What are 'Side A' and 'Side B'?

The terms Side-A and Side-B have been used in some LGBTQ Christian communities for the past 20 years. They are two different ways of understanding same-sex relationships from a Christian theological point-of view. People have different ways of explaining it, but at it's most basic form::

• Side-A: There is NO difference in how God/Bible/Christianity understands opposite or same sex relationships/sexual activity.
• Side-B: There is A difference in how God/Bible/Christianity understands opposite or same sex relationships/sexual activity.

People who follow a Side-A theology think that any rules, practices, expectations or benefits should apply equally to the actions of straight or LGBT people when it comes to their romantic or sexual behavior.

Side-B theology, which can also be considered the 'traditional' or even 'Catholic' view, is that certain relationships and/or acts should be reserved for straight people only.

Since both Side-A and Side-B are theological viewpoints, they can be held by straight or LGBT people. There are a lot of straight parents and pastors who hold Side-A views, and others who hold Side-B views. There are Side-A LGBTQ folks, and Side-B LGBTQ folks. And there are people who, over the course of their faith will move from one view to another.

The definitions I gave above are very broad, and as such don't cover the diversity of ways in which people express their theological beliefs.

For instance, among Side A LGBTQ folks, there are people who:

• Will engage in sex only in the context of marriage
• Participate in sex only when there is love, but not necessarily limited to a marriage
• Enjoy a sexual life apart from any
• Follow any of the three descriptions above, but do so in monogamy or polyamory.

Likewise, there are Side-B LGBTQ folks who:

• Will avoid any romantic relationships altogether
• Are open to dating and romantic relationships
• Will have a lifelong, celibate partnership with another person
• Follow any of the three descriptions above, but with differing levels of physical intimacy (hand-holding, hugging, cuddling, kissing, etc.)

Both Side-A and Side-B are based on behavior and action. They are both different from ex-gay (sometimes called Side-X) theology, which assumes that a person's attractions are unnatural or broken and must be changed.

I include both Side-A and Side-B LGBTQ Christian resource here. As far as I know this is a Christianity-based theology, but let me know if there are podcasts of other faiths that relate.

Any podcasts that expect people to change their sexual orientation are not included in this site.