Benjamin Hollenbach

My research explores LGBTQ+ inclusion in Mainline Protestantism in the U.S. By "Mainline Protestantism," I refer to a group of Protestant denominations in the U.S. which have earned a reputation for theological and political progressivism, in comparison to Evangelical and Fundamentalist groups. I focus on how people of faith respond to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, guided by their beliefs. My dissertation's central aim concerns the exploration of what people want religious institutions to do for them, in settings where barriers to LGBTQ+ participation are relatively few. I explore both how self-described members of the “Christian left” shape queer politics in the United States, and contribute to wider dialogues in the U.S. about what constitutes “diverse” or “inclusive” spaces, and the ways religious groups are shaped by queer politics,