and lesbian citizens living in one of the most conservative parts of the country. A well-organized, engaging, and compelling investigation." — John Bartkowski, University of Texas, author of The Promise Keepers: Servants, Soldiers, and Godly Men"Based on rich interview data with 40 Christians in Mississippi, Conditionally Accepted presents an important argument that specific religious identity formations produce opposition to gays and lesbians....Conditionally Accepted provides an insightful contribution to sociological thinking about religious identity and sexuality."— Gender and Society"Recommended. "— Choice"In this critical yet sympathetic analysis of religious intolerance, Baker Rogers listens carefully to anti-gay Christians in Mississippi. They offer strong evidence that close contact with lesbian and gay people is not enough to change deeply held anti-gay attitudes."— Tina Fetner, McMaster University, author of How the Religious Right Shaped Lesbian and Gay Activism"Spirit in the sky: various faiths with queer-friendly aspects," by Brian Brombergerhttps://www.ebar.com/events/arts_events//296909/spirit_in_the_sky:_various_faiths_with_queer-friendly_aspects— Bay Area Reporter

• IntroductionPart 1: Religion and Homosexuality1 God Said Love Thy Neighbor, Unless They're Gay2 For the Bible (or My Pastor/Priest) Tells Me So: The Bible HomosexualityPart 2: Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights3 Marriage = 1 Man + 1 Woman? Support and Opposition to Same Sex-Marriage4 Do Children Need a Mom and Dad? The Debate over Same-Sex Marriage5 All [Wo]men Are Created Equal, or Are They? The Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights MovementPart 3: Social Contact with Gay and Lesbian People6 Some of My Best Friends Are Gay: The Influence of Social ContactConclusion: When Religion Overshadows RelationshipsAppendix: MethodologyAcknowledgementsNotesReferencesIndexAbout the Author