
Jonathan Brower, MA
Episode 5

Father Michael Cassabon
Episode 3
Michael Cassabon, a native of the Bible Belt in South Carolina, served in parish ministry as a Roman Catholic priest for nearly ten years. He attended seminary at the Vatican, and studied theology and church law at the Jesuit and Opus Dei universities in Rome. He received another degree in theology from Duke Divinity School. Michael left ministry shortly after coming to terms with the abuse he suffered as a teenager by another priest. Ironically, this information came to the surface when Michael was forced into therapy by the Church when it was discovered that he was gay.

Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M.
Episode 1
A civil rights & LGBTQ icon, Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M., is the Founder and Executive Director of Rainbow Faith and Freedom, and Senior Pastor Emeritus of Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, where he was at the forefront of ministry to the LGBTIQ2S community for over 40 years. On January 14, 2001, he officiated at the first legal same sex marriages in the world. He received the Order of Canada, the Order of New Brunswick and three honorary degrees for his stand on social justice and human rights within the LGBTIQ2S communities.
All aren’t welcome: S01E26
All aren’t welcome Hello and welcome to Episode 26 of This Little Light Of Mine. My name is James Powell and I’m glad that you’re able to join me for today’s story episode, ‘All aren’t welcome’. I always dreamed that there would be peace on the other side of...
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NOT DEFINING – WITH MARK & VIC FROM @NOTDEFINING: S01E25
Is orientation static? Does it change over time? Is it fluid? Does your orientation automatically indicate who you’re having sex with? On today’s episode I’m joined with orientation advocate Mark Smith and his wife Victoria. Mark runs a support site for anyone struggling with their orientation. He has an expanded heart and focus on humans who may be questioning, undefined, changing, Bi+, or fluid.
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Toxic outing: S01E24
Coming out – I sat in a chair facing my parents who sat on opposite ends of a sofa on the other side of the room. With one glance at my mom’s already watering eyes I knew that I was about to be devastated.
My father spoke the words, ‘We have reasons to believe that you may be struggling with same-sex attraction’
This is the start of my toxic outing.
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Toxic Jesus – with Marc-Henri Sandoz Paradella: S01E23
Have you been influenced by a toxic Jesus? These idols are born out of oppressive systems that seek to manipulate, control and guilt trip the individual.
Following these idols creates a toxic spirituality that perpetuates harm, covers up the wounds, spiritually bypasses, hides the truth, avoids facing reality, and rejects the pain.
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Validate me: S01E22
External validation was the intoxicating drug that I used as a life support for my flat lining self-esteem. And damn, that drug works great! But what I didn’t realize was how addictive it was. Once I got a taste of positive external validation I couldn’t stop.
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Beloved Arise: S01E21
One of the things I’m most thankful for in 2020 was being introduced to a space that I could have only have dreamed about when I was a teen: BELOVED ARISE!
Beloved Arise is a movement that fights for the lives of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who have been rejected or marginalized by their faith communities.
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Supposed to love Christmas: S01E20
As we head towards Christmas I want to share 7 Holiday survival tips for LGBTQ2S+ Christians or for anyone who might have all the happy joyous feelings that we’re ‘supposed to’ have at this time of year.
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Goodbye, all done: S01E19
Drifting towards suicide: At more than one point in my life I thought it would be easier to leave this world than to feel my feelings, follow my God given Knowing, speak out against those I considered to be in ‘control’ and to share my truth.
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Scapegoat – with June Joplin: S01E18
Meet transgender pastor, radical truth-teller and scapegoat, Junia (June) Joplin.
A scapegoat is a truth teller in a family, company or community. They are the ones that will verbalize or act out “the problem” that others are attempting to cover up or deny.
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In the shadows: S01E17
I am terrified about stepping out of the shadows and sharing these next few story episodes with you. Ever since starting TLLOM I’ve been pushing these episodes to the back of my mind by telling myself… they are months away… just focus on the episode in front of you. And now we’re here. It’s time for another part of me to step out of the shadows.
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