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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Join Chad Rollo and I as we talk about deconstructing our faith and the importance of being in community with ‘fellow travellers’ as we journey this wild & windy (and often painful) road towards integrating our faith and sexuality after years of living behind a wall of shame & fear.