Making space for queer-identifying religious young people

Lead Research Organisation: London South Bank University
Department Name: Central Research Support

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description An Impact Report was submitted in full at the end of the award (and an End of Award Report)

I have developed close relations with non-academic groups named in the Impact Report, and I have run a successful public exhibition titled 'Making Space for Queer Identifying Religious Youth'.

The project found that participants' 'church hopping' practices of moving in and beyond MCC and 'traditional' churches, intersected with specific 'queer transitions', including 'coming out' in public-private places (these were also variously religious, such as in the Queer Religious Youth facebook group).

Other findings include the importance of embodied feelings of being present and included, where both 'queer' and 'religious' spaces/subjects induced certain sounds (e.g. music), tastes (e.g. non-alcohol, food sharing) sights (e.g. architecture) and touch (e.g. church pews) (with journal article produced for New Media & Society, Journal of Ecclesial Practices, and Emotions, Space and Society).

UK 'Equalities' debates often posit Christian 'backlash' against more integrative inclusion. However, young people's interpretations and experiences suggest a more complicated sense of how they intervene in religious/sexual landscapes, desiring and contesting specific futures, as welfare/equalities legislation both promise and prohibit certain material futures, which are imagined nonetheless (and via 'imagined communities' of religion and sexuality) (in progress monograph 'Queer Convictions').

The project has produced a book (Palgrave) but the same name and a further publication in the British Journal of the Sociology of Education is forthcoming.
Exploitation Route Please note that project webpages have been deleted as the PI move institution and these pages and information were not supported.

PI is pursuing a future ESRC standard grant and seminar series bid with key experts in the Sociology of Religion, in order to capitalise upon existing findings and connections, consolidating these cross-institutionally.

PI is considering a Horizon2020 submission on comparative aspects of sexuality and religion as entangled in international 'Equalities' framings, embedding EU connections, within the international UK-US-AUS initial project advisory group formed in 'Making Space for Queer Identifying Religious Youth'.

The international advisory group has facilitated access to a wide variety of (non)academic audiences, leading to the production of a future Special Issue (co-edited by PI, Sarah-Jane Page and Mathew Guest) on Class and Christianity.

The PI is exploring the possibility of media dissemination via Thinking Allowed and is in regular contact with (non)academic users, including MCC. The ESRC media contact/planning was pursued but never lead to any features, despite initial Telegraph interest.


Policy impact will continue through report dissemination, in highlighting key policy relevancies incl. e.g. the supportive role that religious-based groups may play in e.g. housing, education, etc. as initially explored in the LGBT Dialogue Day 2011 and the Summer 2014 panel event.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education
 
Description 'Queer religious youth: informal spaces of spirituality' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience
Results and Impact Taylor, Y. and Falconer, E. 'Minority Religions: Contemplating the Past and Anticipating the Future' 31 Jan.- 2 Feb. 2014
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity
 
Description Making space for queer identifying religious young people 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience
Results and Impact London South Bank University newsletter
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Newsletter 2 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience
Results and Impact 'Making Space for Queer Religious Youth' 2nd newsletter
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
URL http://queerreligiousyouth.wordpress.com/newsletters/
 
Description Newsletter 3 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience
Results and Impact 'Making Space for Queer Identifying Youth' Newsletter 3
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
URL http://queerreligiousyouth.wordpress.com/newsletters/
 
Description Newsletter 4 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience
Results and Impact 'Making Space for Queer Religious Youth' Newsletter 4
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://queerreligiousyouth.wordpress.com/newsletters/