Out Loud: LGBT Stories of Faith

By Greg Thompson

LGBTQIA+ individuals tell their stories about faith, community, and the divine, hosted by Greg Thompson.

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Cody Belew and Transcending Religion for Love

Out Loud: LGBT Stories of FaithNov 12, 2020

00:00

56:39

Lucas Wilson and Living Into the Questions (Live)

On a very special live episode from the 2022 Q Christian Fellowship Conference, we speak with Lucas Wilson.

Lucas attended gay conversion therapy while studying at Liberty University and not only lived to tell the tale, but became an advocate for abolishing this practice altogether. A PhD Candidate at Florida Atlantic University, with a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University, Lucas has begun working in the field of critical evangelicalism studies.

In our conversation, we learn about Lucas' conversion therapy experience and how inauthentic it made him feel. He also shares how eye-opening it was to continue his education after Liberty, which ultimately shaped what his faith and studies looks like today. He also tells us more about the recent lawsuit he helped file, calling to question whether religious colleges should receive federal funding while actively discriminating against LGBTQ+ students.

Lucas identifies as gay and uses the gender pronouns he/him/his.

Follow Lucas on Instagram @lukeslamdunkwilson
Follow Lucas on Twitter @wilson_fw

For Reflection:

How have your beliefs changed over time, and what’s a question that you still don’t have the answer to?

Resources:

Learn more about the Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP).
Learn more about Q Christian Fellowship and sign up now for next year’s conference.
Join Greg at BOHO Studios in Richmond, VA for yoga classes. Sign up here.

About Out Loud:

Hosted and Produced by Greg Thompson. Follow Greg on Instagram @itsgregthompson. Learn more about his yoga and spirituality offerings at gregthompson.me.

Theme music by JP Rugierri.

Recorded in Richmond, VA.

Feb 10, 202250:53

Brian Falduto and Being as Present as Possible

Brian Falduto is an actor, singer-songwriter, life coach, and host of The Gay Life Coach Podcast. At age 11, he was cast in the film, School of Rock, and later performed in various Off-Broadway and Regional theater productions. Brian attended Catholic school growing and has gone to predominantly protestant churches on and off throughout his life.

After finding a church that accepted his sexuality, he was inspired to write his single, "God Loves Me Too." In our discussion, we hear the story behind the music, as well as how Brian overcame the internalized homophobia he felt growing up. Brian also shares his perspective on spirituality and mindfulness, as well as his favorite self-care practices. Brian uses the gender pronouns he/him/they/them.

Follow Brian on Instagram @brianfalduto
Check out The Gay Life Coach Podcast
Listen to his music on Spotify and Apple Music
And learn more on his website: brianfalduto.com

For Reflection: What are your favorite self-care practices, and how do you remember to practice them?

Be a part of our LIVE episode on January 20 by registering for the Q Christian Conference.

To join Greg this month for yoga in Richmond, VA, sign up here.

Brian mentioned a handful of authors worth checking out during our conversation. Greg personally recommends reading both Untamed by Glennon Doyle and True Refuge by Tara Brach. All of those authors mentioned are Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Tara Brach, Byron Katie, and Glennon Doyle.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, or by leaving a one-time donation on our website. Hosted and Produced by Greg Thompson. Follow Greg on Instagram @itsgregthompson. Learn more about his yoga and spirituality offerings at gregthompson.me. Theme music by JP Rugierri.

Jan 13, 202252:23

Keegan Osinski and Queering Her Church

Keegan Osinski is the Librarian for Theological Studies and Ethics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington and studied Philosophy and Theology at Point Loma Nazarene University. Her work is naturally informed by her faith. Keegan belongs to the Church of the Nazarene, which is a tradition informed by John Wesley, a well-known theologian from the 1700s. In Keegan's book, Queering Wesley, Queering the Church, she examines Wesley's sermons through a queer lens.

Together we talk about her choice to stay in the Church of the Nazarene and her positive experiences within her churches, despite the denomination's unaffirming stance on queer inclusion. And while Keegan feels comfortable towing the line in her own denomination, we talk about the boundaries all of us might need to keep in mind when we disagree with a church's beliefs. Keegan identifies as queer or bisexual and uses she/her/hers pronouns.

Follow Keegan on Instagram @keegz and learn more on her website, keeganosinski.com.

You can snag a copy of Keegan's book, "Queering Wesley, Queering the Church" through Wipf and Stock Publishers and on Amazon.

For Reflection: On the topic of attending church, whether affirming or non-affirming, Keegan shares the question, “What is the church allowed to do to me?” How can you set healthy boundaries in your relationship with church?

Resources: Keegan also recommends reading, "Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity" by Elizabeth Edman, as well as, "From Sin to Amazing Grace: Discovering the Queer Christ" by Patrick S. Cheng. And to join Greg this month for yoga in Richmond, VA, sign up here.

