When I discovered the lovely Mattie Mae Motl, it was something of a welcome change. She broke into my algorithm, which was consistently feeding me hateful religious content, like a shining beacon of hope. Amongst conspiracy theorists and homophobes, Mattie Mae wormed her way onto my feed and showed me a faith that was progressive, social justice orientated and most importantly, full of love and grace.
Mattie Mae is a Bible scholar studying for a PHD at St Andrews. She is a writer, a creator and a mother. To put it short, she is impressive. Despite Pride Month being over, the need for queer visibility and inclusion has never been more important, and I was curious to explore the role the church has within the Pride and LGBTQIA+ movement, while also exploring what being a queer woman in the online faith space looks like.
Why does this interview matter now? Institutionally, the UK seems to be going down a path of regression. Whether that be the repeal of trans rights through recent Supreme Court rulings, or the Prime Minister echoing the words of Enoch Powell, it is clear that there is a rise in hatred. I’ve seen that Pride marches this year are approached with a different tone; with councils taking their flags down, and questions about funding arising, it is clear that the permanency of Pride is being questioned in a way that feels new. This is why I was eager to speak to Mattie regarding Churches in the Pride movement.
Many Queer people have a complicated and strained relationship with the Church, and this isn’t for without reason; of those who signed the ‘Coalition for Marriage’ (the UK campaign against same-sex marriage), 74% identified as Christian. Mattie Mae spoke out against such teachings eagerly: “Homophobic, transphobic theology kills people. There is no world where that would be okay in the eyes of God.” Once we had affirmed Mae’s radically inclusive view of Christianity, we moved on to talk about the public perception and function of the Church amongst Pride.
Homophobic, transphobic theology kills people. There is no world where that would be okay in the eyes of God.
This public image of hatred is something Motl is eager to combat. She spoke with passion about the gap between the ‘ivory tower of biblical academia and the church pew’. Mae speaks proudly of her “passion for accessibility of research”. When discussing the gap between academic consensus and church teaching, she said: “It is pretty common knowledge that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality as we know or think about it today. And that is revolutionary to somebody who is just a lay person going to church every Sunday. I think that in order to close that gap, we need more academics who are passionate about accessibility and clarity.” This drive to get affirming Biblical teaching to the masses shines through her content. Whether it be quick, lighthearted reels or long-form articles, Mae focuses on trying to get Biblical teaching to people without the red tape of academic jargon.
In response to my enquiry about the church’s role in the Pride movement, Mattie Mae beamed that “in an ideal world, the church would be at the helm of the Pride movement”. “Jesus rocked the boat and tackled cruel power hierarchies”, she argued, “and therefore the church should do the same”. Mattie Mae spoke with excitement about Christ’s role within disrupting religious hierarchies: “He made it abundantly clear that these religious traditionalists had had no place telling him who to include or who to not include.” We moved on to discuss the roles that followers of Jesus should play in tackling oppressive systems: “We should be not only promoting a lifestyle that is disruptive to oppressive norms, but we should be promoting people and uplifting people who go against these norms”. As I pondered on this interview, I reflected on the masses of social capital that the Church holds, and all of the people who have been hurt by it. I imagined if this social power could be utilised to push for inclusion and justice, like Mattie Mae argues, and I could not help but agree with her.
Mattie Mae makes a variety of content, her account expertly displays both funny short reels and accessible, deep dives into LGBT+ affirming theology. I was interested in how such a page came about and was received. In an age of Tates and Kirks, Motl’s uplifting content stands out.
When I brought this up, she stressed that “social media is a tool, a tool can hurt or help someone, it depends on who is using it and how”. People use their platforms to destroy, but Motl’s content clearly aims to uplift and celebrate. Her content means a lot to people. People who have been disregarded by the institutional church can see themselves in Motl’s work, her work and content acts as medicine for the mistreated queer person of faith.
Certainly, Motl’s content is much more than light-hearted videos. When it comes to queerness and religion, “it is a matter of life and death,” she said. Motl emphasises that “Pride is still important, there is a queer kid thinking of suicide because they believe the Bible wants them dead”. As social polarisation increases, Motl makes it clear that “there is a sense of urgency about [her content], social media is not removed from reality”. Her content is far from existing in a niche vacuum of the internet; rather, it offers tangible support for those rejected by the mainstream church and culture. In an increasingly hostile and cruel climate, affirming theology offers a tiny sliver of hope.
There is a queer kid thinking of suicide because they believe the Bible wants them dead
Our conversation naturally drew to a close, and I hung up my phone feeling spiritually refreshed. I felt full of hope for a Church that can break down boundaries, and push for full inclusion, love and care for everyone. A Church where all are welcome, without having to meet entry requirements. The success of Motl’s work demonstrates a cultural hunger for a spirituality that is radically progressive and loving.
