Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in Considering Matthew Shepard

This dissertation examines the interrelated treatment of gender, sexuality, and Christianity in Considering Matthew Shepard. This work comes out of a context in which there are long-held opposing views over sociopolitical issues in twentieth-century American society, particularly within the Christian Church. These fractions hinge upon issues of gender and sexuality, with the conservative Christian viewpoint on one side, and the American liberal Christian viewpoint on the other. While the former features traditional gender and sexual archetypes, the latter reconciles these polarizing areas of gender, sexuality, and religion. These and other related social themes are demonstrated in Considering Matthew Shepard, a modern oratorio influenced by the Passion form. In this dissertation, I will show how this work both demonstrates conservative Christian themes, but also offers an alternative, more inclusive vision for America. If Considering Matthew Shepard highlights the tension between viewpoints surrounding these difficult topics, its overwhelming conclusion is one of love, acceptance, unity, and the humanity in all of us.