Dec 09, 202150:06

Tucker Shelton and the Balance of Yin and Yang

Tucker Shelton has studied and taught yoga for over a decade. He has also studied 200 hours of Thai Yoga Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand and has a Masters with Honors in Contemplative Religious Studies and Sanskrit Language from Naropa University in Boulder, CO. While Tucker has taught and studied throughout the United States and around the world, from New Zealand to India to Mexico, he currently lives in Asheville, NC.

We talk about Tucker's upbringing in the Episcopal church and how he eventually found a deeper connection to ritual through practicing and teaching yoga. We compare the meaning behind yoga to other religions and discuss how he presents and identifies as a queer person on his yoga mat. Tucker also helps us begin to unpack what the word "yoga" really means and how the practice of yoga is often misappropriated in our culture today.

Tucker identifies as gender non-binary and uses he, she, and they pronouns interchangeably.

Find Tucker at tuckeryoga.com and on Instagram @tucker_yoga.

For Reflection: How do you balance the masculine and feminine within yourself?

Resources: On cultural appropriation,Tucker mentioned two influential teachers: Dr. Shyam Ranganathan and Anusha Wijeyakumar. Tucker also recommends visiting, https://decolonizingyoga.com, https://www.offthematintotheworld.org, https://yogainaction.org

New to yoga? Here are a few resources from Greg Greg recommends. On the physical benefits of yoga, visit webmd.com. For a look at yoga's spiritual roots, read The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda). For a deeper dive into the practice and poses of yoga, read Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, or by leaving a one-time donation on our website. Hosted and Produced by Greg Thompson. Follow Greg on Instagram @itsgregthompson. Theme music by JP Rugierri. Recorded in Richmond, VA.

Nov 11, 202153:46

Blake Haney and Writing His Way to Belief

Blake Haney is a musician in Nashville, TN. Born and raised in Chattanooga, he's lived in the South, and more specifically, the state of Tennessee his whole life. Blake went to school in Clarksville, studying english, and discovering a love of storytelling. That love blossomed into songwriting during his studies in seminary at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Nowadays, he writes music, while working full time, and continuing his theological studies at Iliff School of Theology.

He released an EP in 2018 entitled, "Bottle Rockets, Booze, and Boys," and kicked off 2021 with a new single, "Call You Mine," where divinity and queer love take center stage. He identifies as gay, with the gender pronouns he/him/his.

We talk about walking out of his childhood church and stepping into a new one, his decision to quit drinking eight years ago, and the God moment that led him to write this latest single.

Follow Blake on Instagram @ablakehaney.
And stream “Call You Mine” on Apple Music and Spotify.

For Reflection: What did prayer look like for you growing up? And how does your prayer look today?

Resources: We discuss “Lectio Divina” in this episode, which is a “sacred reading” of a spiritual text. Watch this explainer video from Fr. James Martin, SJ for more guidance on how this practice works.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, or by leaving a one-time donation on our website. Hosted and produced by Greg Thompson. Theme music by JP Rugierri. Recorded in Nashville, TN.

May 13, 202157:30

Katie Pruitt and Finding Her Freedom

Katie Pruitt is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter and guitarist. She was born and raised in Georgia, grew up in the Catholic Church, went to Catholic school, and later attended Belmont University here in Nashville. She brings her whole self to her songwriting, tackling the shame of coming out in the south on her debut record, “Expectations.” In her own words, she calls it a record that's "really about letting go of what other people expect from you, and being free to just finally be yourself.” Katie identifies as gay or lesbian, with the gender pronouns she/her/hers

In our conversation, we discuss how she came out through her songwriting, who she could turn to, and how she came around to trusting herself, seeing God as a "force of good."

Learn more about Katie over at katiepruitt.com and follow her on Instagram @katiepruittmusic and on Twitter @KPmusik. “Expectations” is available wherever you stream or download your music.

For Reflection: How have you experienced churches or other organizations being silent about their views on LGBTQIA+ inclusion? When did you start to see queer representation in your life? How did that impact your own view of sexuality?

Music featured during this episode (in order as it played): “Georgia,” “Grace Has a Gun,” and “Normal,” from Katie’s album, “Expectations.” Listen to the album on Apple Music and Spotify.

Resources: Some of Katie’s influences mentioned during the episode include Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls. We also discuss Bible passages that have been used to form an argument against homosexuality. A great resource for unpacking these “clobber passages” is Unclobber by Colby Martin.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, or by leaving a one-time donation on our website. Hosted and produced by Greg Thompson. Editing Contributions from Cariad Harmon. Theme music by JP Rugierri. Recorded in Nashville, TN.

