Gender Heretics: Evangelicals, Feminists, and the Alliance against Trans Liberation

Conservative evangelicals and gender critical feminists have worked together to oppose trans liberation. In Gender Heretics, Rebecca Jane Morgan explores how this alliance came about and how trans people and allies can respond. She sheds light on the roots of todays transphobic backlash and provides tools to overcome it, advocating for a full recalibration of evangelical thought on gender identity and trans activism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2023
Publisher: Pluto Press

For decades, conservative evangelicals and so-called gender critical feminists have worked hand-in-hand to oppose trans liberation. But how did this alliance come about? What makes it tick? And how can trans people and allies respond?

In Gender Heretics, Rebecca Jane Morgan tackles this reactionary alliance head-on. With unique insight, she explores how theological arguments snaked their way from anti-trans feminist tracts into the everyday practices of evangelical churches today, and how the unlikely alliance remains strong in spite of seemingly irreconcilable worldviews.

Shedding light on the roots of today's transphobic backlash, she provides crucial tools to overcome it, offering a hopeful way forward by advocating for a full recalibration of evangelical thought on gender identity and trans activism.

Gender Heretics is a groundbreaking book that challenges readers to think critically about the intersection of religion and gender identity. Morgan's analysis is thorough and nuanced, and she provides a wealth of evidence to support her arguments. She also offers practical solutions for trans people and allies who are seeking to navigate the complex terrain of religious opposition to trans liberation.

One of the most compelling aspects of Gender Heretics is its ability to shed light on the ways in which theological arguments have been used to justify transphobia. Morgan demonstrates how conservative evangelical beliefs about gender and sexuality have been twisted to support anti-trans rhetoric and policies. She also shows how these beliefs have been perpetuated by gender critical feminists who claim to be allies of trans people but who in reality are working to undermine their rights and dignity.

Another important aspect of the book is its exploration of the ways in which the alliance between conservative evangelicals and gender critical feminists has been able to maintain its strength in spite of seemingly irreconcilable worldviews. Morgan argues that the alliance is driven by a shared desire to maintain traditional gender roles and a fear of change. She also shows how these beliefs are reinforced by social and cultural norms that prioritize male privilege and heteronormativity.

Despite the challenges posed by the alliance between conservative evangelicals and gender critical feminists, Gender Heretics offers a hopeful way forward. Morgan advocates for a full recalibration of evangelical thought on gender identity and trans activism. She calls for evangelical churches to recognize the validity of trans people's identities and to support their rights and dignity. She also calls for gender critical feminists to recognize the harm that their beliefs and practices have done to trans people and to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Gender Heretics is a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding the intersection of religion and gender identity. It is a powerful and thought-provoking book that will challenge readers to think critically about the ways in which their beliefs and practices may contribute to transphobia and other forms of discrimination.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745349015