Theographies of Queer History in the Illinois-Iowa Quad Cities

The Quad Cities Pride in Memory’s mission is to document, protect, and preserve local queer history in the Illinois-Iowa region and its broader significance. Historically, religious groups in this region have organized to make legislative interventions aimed at a more just and equitable society for queer people. More recently, however, queer communities are increasingly distancing from religious ones. With rollbacks on queer rights at record-breaking levels, the stakes are high. Geographer Callum Sutherland uses the term “theography” (religious geographies) to explore religious reflection as it relates to spatial imaginations of transcendence and praxis. Coupled with womanist ethicist Emilie Townes’ concept of redemptive self-love as best expressed through justice-oriented public policy, I argue that religious groups contribute a unique vision for relationships across space and time that equips queer communities to reinvigorate civil rights movements today.