Apr 15, 202155:03

Bliss Cortez and the Magic of Community

Bliss Cortez has lived in Nashville for over a decade; focusing on their passion of film and multimedia production, creative direction, local art spaces, and being the Nashville Regional Producer for The Moth. Most recently, Bliss started "Bliss and the Trash Plants," a mutual aid organization that collects food donations and overstock from local gardens, farms, and businesses to build grocery and supply kits for straight, queer, or trans black, indigenous, people of color struggling with food, housing, and finances.

In our conversation, Bliss shares the quandary of never quite feeling like they belonged in church. And yet, we learn that it's the community service efforts of churches over the years that have inspired the work Bliss organizes today.

Bliss was raised Mexican Catholic and is still loosely spiritual. They identify as black latinx, nonbinary, poly, and queer with the gender pronouns they/them.

Follow Bliss on Instagram @blissfulpinkmaggit. To learn more about Bliss and the Trash Plants and how you can donate and volunteer, be sure to follow @blissandthetrashplants and sign up for their mailing list.

For Reflection: How do you create a sense of belonging in your neighborhood?

Resources: Bliss founded and recommends joining the “QTPOC Nashville” Facebook Group for support here in Nashville. Definitely check that out.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, or by leaving a one-time donation on our website. Hosted by Greg Thompson. Edited by Cariad Harmon. Theme music by JP Rugierri. Recorded in Nashville, TN.

Mar 11, 202126:47

Justin Hiltner and Giving Yourself Grace

Justin Hiltner is a queer banjo player, songwriter, journalist, and activist living here in Nashville. We talk about how his faith has been tested throughout his life so far, from coming out to his conservative evangelical family in rural Ohio to his fight against cancer more recently. His journey toward healing has been one of an evolving worldview starting with accepting those who have not accepted him along the way, and gradually learning how to accept himself.

Despite these hardships, Justin is flourishing as a bluegrass musician here in Middle Tennessee. He writes for the Bluegrass Situation, an online publication covering bluegrass, roots music. Justin's also the Chair of the Board for Bluegrass Pride, an organization that promotes inclusion in bluegrass music. And he's the first openly gay man to receive a nomination from the International Bluegrass Music Association. And if that weren't enough, Justin's working on his debut solo record set to come out in 2021.

Learn more at justinhiltner.com and find him over on Instagram @hiltnerj.

For Reflection: Consider a time when someone has made a judgment about you. How did you respond to it in the moment, and have you been able to rise above it? How do you make sense of suffering you've experienced in your own life? What coping mechanisms do you have for moving on?

Resources: We played “If I Were a Praying Man” during one of the breaks and “What I Miss the Most” as we closed the show. Both tracks are off of the album “Watch it Burn” by Justin Hiltner & Jon Weisberger which you can find on Apple Music and Spotify.

And be sure to check out some of the publications and programs that Justin mentioned during the show. There's The Bluegrass Situation and the article Justin mentions, "Letting Go of Time: My Soundtrack for a Year with Cancer." And be sure to check out Bluegrass Pride, the Shout and Shine Showcase 2020, and Gilda's Club of Middle TN.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, or by leaving a one-time donation on our website. Hosted by Greg Thompson. Edited by Cariad Harmon. Theme music by JP Rugierri.

Dec 10, 202057:32

Cody Belew and Transcending Religion for Love

Cody is a singer/songwriter here in Nashville, living into his identity as a gay man while making country music. You might recognize his name from Season 3 of The Voice, and he is now working on his first full length album. Cody was raised southern baptist and identifies as gay.

Together, we talk about growing up and praying to not be gay, and how he eventually came out to his parents. Cody's found his own way to be spiritual outside of going to church, identifying as a, "spiritual being having a human experience," which is a phrase coined by the French Philosopher and Jesuit, Pierres Teilhard de Chardin. We also discuss Cody's songwriting, where he channels his own experiences and the experiences of those around him.

Find Cody at codybelew.com and on Instagram @codybelew.

For Reflection: What do you appreciate about your church or religious background? And which elements are more of a struggle? How has your form of prayer changed over your life? And in what ways has it stayed the same?

Resources: We gave a shoutout to our friends at The Forbidden Apple podcast at the top of the show. Be sure to check them out! And we played Cody’s single “Crimes” during the show. You can stream "Crimes" over on Apple Music and watch the music video on YouTube.

Nov 12, 202056:39

Rachel Iacovone and Finding God During Such a Time as This

You may recognize Rachel's voice as one of the reporters on WPLN, Nashville’s NPR station. She's been in Nashville just a little over a year and is originally from Southwest Florida. Rachel was raised Roman Catholic by her parents who are Puerto Rican and Italian, and identifies as bi-sexual. And she currently attends West End United Methodist Church here in Nashville.

