"So many sons, gone out as a fire"
This is my second piece in a series of blackout poems using magazine texts distributed by the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses, all of which are publicly available online for viewing.
This piece is dedicated to the struggles, harm and loss inflicted upon queer men by the congregation, especially at the height of the AIDS epidemic.
The project (not yet titled) aims to show unabashed declarations of queer love, resilience, and spiritual reclamation, while also acknowledging the pain and grief so often caused by high-control religious groups; shunning is one such example.
Being an ex-jw myself, my hope is that other sexual and gender minority peoples who have been negatively impacted--either directly or indirectly--by religious teachings and practices, will find these pieces a source of healing.
Please message me if you'd like to know more about this project, or if you'd like to collaborate/contribute. Criticism/suggestions always welcome!
Source text from May 15, 1970 issue of 'The Watchtower' - 'The Spread of Homosexuality' which can be read here
