Centrepiece Presentation: 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture

2SLGBTQIA+ identities and Christian beliefs are often in opposition, with many queer-identifying Christians facing judgment or outright rejection from both communities. Sharon Roggio’s fascinating etymological excavation traces the origins of the Christian anti-gay movement back to 1946, when a damaging mistranslation resulted in the first appearance of the word “homosexual” in the Bible, thus providing a “sacred weapon” for the religious right to use against gay people. Significantly, while critical of religious dogma, this documentary does not oppose Christianity.

Roggio, herself a lesbian, grew up under the watchful eye of her preacher father, and this personal investment in the relationship between queerness and faith makes for an empathetic film that strives for inclusivity over division. This documentary is essential viewing for everyone regardless of personal beliefs, but particularly important for queer Christians who have been forced to hide their identities in the hope of gaining acceptance.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the artists.

ASL interpretation will be provided during the Q&A, and live captioning on screen will be used during the pre-screening announcements.

Total event runtime: 118 min

Doors open: 6:30 PM

Screening: 7:00 PM

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This film has been rated 14A by BC Consumer Protection with an advisory for sexual language.

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