“Hidden Histories” by Dr. Monique Moultrie, Member of Intersectionality in the American South (IAS)

We are proud to introduce “Hidden Histories,” an exceptional work by Dr. Monique Moultrie, a distinguished member of Intersectionality in the American South (IAS). This insightful book brings forth the voices of Black lesbian religious leaders in the United States through a collection of oral histories.

“Hidden Histories” sheds light on how these leaders embody authenticity, social justice awareness, spirituality, and collaborative leadership, making them remarkable models of womanist ethical leadership. By exploring their life stories, Dr. Moultrie frames queer storytelling as an ethical act of resistance against the racism, sexism, and heterosexism that these women confront. The book delves into their collaborative, intergenerational, and innovative leadership styles, as well as their dedication to the greater good and holistic well-being of humanity and the earth.

Dr. Moultrie further illustrates how these leaders’ ethos of social justice activism extends beyond the LGBTQ and racialized communities, offering alternative models of religious and community leadership. In a crucial effort to address the historical invisibility of Black lesbian religious leaders in both scholarship and public discourse, this book reshapes our understanding of how race, gender, and sexual identities intersect with religious practice and organization in the twenty-first century.

Praise for “Hidden Histories”:

“Monique Moultrie gives credence to Black female vanguards by emphasizing that sexual identity is essential to understanding the leadership styles of those who live at the intersections of race, class, and gender oppression and sexual invisibility. Offering a corrective to analyses of leadership studies based on white heteronormative male perspectives while asking profound and fundamental questions that are relevant to scholars in several fields, this poignant and compelling book makes a significant contribution to the guild and society.” — Stacey Floyd-Thomas, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University

“In this pioneering and beautifully written book Monique Moultrie analyzes the contributions of Black lesbian religious leaders to new forms of ethical leadership, contrasting their models of shared leadership with the forms most associated with Black male religious leaders that focus more on the charismatic individual. No previous scholar has ever told these stories, making ‘Hidden Histories’ of great importance to the study of religion in the United States; research on models of leadership; women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; and African American studies.” — Bernadette J. Brooten, Myra and Robert Kraft and Jacob Hiatt Professor of Christian Studies, Emerita, Brandeis University

“Hidden Histories” is a profound and pioneering exploration that uncovers the vital contributions of Black lesbian religious leaders to our understanding of ethical leadership, community, and social justice.

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