I see the history of Christianity as being very much about a controlling sexuality, especially minority variants of sexuality. Interestingly, in this novel (which very much reflects my own life experiences) the Christian family don’t conceive of themselves as being political at all.

They think of themselves as decent, loving people who want what’s best for their son/brother/nephew. Some of them don’t get the harm they’re doing until tragic events unfold. And even after, a few of them still don’t get it.