In our conversation, we took a closer look at her family's history with faith, her own personal exploration of the Bible, and how the Book of Esther is particularly relevant for finding hope in a year as tumultuous as 2020.

Find Rachel on Instagram @racheliacovone.

For Reflection: How have you been able to get more in touch with yourself or your own spiritual practices, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic? And, how do you feel particularly called to take action in your life during this time?

Episode Sponsor: St. Ann’s Episcopal Church - Wherever you are in your quest for belief, St. Ann’s welcomes you. They are a diverse, open and accepting community of faith that seeks and serves Christ in all persons, working for a just and inclusive world by embracing the risks of ministry and leadership as they encounter God in scripture, tradition and prayer. St. Ann's affirms and welcomes the full participation of LGBTQIA+ folks in the life, leadership, and sacraments of their church. Located in East Nashville. Worship with St. Ann's online on Sundays. Just visit stannsnashville.org to learn more.

Resources: The “spotlight” investigation mentioned refers largely to the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Since that story broke in 2002, numerous additional scandals in the Catholic Church have unfolded. The Book of Esther was also mentioned, which you can read in its entirety on Bible Gateway.

Oct 08, 202051:08

Alan Whitley and the God Of Compassion

Our Spring Finale! We’ll return with new episodes this Fall.

Raised Catholic and a native to Nashville, TN, Alan now has a home in the United Methodist Church. He works at Cumberland Heights, an alcohol and drug treatment center in Nashville, where he specializes in substance abuse.

My conversation with Alan is a journey of finding self-worth that I know so many of us go through. After coming out, Alan struggled with his faith to the point that he turned to drugs and alcohol. He went into recovery and will celebrate seven years of sobriety next month. He has since found a home in Glendale United Methodist Church which has put meaning and ministry back into his life.

Find Alan on Facebook and Instagram.

For Reflection: 1.) Recall a time when you felt like you were at your lowest. Where did you turn? How did you get back up? 2.) How does religion inform your view or yourself? Do you view yourself positively or negatively? Has that shifted recently or in recent years? If so, how?

Episode Sponsor: Glendale United Methodist Church - Glendale UMC is inclusive, affirming, and reconciling, a community that shares God's love for all people. Glendale UMC is a faith community that includes people of many diverse backgrounds and faith journeys – old and young, raised in the church, new to church, those from other denominations and faith traditions, and some who question it all. Come as you are to worship on Sundays at 10:00 AM in-person (when it is healthy to do so) or online at GlendaleUMC.org/Live. And be sure to find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Resources: Based on this conversation, Greg recommends reading: People of a Compassionate God, edited by Janet F. Fishburn, which tells several accounts of churches becoming more open and affirming to various populations. Also check out, Cumberland Heights (Website) and Hot Mess Sports (Website), which were both mentioned in the episode.

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member and receive exclusive content and merchandise. Or leave a one-time donation on our website. Editing by Cariad Harmon. Theme music by JP Rugierri. Special Thanks on this episode to Will Potter, and again to Cariad Harmon, for sound consulting as we record from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jun 25, 202050:48

Rev. Dawn Bennett and Finding Self-Affirmation

Dawn is a queer female Lutheran pastor, recently ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (also known as ELCA). Her family is truly, as she would say, a "rainbow family." Her own siblings as well as her own children have come out to her throughout her life.

We delve into a discussion about her coming out later in life, and responding to a call to be a pastor 20 years after she had first heard it. Dawn is a proud queer woman who has come into her own and accepted her entire self. She now serves the Nashville and Middle TN areas through a new ELCA Lutheran collective called, The Table. And her gender pronouns are she/her/hers.

Find Dawn on Facebook and Instagram.

For Reflection - When have you felt like a part of you had been rejected by someone else? How did you respond? Who makes you feel whole and accepted, and how did they do that?

Episode Sponsor - The Table: Promoting spiritual well being for LGBTQIA+ and minority people groups in the exploration of self, faith, community and the deeper issues of being and belonging. A transgender support group meets twice a month and a Dinner & Devotion will be coming later this summer. To learn more, visit thetablenashville.org, or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Resource Mentioned - Vanderbilt Divinity School: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Editing by Cariad Harmon

Music by JP Rugierri

Recorded at We Own This Town in Nashville, TN

Jun 11, 202043:27

Wesley King and Letting the Questions In

Wesley was raised Southern Baptist in Alabama, and now finds himself as the Minister of Music at Eastwood Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ church here in Nashville. Wesley has his Bachelors of Education in music from the University of Alabama, and is currently attending Lexington Theological Seminary. He's also the incoming Artistic Director for the local affirming choir, Nashville in Harmony. Wesley identifies as gay, with the gender pronouns he/him/his.

