If you're LGBTQ+ and Christian, you've probably experienced religious trauma—rejection from church, kicked out of ministry, told you're going to hell, or living a double life hiding who you are. You're not alone, and you're NOT broken.

I read dozens of stories from LGBTQ Christians daily, and the pain from Church abuse is heartbreaking but the healing is REAL. This episode is for every gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or queer person who still loves God but has been wounded by His people.

💔 REAL LGBTQ STORIES SHARED:

• Trans woman forced into military by parents, sexually assaulted, then fired from school job for being trans

• Sunday school teacher excommunicated after 10+ years of faithful service—just for coming out

• Gay Catholic altar boy standing next to a priest who says LGBTQ people belong in mental institutions

• Christian educator living a double life, hiding her identity to keep her job

• I was personally excluded from part of my mission trip to Thailand for being gay (even though I was closeted at the time)

📊 THE 3 THINGS WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH:

1. Rejection, judgment, and harm from the church

2. Reconciling faith and LGBTQ identity ("Can I be fully myself AND fully Christian?")

3. Long-term emotional/mental health trauma (anxiety, depression, shame)

✝️ THE TRUTH:You are NOT worse than anyone else. You're covered by God's grace. Being LGBTQ is NOT a sin. You deserve love, dignity, and a place in the church. God is NOT ashamed of you.

🌈 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

✓ Why religious abuse happens to LGBTQ people in churches

✓ How to heal from spiritual trauma and shame

✓ The connection between LGBTQ rights and the Civil Rights Movement

✓ Why allies matter and how they can help

✓ Bible verses for the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18, Matthew 11:28)

✓ Homework: Do something just for you and God this week

💡 KEY MESSAGES:

• The church has weaponized 6 Bible verses against LGBTQ people

• Kicking someone out of ministry for being gay is religious abuse—period

• LGBTQ people are NOT more dangerous, perverted, or spiritually corrupt

• You can't "pray away" being gay—it ends in exhaustion and crisis

• Manifesting yourself out of shame doesn't work—community and healing do

🏳️‍🌈 YOU ARE NOT ALONE: This community is resilient. You didn't walk away from God even after how His people treated you. That's powerful. And God sees you, loves you, and is walking with you every single day.

📚 RESOURCES:

• LGBTQ Healing & Resource Guide: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth

• Submit your story: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - You Are Not Alone

2:30 - Take a Breath: You're Covered by Grace

7:00 - Trans Woman's Heartbreaking Story

10:30 - Sunday School Teacher Excommunicated

12:25 - Why Being Gay Doesn't Disqualify You

15:10 - Living a Double Life at Work

17:20 - MLK & the LGBTQ Movement

23:30 - Gay Catholic Altar Boy's Pain

25:30 - The 3 Things We ALL Struggle With

31:00 - Hope is Still Present33:00 - Bible Verses for Healing

35:00 - Prayer for the LGBTQ Community

💬 COMMENT BELOW:Which story resonated with you most? What's YOUR experience with church and being LGBTQ? Let's heal together.

👍 If this helped you feel less alone, please like and subscribe. New episodes every Sunday at 11 AM.

🔔 Turn on notifications so you don't miss future episodes.You can be LGBTQ. You can be Christian. You can be BOTH. 🏳️‍🌈✝️

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Why do I call myself a "gay Christian"? Is it wrong to identify as LGBTQ+ and a person of faith?

In this episode, I tackle one of the most controversial questions in the Christian LGBTQ community: Can you identify as both gay AND Christian without compromising your faith?

Many Christians argue we should find our identity solely in Christ, but does that mean we have to deny who we are? In this episode, I break down:

✅ The difference between IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, and DESCRIPTORS

✅ Why sexual orientation is NOT a sin and what the Bible REALLY says about homosexuality

✅ The truth about those "6 clobber passages" and how they've been mistranslated

✅ Why the word "homosexual" wasn't even in the Bible until 1946

✅ How coming out of the shadows and living authentically strengthens your faith

✅ What it means to truly find your identity in Christ while being honest about who you are

This episode is for anyone struggling to reconcile their LGBTQ+ identity with their Christian faith. Whether you're in the closet, recently out, or supporting someone on this journey—this message is for you.

