Reading Secrets: A Queer Inheritance of Life & Scripture
by Malcolm Himschoot
A trans pastor's fascination with scriptures inherited from his closeted, fundamentalist father.
From Exile to Inheritance
A Trans Pastor’s Journey Through Grief, Faith, and Family
When his dad died, Malcolm Himschoot inherited his father’s Bibles. He chose to re-read them, examining his dad’s notes in the margins, teasing out the details of his upbringing and gender identity amid the structures and forms of biblical narratives.
For Malcolm, coming out meant exile and verbal excommunication; he embodied all his gay father tried to hide. In Reading Secrets, he travels alongside the ghost of his father, exploring their inherited homophobia and the American culture that shaped their triumphs and tragedies.
With these poetic and evocative meditations, Malcolm transforms the Scripture he inherited, and finds a place in it for himself.
Reading Secrets: A Queer Inheritance of Life & Scripture is already resonating with early readers and reviewers.
Order Your Copy"Beautiful and raw..."
"Beautiful and sad and raw. Like life.
"Worth reading"
It's about time someone recorded the bullshit going on in church ministry! This book is worth reading!"
"Charged with insights..."
"Charged with insights and a powerfully compact way of expressing the soul’s work” "
"Grace-filled and will touch your heart..."
"This memoir is grace-filled and will touch your heart, mind and soul. Be prepared to be opened to gratitude for the More that cannot be confined."
You will find comfort in these pages"
"This unique memoir in verse is both balm and struggle. Much like the Scripture stories woven throughout, Himschoot faces all of it with bravery and an unflinching honesty. If you’ve struggled with family lineages, your own story, or the Christian story you will find comfort in these pages."
"A story that moves like water and wind and roots through soil."
"In Reading Secrets, Malcolm queers the forms and functions of memoir, biblical interpretation, and poetry to offer a landscape of story that moves like water and wind and roots through soil. The power of this movement is subtle and deep...with a tenderness of heart that is truth-telling, vulnerable, and compassionate. Malcolm...can help all of us build the capacity to hold the complexities of our inheritances necessary for collective liberation."
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Selected Passage from Reading Secrets
A journey through grief, identity, and the sacred stories that shape us.
One means to the goal is family stories
shared. Secrets aired.
Anxiety becomes curiosity.
Curiosity becomes love.
What is at stake is not innocence.
We are not innocent.
The work must not start from self-deception.
God can do more with truth.
We must lose something precious, to find
our souls instead.
So it starts with those who listen.
FAQ
If you're wondering about the book, click to explore.
What is this book about?
It’s a poetic and deeply personal exploration of faith, identity, and inherited belief. The book reflects on Scripture through a queer, trans lens—and on the cultural and familial forces that shaped both the author and his closeted father.
Who is Malcolm Himschoot?
Rev. Malcolm Himschoot is a transgender man, a writer, educator, and minister in the United Church of Christ. His work focuses on inclusive theology, social justice, and reclaiming sacred texts for marginalized communities.
He was featured in the indie film Call Me Malcolm, co-produced by Filmworks! and the United Church of Christ. This documentary about gender diversity, community, and call to ministry has shown nationwide and internationally since 2004, and garnered queer film festival audience awards and praise.
Where can I buy or Order Your Copy the book?
You can Order Your Copy Reading Secrets through Bookshop.orgor visit your favorite bookstore. Direct links are available throughout this website.
Is this book only for LGBTQ+ readers?
No. While it centers queer experience, Reading Secrets invites readers of all backgrounds into a journey of truth-telling, healing, and spiritual reflection.
Can I host Malcolm Himschoot for a book talk or event?
Yes. Events are being scheduled at bookstores, universities, and progressive churches. To inquire about an author visit, conversation, or community gathering, please reach out through the contact form on this site.
Is this a religious book?
Yes—and also no. While Reading Secrets engages deeply with Scripture, it is not a book of doctrine or persuasion. It’s a spiritual memoir, offering creative reflections for anyone interested in the intersections of faith, identity, and truth—regardless of their background or beliefs.
What inspired you to write this book?
The book was born out of a need to reconcile love and loss, belief and betrayal. Malcolm writes through the lens of a son, a minister, and a witness to how deeply faith and identity can shape—or distort—our relationships.
What kind of reader would connect with this book?
Anyone interested in stories of spiritual transformation, LGBTQ+ inclusion, intergenerational healing, or poetic nonfiction will find something here. It speaks to seekers, survivors, theologians, activists, and artists alike.
Does the book criticize Christianity?
Reading Secrets does not aim to criticize, but rather to reflect honestly on the painful ways Christianity has been used—and misused—in families and institutions. It offers an invitation to reimagine faith as a space for healing and truth.
Is the writing academic, poetic, or personal?
All three. Malcolm blends theological reflection with lyrical prose and personal memory. The style is accessible but richly textured, grounded in lived experience.
Are media or review copies available?
Advance review copies (ARCs) and media kits are available upon request. Please use the contact form to specify your outlet, podcast, or publication.
A Spiritual Journey Written in Verse: Promotional video by Catalyst Press
About the Author
A Story of Dedication and Community
Malcolm wrote portions of his own story into creative nonfiction to resist authoritarianism in family, faith, and culture. Malcolm is currently a minister and educator with the United Church of Christ, and has been public as a trans man since 2004.
He was featured in the indie film Call Me Malcolm, co-produced by Filmworks! and the United Church of Christ. This documentary about gender diversity, community, and call to ministry has shown nationwide and internationally since 2004, and garnered queer film festival audience awards and praise.
Reading Secrets
Journey with Malcolm Himschoot as he reclaims the Scripture that exiled him, transforming its secrets into a story of truth, love, and belonging
Order Your CopyWhat's going on and how can I get involved?
Book Release Date:June 24, 2025
Events are planned around the country at bookstores, college campuses, and progressive churches.
If you know a group that wants to host Malcolm for an event connecting literature, social change, and spirituality over generations, please be in touch.
Also by Malcolm Himschoot
Sacred Reckonings
Curriculum produced by Open and Affirming leaders reaching toward racial justice and repair
Free Download (PDF)
The New Queer Desire
Digital zine co-edited with Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel and other religious leaders stitching the fabric of intersectional social justice
Visit Website
Call Me Malcolm: One Man's Struggle with Faith, Love and Gender Identity
Study guide on gender diversity for faith-based congregations
Visit Website