Our conversation is a journey through Wesley's gradual shift from the strict and literal adherence to scripture growing up, to asking questions about everything, particularly when he arrived here in Nashville. As he's been able to be more true to himself and how he identifies, we hear him living into his role as a minister at his church and in his community.

Find Wesley on Instagram and on Tumblr.

For Reflection: How have your beliefs changed over your lifetime? And how do you manage conversations today with those who believe differently from you?

Episode Sponsor: West End United Methodist Church - In-person worship times are Sundays at 8:45AM and 11AM. To learn more and view their livestream worship, visit westendumc.org or give them a follow on Facebook.

Resources:

Nashville in Harmony: Website and Instagram
Sweet Home Symphony: Facebook and Instagram

Editing by Cariad Harmon

Music by JP Rugierri

Recorded at We Own This Town in Nashville, TN

May 28, 202052:38

Kashif Andrew Graham and His Deliverance

My conversation with Kashif Andrew Graham ebbs and flows through his experience of coming out to his pentecostal family and friends, as well as institutions here in the south. In what he refers to as his "deliverance years," Kashif has gone from praying that God would change his sexuality to thanking God for being gay. His story is one of moving away from shame and into acceptance, with strong doses of reality that are refreshingly punctuated by laughter.

As a librarian for religion and theology at Vanderbilt University's Divinity Library, Kashif carries a reverence for the written word. He reminded me of that old adage, that you are what you read. And he shares with us the story of how the small but powerful gesture of handing a book to someone at just the right moment has the power to change us at our core.

Kashif identifies as a queer Jamaican American, with the gender pronouns he/him/his.

Find Kashif on Instagram, @kashifandrewgraham

And follow his poetry on Instagram, @kagwrites

For Reflection: Have you ever needed to be delivered from a belief that was harmful to you, and how did that unfold? How does it feel for someone to affirm you entirely for who you are? Who has been a positive guiding light for you in your life? Name a book that fundamentally changed how you viewed yourself. What did you do differently after reading it?

Books Mentioned: The Birth of the Living God by Ana-Maria Rizzuto, The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World by Alan Downs, How to Survive a Summer by Nick White, Boy Erased by Garrard Conley, God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationship by Matthew Vines

Editing by Cariad Harmon

Music by JP Rugierri

Recorded at We Own This Town in Nashville, TN

May 14, 202051:56

Lindsey Dye and Being the "Right Kind of Christian"

Our Season 3 Premiere! Lindsey Dye is a Case Worker at the Mental Health Cooperative here in Nashville. Growing up Baptist, she struggled to find a church after coming out, eventually finding one in the United Methodist Church. Lindsey is from Mt. Juliet, TN, where it was difficult to find the resources she needed for support in coming out. Today, her focus is on guiding LGBTQIA+ youth through coming out and the journey beyond. She identifies as lesbian or gay, with the gender pronouns she/her/hers. Find Lindsey on Instagram, @lindseygayle.

For Discussion: When have you been told you had to be/act a certain way by your church, and how did that affect your view of yourself and your sexuality?

Full episode transcript available at outloudstories.com.

Episode Sponsor: Edgehill United Methodist Church - Worship times are Sundays at 8:15 AM (for a smaller contemplative service) and 10:45 AM (for a larger service with their choir). To learn more, visit edgehill.org.

Books:

Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee
Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality by Colby Martin

Organizations in Nashville:

Mental Health Resources, recommended by Lindsey:

Out Loud is a podcast by and for queer people of faith in the South. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our mailing list for updates. Support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member and receive exclusive content and merchandise. Or leave a one-time donation on our website. Editing by Cariad Harmon. Music by JP Rugierri. Recorded at We Own This Town in Nashville, TN.

Apr 30, 202051:35

Kelsey Davis on Self-Care and Gathering in Uncertain Times

Bonus Episode in response to the COVID-19 Health Crisis. Originally broadcasted March 26, 2020 on Instagram Live. Pardon the audio quality as this was not recorded in the studio.

How are you taking care of yourself? It's a question I ask most guests toward the end of their interview, and it's especially pertinent now.

In this bonus episode, I brought Kelsey Davis back on the show to share her thoughts about gathering and self-care during these uncertain times.

Since moving away from Tennessee, Kelsey has continued her work with emerging communities for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real in California. Most recently, she's been a part of the Theosophia Podcast, and in response to COVID-19, she’s also been hosting a regular night prayer online.

Our conversation touches on surprise happy hours with loved ones and yoga classes with landladies, and the new roles that we find ourselves in as hosts of so many new gatherings right now. Together we ponder how to create gatherings that are mutually beneficial even when we feel drained. Kelsey offers the refreshing advice of “We’ll see!” as we make new plans and let old ones go. We also discuss the importance of owning your own story and sticking to it, especially if you find yourself at home right now with unaffirming friends or family members.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did in the midst of these trying times.