📖 RESOURCE: Download my 51-page healing guide for LGBTQ+ people of faith: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth

💬 STRUGGLING? Email me or leave a comment—you're not alone in this journey.

👍 If this message resonated with you, give it a thumbs up and share with someone who needs to hear this.

🙏 PRAYER: At the end of this episode, I pray over everyone listening who's been rejected by the church, family, or friends. God loves you, is proud of you, and your identity is secure in Him.

📅 New episodes every Sunday at 11 AM!

Follow us on on TikTok and Instagram: @YouCanBeBoth⁩

You can find my music on Spotify/Apple Music/Youtube ⁨@LaurenLanzaretta⁩

#GayChristian #LGBTQFaith #ChristianLGBTQ #ProgressiveChristianity #AffirmingChristian #QueerChristian #ComingOut #ReligiousTrauma #BiblicalInterpretation #FaithAndSexuality #YouCanBeBoth #LGBTQChurch #GayAndChristian #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #LGBTQMinistry #AffirmingTheology #QueerTheology #ReligiousDeconstruction #ChristianIdentity

GET THE RESOURCE GUIDE HERE: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth

Welcome to You Can Be Both — the podcast for LGBTQ+ Christians, gay Christians, and anyone navigating faith and sexuality while healing from religious trauma, church hurt, and rejection.

In this New Year episode, Lauren shares how we’re moving from confusion to clarity in 2026. If you’ve ever wondered “Can I be Christian and LGBTQ?” or felt stuck between your identity and your faith, this conversation is for you. We talk about what it really takes to heal, rebuild confidence, and deepen your relationship with God—without shrinking who you are.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What “confusion to clarity” means for LGBTQ people of faith in 2026

• How community and testimony help us heal from evangelical trauma, Catholic guilt, and spiritual abuse

• Why understanding Bible context and translation matters (and why Lauren plans to bring on guests who can unpack “clobber verses,” theology, and Scripture interpretation)

• The 3-step healing framework: get educated, get connected, and start healing

• How to release what’s holding you back in 2026: addiction and coping behaviors, approval-seeking, and toxic relationships

• Why you don’t need permission from pastors, parents, or church culture to be okay with God

• Practical next steps: finding affirming churches, following helpful creators, getting therapy support, and using journaling prompts for healing and future visionLauren also shares big plans for 2026, including guest interviews, TikTok Lives, Zoom community calls, and future live events built around worship, healing, testimonies, and connection.

To close, Lauren leads a guided Christian meditation for healing—an imaginative prayerful exercise centered on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—followed by Psalm 23, and a heartfelt community prayer for freedom from depression, addiction, shame, and abusive relationships.

📌 RESOURCE GUIDE (Confusion to Clarity Healing Guide): Lauren created a downloadable healing guide for LGBTQ+ people of faith packed with books, podcasts, affirming church resources, therapist support ideas, and journaling prompts to help you start your healing journey.

GET THE RESOURCE GUIDE HERE: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth

The book she mentioned called "Letting Go" (which is also in the resource guide) can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/49kYwcu

📩 Share your testimony / join the community: Submit your email + location in the form below so you can get updates about lives, Zoom calls, and upcoming events/tour dates: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz

If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share—it helps this message reach other LGBTQ+ Christians who feel alone. You are loved. God loves you. And you are not alone.

🔔 New episodes every Sunday at 11am

🎧 Also available on all podcast platforms

For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!‪@YouCanBeBoth‬ ‪@LaurenLanzaretta‬

#LGBTQChristian #GayChristian #YouCanBeBoth #Deconstruction #ReligiousTrauma #ChurchHurt #AffirmingChurch #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndSexuality #HealingJourney #christianmeditation