Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Participation in African Inspired Traditions in the Americas »

What roles do queer and transgender people play in the African diasporic
religions? Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
and Transgender Participation in African-Inspired Traditions in the
Americas is a groundbreaking scholarly exploration of this long-neglected
subject. It offers clear insight into the complex dynamics of gender and
sexual orientation, humans and deities, and race and ethnicity, within
these richly nuanced spiritual practices.

Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions explores the ways in which gender
complexity and same-sex intimacy are integral to the primary beliefs and
practices of these faiths. It begins with a comprehensive overview of
Vodou, Santeria, and other African-based religions. The second section
includes extensive, revealing interviews with practitioners who offer
insight into the intersection of their beliefs, their sexual orientation,
and their gender identity. Finally, it provides a powerful analysis of the
ways these traditions have inspired artists, musicians, and writers such as
Audre Lorde, as well as informative interviews with the artists themselves.

In Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions, you will discover:

how the presence of androgynous divinities affects both faith and practice
in Vodou, Candomble, Santeria, and other Creole religions
how the phenomenon of possession or embodiment by a god or goddess may
validate queer identity and nurture gender complexity
who practices the African-derived spiritual traditions, what they believe,
and who their deities are
how these faiths have influenced the art and aesthetic traditions of the
West

This landmark book opens a fascinating new world of thought and belief. The
authors provide rigorous documentation and faultless scholarly method as
well as personal experience and the testimony of believers. Queering Creole
Spiritual Traditions sheds new light on two widely different fields: LGBT
studies and the theology of the African diaspora. A thorough bibliography
points the way to further study, and an extensive photograph gallery
provides a unique look at the believers and their practices. Every library
with holdings in queer theory, African mythology, or sociology of religion
should have this landmark volume.

PhD, Associate Professor of Women's Studies, Texas Woman's University - AnaLouise Keating

AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE. . . . RICHLY INFORMATIVE AND A GENUINE PLEASURE TO READ. . . . Explores the interrelationship of gender complexity, same-sex intimacy, and spiritual practices in African-diasporic spiritual traditions. . . . A respectful, meticulously researched examination of the diversity and variation within African-diasporic religions, focusing on issues relating to same-sex intimacy. I found the entire book to be extremely interesting and useful.

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction
Background
Overview of Book
A Note About Terms

Chapter 1. Sources
Creole Spiritual Traditions: A Bird?s-Eye View
Sexual and Gender Complexity in Yorùbáland?
Other Possible African Influences
Possible Indigenous Influences of the Western Hemisphere

Chapter 2. Divinities and Spirits
Lwa of Vodou
Orishás of Yorùbá-Diasporic Spiritual Traditions
Spirits of Brazil

Chapter 3. Children of the Spirits
Divine Horses
Masisi and Madivin
Bigotry in the Vodou Community
A Bridge of the Spirits
Adés, Ekedes, and Others
Practitioners of Lucumí/Santería and Related Religions
Drag Queens, Transgender Persons, Transsexuals
Prohibitions and Discrimination with Yorùbá-Diasporic and Allied
Communities
Divination and Interpretation
Challenges and Transformations
Relationships and Ceremonies of Union
HIV/AIDS, Afro Ashé, and Odô Yá
Notions of Self in African-Inspired Spiritual Traditions

Chapter 4. Snapshots
Practitioners of Vodou
Practitioners of Lucumí/Santería/Regla de Ocha, and Other Cuban- and Puerto
Rican-Linked Traditions
Practitioners of Candomblé and Other Brazilian Traditions
Practioners of Orishá Reverence, the Ifá Tradition, and Bridge-Builders

Chapter 5. To Make the Spirit Manifest
Literature
Music
Visual Arts
Conclusion

Appendix A. Questionnaire
Appendix B. Interviews and Correspondence
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Reference Notes Included