Cynthia Burack

Cynthia Burack is Professor in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Ohio State University. Her research focuses on feminist political theory, political psychology, and the study of identity groups, ideologies, and cultures, with particular emphasis on Christian Right movements and LGBTQ+ rights.

Her research bridges feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and political science to examine how identity groups form ideologies and cultural practices. She specializes in analyzing conservative religious movements and their opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, exploring how concepts like compassion and morality are deployed in political discourse. With Jyl J. Josephson, she co-edits the Queer Politics and Cultures book series at SUNY Press.

Burack's publications demonstrate sustained focus on the intersection of religion, sexuality, and politics. Her analyses span political rhetoric, human rights frameworks, psychoanalytic theory, and feminist critiques of patriarchal systems. Key themes include the examination of 'compassion campaigns' in anti-gay politics, global homophobia patterns, and religious freedom debates.

She has authored several books including 'The Problem of the Passions: Feminism, Psychoanalysis, and Social Theory' (1994), 'Healing Identities: Black Feminist Thought and the Politics of Groups' (2004), and 'Sin, Sex, and Democracy: Antigay Politics and the Christian Right' (2008).