We mentioned a few people and books/articles during our discussion:

Pete Rollins
“Reaching Out” by Henri Nouwen
Nadia Bolz-Weber: “A Mini Sermon in a Fearful Time,” Video / Manuscript
Mary Oliver: Poem “My Work Is Loving the World” from her collection of poetry, “Thirst”

Looking for more affirming resources right now? Head on over to my blog for a list of resources that I’m compiling with friends of the show.

Season 3 will return in April! To be in the know for when new episodes drop, follow @outloudstories on Facebook and Instagram, and while you’re at it join our mailing list, too! And consider becoming a Patron to help offset production costs and support this growing ministry of affirming resources for queer people of faith here in the south.

Mar 27, 202047:42

Emily Joy and Deconstructing Purity Culture

Our Season 2 Finale! Emily Joy is a poet, writer, and yoga teacher here in Nashville. She identifies as an embodied justice enthusiast which she describes as helping others make peace with their bodies. With an extensive online following, Emily co-founded the #churchtoo hashtag alongside Hannah Paasch, to address sexual abuse in church settings. Emily was raised in the fundamentalist evangelical church and identifies as gay with the gender pronouns she/her/hers.

Together, we discuss the fluidity of understanding her faith and sexuality and not sticking to just one category, as well as the impact purity culture has had in her life, her work to give voice to issues of sexual abuse in church settings, and the healing that has come from telling her own story to her followers.

We talk a lot about impurity culture on this episode. I'll let Emily Joy explain that as, "abstinence until heterosexual, monogamous marriage — or else. … Secondary characteristics of purity culture often include an emphasis on male leadership, modesty in clothing for women, and eschewing common ways of dating." (Source: Scarleteen.com)

Connect with Emily at emilyjoypoetry.com and on Instagram @emilyjoypoetry. Also, check out the Twitter thread where she shared her own story that sparked the #churchtoo hashtag. You can also learn more about how #churchtoo came into being on her website. And follow her latest work, "Impurity Culture" on Twitter @impurityculture.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

This concludes Season 2! Look for more episodes soon, and thanks to everyone who has helped support the production of the show. Got questions or other ideas while we're on break? Let us know at outloudstaff@gmail.com.

Jun 27, 201956:27

Damien-Pascal Domenack and Hope Outside Christianity

Damien is originally from Peru, and grew up in Southern CA raised in the Foursquare evangelical faith tradition. He eventually found himself in Nashville for his Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School concentrating in Latin American Studies, Religion and the Arts, as well as Gender and Sexuality studies. Damien is a founding member of The Audre Lorde Project’s TransJustice in New York City, and collectively organized the first ever Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice in New York. Damien has also worked in the Hospitality Industry for 15 years, from the Gramercy Park hotel restaurant in New York to a spot I love to visit called Pinewood Social here in Nashville. Damien identifies as queer and his gender pronouns are he/him/his.

From helping form a church as a child, to finding church in queer activist spaces as an adult, Damien finds hope in places both religious and secular. He reflects on his Afro-Peruvian heritage and embodied memory which has become the focus of his studies of Peruvian culture and how dance has been a form of worship for centuries and continues to be today.

Connect with Damien on Instagram @damienpascal.

We discuss the difference between "queer" and "bi/pan/fluid" at the top of the show. Here are some definitions to help from the Human Rights Campaign:

Queer: A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with "LGBTQ."
Bi: Emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
Pan: Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.

And being "fluid" recognizes that your attractions and orientation may change.

We also discuss different religious practices, like Santería, an originally African religion, and the Foursquare Church which developed out of mission-work abroad and evangelism in the US.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Jun 13, 201958:57

Live at Vanderbilt

Recorded live at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN, we reconnect with season 1 guests, Zack Eccleston, Maria Michonski, and Lee Catoe, about the importance of storytelling for LGBTQIA+ people of faith. Hearing their voices again was a reminder that our stories are never completely finished. We catch up with where they have been since their episodes from 2018, how telling their story on the show impacted them, and how they view their faith and their communities today.

Connect with the panel and listen to their original episodes:

Zack Eccleston (@zackleston), Episode 101
Maria Michonski (@mini_michonski), Episode 102
Lee Catoe (@locatoe), Episode 105

We mentioned a few resources throughout the episode, including Unashamed: A Coming Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians by Amber Cantorna and The Reformation Project by Matthew Vines. Also mentioned was the story of Jesus healing the Gerasene Demoniac (Mark 5:1-20).

