Jesus at the gay bar poem

By placing Jesus in a gay bar—a space of joy, resistance, and self-expression—Hulme suggests that holiness is not confined to churches or traditional religious spaces. The sacred is found wherever love, truth, and authenticity exist. Instead of being distant or judgmental, Jesus is in the midst of dancing, embracing, and healing—actions that symbolize love, grace, and inclusion.

Like Loading About Joe. After ‘The Backwater Sermons’ came out, this poem from it, ‘ Jesus at the Gay Bar ’, went a bit viral, so I thought I’d share some of the basic theology behind it. So, if you click on a link that takes you to Amazon.

Questions About Jesus JW

By placing Jesus in a gay bar, Hulme subverts the expectation that religion excludes queer people, instead showing that Christ’s love extends to everyone. To understand the parallel more clearly you first have to understand the context behind Mark 5.

What an interesting person, Jay Holme. Hulme is a transgender man, and his experiences with gender identity and faith frequently inform his writing. At some point in the evening a boy will touch the hem of His robe and beg to be healed, beg to be anything other than this.

Email Address:. In addition to poetry, Hulme is an advocate for trans rights and speaks publicly about the intersection of faith and queerness, challenging exclusionary religious narratives.

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Jesus is depicted not as a judge, but as a liberator, offering reassurance and unconditional love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The poem quite obviously riffs off of the below section of Mark 5, drawing a parallel between the unnamed woman in the passage, and queer people - more particularly, the "boy" in the poem, a young LGBT man struggling with.

The contrast between traditional religious depictions of Jesus and this reimagining makes the poem striking. The poem portrays Jesus as someone who embraces and affirms those who have been marginalized, particularly within religious contexts.

His poetry blends modern, often urban imagery with deep emotional resonance and themes of inclusivity, hope, and belonging. It challenges the ways Christianity has been used to oppress queer people and instead offers a vision of faith that is celebratory and affirming.

The poem portrays Jesus as someone who embraces and affirms those who have been marginalized, particularly within religious contexts. One more thing we adore is this poem about Love itself by the talented Jay Hulme. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Hulme has published several poetry collections, including Clouds Cannot Cover Us and The Backwater Sermons, the latter of which explicitly engages with spirituality and justice. In simple terms, most of your ili aunties are gay (and very happy about it)!

He is particularly recognized for his accessible and evocative poetry, which often explores themes of queerness, religion, and social justice. February 18, By Joe. At some point in the evening a boy will touch the hem of His robe and beg to be healed, beg to be anything other than this; and He will reach His arms out, sweat-damp, and weary from dance.

Nicholas Church, in Leicester, a Church of England parish. So, feel free to send us your stories about love and identity, no matter how much you think they deviate from the “norm.” We love breaking nonsense rules! The poem reclaims religious imagery and reinterprets Christian theology in a way that aligns with radical inclusivity.

The building is years old.