Why Emily Austin rewrote parts of the Bible through a queer and feminist lens
The Canadian writer talks to Q's Tom Power about her new poetry collection, Gay Girl Prayers
What's your relationship like with holy texts? Growing up, the Canadian poet and novelist Emily Austin attended Catholic school and was an altar server. But as she got older and studied religion in university, she began to question her beliefs and think about how parts of the Bible made her feel as a woman and a queer person.
Austin's new collection of poetry, Gay Girl Prayers, reclaims Catholic prayers and biblical passages through a queer and feminist lens, providing alternate versions. The collection is full of humour and witty one-liners, but it's also deeply affirming and uplifting. She tells Q's Tom Power more about what inspired Gay Girl Prayers, and reads a poem from it.
The full interview with Emily Austin is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Interview with Emily Austin produced by Cora Nijhawan.