This episode was recorded Live at the Vanderbilt Divinity School Arts Room:

Sound Assistance - Dave Perkins, Will Potter, Vanderbilt Institute for Digital Learning
Event Setup - Katie Minnis, Nate Partee
Food & Drink - Al's Pub

Poem: “Narrative Theology #1” used with permission of Pádraig Ó Tuama. Found in Readings from the Book of Exile, Pádraig Ó Tuama (Canterbury Press, 2012).

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

May 09, 201959:11

Lina Landström and Committing to the United Methodist Church

Lina is currently a Master of Theological Studies student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her gender pronouns are she/her/hers, identifying both as lesbian and queer. She is originally from Sweden where the Swedish Lutheran Church is the state church, and has become a member in the United Methodist Church since moving to the US.

Throughout our conversation, Lina demonstrates a resilience in her reaction to the recent General Conference vote by the Methodist Church that affirmed the church's doctrine against full LGBTQIA+ inclusion. We also discuss her hopes for marriage someday in the church, misconceptions about marriage for LGBTQIA+ people of faith, and her upcoming research trip to Eurovision, held in Israel this May.

Connect with Lina @landstromlina on Twitter and Instagram.

We discussed several items regarding the United Methodist Church. For an explanation on the outcomes of the 2019 General Conference vote regarding matters of LGBTQIA+ inclusion, visit umc.org. For ongoing updates regarding inclusion and churches that are stepping up as affirming despite the vote, follow the Reconciling Ministries Network. They have a long history of sustaining this conversation over the past four decades in the UMC. While you're there, you can also learn more about Bishop Karen Oliveto, who we mentioned on the show.

Also mentioned on the show was the Q Christian Fellowship. Learn more at qchristian.org. And if you've never heard of the Eurovision song contest, educate yourself at eurovision.tv.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Apr 25, 201957:33

Amber Cantorna and Coming Out Well into Christianity

Amber Cantorna is a national speaker and author dedicated to supporting LGBTQ people throughout their coming-out process. In her new book Unashamed: A Coming Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians, Amber tackles topics like finding an affirming faith community, deciding when and how to come out, and how to re-establish a relationship with God. She uses her platform to inspire others and works to dissolve shame, foster self-acceptance, and generate a message of love and inclusion for all.

Our conversation covers resources for coming out, understanding how loss and grief are incorporated in the coming out process, and a new-self care tip that you probably haven't heard of before.

Learn more about Amber at ambercantorna.com and follow her on Instagram at @amberncantorna.

Resources

Books: Unashamed: A Coming Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians by Amber Cantorna, Unclobber by Colby Martin, Changing Our Mind by David Gushee
Term: "Clobber Passages" are passages in the Bible that refer to homosexuality and have become the subject for debate between Christians for many years.
Organization: Q Christian Fellowship (QCF) is a great place to get connected with LGBTQIA+ Christians online and in person. Visit qchristian.org.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Apr 11, 201956:45

Rj Robles and Searching for a Home Church

Rj discuss their journey finding an affirming home church. Communities that seem to be inclusive and loving, sometimes do not live up to those statements. But Rj demonstrates for us a resilience, and an ongoing curiosity about how to honor trans lives in our churches. They identify as queer and transgender with the gender pronouns they/them/theirs.

Find Rj on Facebook. International Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31. Learn more.

Terms:

Queer - A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with "LGBTQ."
Genderqueer - Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.
Pansexual - Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.

Courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign.

Faith Denominations Mentioned: Morelight Presbyterians, New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Nashville, TN)

Trans Resources Mentioned in Nashville: Middle TN Transgender Support Group (TVALS), Southerners on New Ground (SONG), Transbuddy at Vanderbilt Medical Center

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Mar 28, 201957:30

Help Make Season 2 Happen

Out Loud is on its way back for a second season in 2019, but we need your help to make it happen. If you've been a fan of the show so far, I'd love to have your support on Patreon, a website dedicated to funding the lives of creators and artists.

Learn more and become a patron at patreon.com/outloudstories

Join our mailing list to be the first to know when new episodes drop for season two.

And be sure to follow @outloudstories on Facebook and Instagram.

Mar 14, 201902:02

Greg Thompson on Listening and Understanding

Our Season 1 Finale! Greg talks with his sister Meg McEllen, about coming out to himself, to his family, and to the Catholic Church. The issue of identity arises, and whether faith or sexuality can fully define us. We also discuss the prospect of talking to people of other faiths, and forging conversation past differences to commonalities.

Greg Thompson is a student at Vanderbilt Divinity School pursuing his Masters in Theological Studies with a focus on Religion and the Arts. He studies LGBT issues in the Catholic Church through a lens of storytelling and new media. Greg's gender pronouns are he/him/his, and he identifies as gay and Roman Catholic.

