Julie Rodgers is a writer, speaker, and leader in the movement working for full inclusion for LGBTQ people in Christian communities. She played a significant role in shutting down Exodus International, the largest conversion therapy organization in the world, and she was also the first openly gay person to be hired by an evangelical Christian college. She is featured in Pray Away (2020), a documentary about the movement to pray the gay away. Her writing has been featured in Sojourners, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time. She lives with her wife in Washington, DC.
Her new book, Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story, is a memoir of her experience growing up evangelical, while knowing she was gay. It’s about love and losses, political and religious power-plays, and the cost to those who sought to stay in a faith community that wouldn’t accept them.
For more queer reflections on faith, public life, and chosen family, join Julie’s substack, Reimagining Belonging.
Topics Discussed:
- Faith & Identity: Lesbian, queer, Christian, cat mom with conflicting, complex faith
- Coming Out, Conversion, Coping: Julie didn’t want to change, but initially gave in
- Don’t be a part of something that makes you hate and harm yourself or others
- Who to trust? Choose to question or follow religious leaders or your own truth
- Breaking Point: Reality behind closed doors vs. belief that things are changing
- Pray the Gay Away: Story that is still present reality in today’s world
- Reasons for Disconnect: Lack of nuance and understanding in liberal spaces
- Save Yourself, Not Everyone: Don’t stay rooted in trauma; live and thrive
Links and Resources:
Julie Rodgers
Outlove
Pray Away
Reimagining Belonging
The Faith and Justice Network
The Trevor Project
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
Queerology releases every other Tuesday and is supported by its listeners via Patreon. Join in the conversation on Twitter: @queerologypod
Until next week,
-Matthias
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