Learn more about Greg at gregthompsonmedia.com and follow him on Instagram @gregthompson_17

This episode's interview was recorded at Full Circle Recording, in Chester, VA.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Oct 25, 201801:16:35

Lee Catoe Gets Real About Body Image

Lee Catoe offers his reflections on the role body image plays in the LGBTQI community, and how we can begin to seek out the divine in one another. While studying Pre-Med at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, Lee began to realize that his call to helping others had less to do with medicine, and more to do with ordained ministry. As a gay man now seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church USA, Lee currently serves as a supply pastor for local congregations in Middle TN. He's also in his final year at Vanderbilt Divinity School pursuing a Masters of Divinity, and his gender pronouns are he/him/his.

Until somewhat recently, the Presbyterian Church did not ordain LGBTQI-identifying folks. Lee's role as a minister opens up a conversation of how to serve people in your community who may disagree with you, or may disagree with your entire identity.

Find Lee on Instagram, Soundcloud, and on his podcast, Breaking Church.

Be sure to visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, join our mailing list for updates, and become a Patreon member for exclusive content and merchandise.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Oct 11, 201850:16

Luther Young and Sexuality as a Spiritual Gift

Luther and I discuss black liberation theology and reimagining scripture, as well as the difficulties in coming out to his family, and being seen as a fully participating member of his church.

Luther grew up in South Carolina with a love of music that brought him to Nashville, to study Audio Engineering at Belmont University. While he has continued to perform, sing, and play, he is also a recent graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School with his Masters in Divinity. Luther was raised Pentecostal, and is now part of the Disciples of Christ. He identifies as bisexual, and goes by gender pronouns he/him/his.

Find Luther at lutheryoung.com and on Instagram @lutheryoung.

Books:

Their Own Receive Them Not by Horace Griffin
Sexuality and the Black Church: A Womanist Perspective by Kelly B. Douglas
Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South by E. Patrick Johnson

Terms:

Gender Binaries: Defining gender in a binary of male and female exclusively. (More queer terminology at the Human Rights Campaign.)
Biblical Exegesis: Just a fancy term for interpreting the Bible, and examining it through various scholarly lenses.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Sep 27, 201859:53

Kelsey Davis and Showing Up to our Community

Kelsey shares her perspective as being both queer and Episcopalian. Fresh off of graduating from Vanderbilt Divinity School with her Masters in Divinity, she's about to begin a new role as "Curator for Emerging Communities" for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real in CA. She shares with us her journey of coming out into Christianity which came only shortly after coming out to herself and beginning to date girls. After a career in pro soccer, her values of teamwork continue to inform how she commits herself to her communities.

Find Kelsey on Instagram @kelseyl_davis and in collaboration with the Theosophia podcast @theosophiapodcast.

Terms: Spiritual Direction, Pub Churches, Contemplative Eucharist

Books: These Are Our Bodies by Leslie Choplin and Jenny Beaumont, and A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth by Cody J. Sanders.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Jun 21, 201857:12

Maria Michonski and How Catholicism Won't Let Go of Her

Maria identifies as pansexual and has grown up Roman Catholic. She shares with us her experiences coming out within her campus ministry in undergraduate and seeking out a new community of worship with her husband. Maria now studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, pursuing her Masters in Divinity.

During our conversation a few terms came up that some listeners may want a second look at:

Cisgender (or Cis) - "used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth."

Transgender (or Trans) - "An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc."

Pansexual - "Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree."

Definitions provided by the Human Rights Campaign.

A few other topics came up regarding Catholicism, specifically, which you can learn more about below: Jesuit Spirituality (or Ignatian Spirituality), Jesuit Education, Pope Francis' 2015 remarks on gender theory, Independent Catholicism, and the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. Finally, Maria mentions a new initiative at Vanderbilt Divinity School: the Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Jun 07, 201801:01:44

Zack Eccleston and Reconciliation Through Empathy

Zack speaks with us about coming out and his understanding of masculinity early on in life, while also developing his understanding of the Bible as a student of theology. After finding a spiritual home in the Church of Christ, Zack aims to help others who struggle to reconcile faith with sexuality. A musician at heart, he also shares with us about how he expresses himself on this journey of self-discovery.

A Note for Children and Parents of Children: We discuss some adult situations in this episode, which you can skip by jumping ahead to minute 8:15.

In our conversation, Zack mentioned these authors and poets:

God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines (@VinesMatthew)
"Against Dying"and "What Seems Like Joy"by Iranian-American poet, Kaveh Akbar (@kavehakbar)
"How to Say"by Safia Elhillo (@mafiasafia) who gave us this quote during the show: "How dare I love a word without knowing it in Arabic."

And be sure to follow Zack @zackleston on Instagram.

Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

May 24, 201855:03

Coming Out May 24

Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app to join us for our first season starting May 24.
Learn more at our website, outloudstories.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Artist: audionautix.com/

May 16, 201801:54