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For far too many LGBTQ+ people, religion has been used as a weapon–a source of shame, exclusion, and deep spiritual wounds. Many have been told they are “incompatible with scripture,” and some have left their faith communities altogether just to protect their own well-being. Today In the Den, Sara sits down with Reformation Project founder Matthew Vines, who offers an invitation to re-read the Bible with fresh eyes, to separate tradition from truth, and to imagine a church where everyone is welcomed without condition.

Special Guest: Matthew Vines

Matthew Vines is the Founder and Executive Director of The Reformation Project and the author of God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships. He lives in Dallas, Texas. Matthew attended Harvard University from 2008 to 2010. He then took a leave of absence in order to research the Bible and same-sex relationships. In March 2012, Matthew gave a speech at a church in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, about the Bible and same-sex relationships, calling for acceptance of gay Christians and their marriage relationships. The video of the speech was viewed more than a million times on YouTube, leading to a feature story in The New York Times that fall. In 2013, Matthew launched The Reformation Project, a Bible-based, Christian non-profit organization that works to advance an orthodox and affirming vision for the church while remaining grounded in a love for God, a love for the Bible, and a love for the church. The Reformation Project hosts a variety of events, including a conference, a Parents in Process group, a Pastors in Process group, and leadership training cohorts.

Links from the Show:

• God and the Gay Christian: https://bookshop.org/p/books/god-and-the-gay-christian-the-biblical-case-in-support-of-same-sex-relationships-matthew-vines/6425211?ean=9781601425188&next=t
• Find more about Matthew here: https://matthewvines.com/about/
• Matthew’s speech on gay Christians: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY
• The Reformation Project: http://www.reformationproject.org/
• New York Times article on Matthew’s speech: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/fashion/matthew-vines-wont-rest-in-defending-gay-christians.html
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org

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Imagine a world where queer and trans youth have safety, autonomy, joy, and the chance to live into their fullest potential. It’s a world we Mama Dragons all dream of for our queer kids. Our guests today are from an organization called Queer Youth Assemble that is not just dreaming it, but making it happen–through marches, walkouts, protests, creative activism, and community resources. This week In the Den, Sara visits with three young people who are sparking change from coast to coast.

Special Guest: Pluto or Snail

Pluto or Snail uses he/it pronouns and is trans masc and gay, though semi-questioning his sexuality. He has been out to his family since 5th grade, going through many different sexualities and genders until around his 10th grade year. Pluto has now graduated from high school.

Special Guest: Zadyn Higgins

Zadyn Higgins is an 18 year old queer and trans activist. Zadyn has been with Queer Youth Assemble for a few years now but has had a lifelong involvement in activism.

Special Guest: Esmée Silverman

Esmée Silverman (they/she) is a nationally renowned queer activist, community organizer, and changemaker. Described as a spark of creativity, Esmée has used her unique personality and lived experiences as a non-binary asexual woman to improve the lives of queer & trans youth through events, protests, education, and other endeavors. They currently serve as the co-president of Queer Youth Assemble, a non-profit she co-founded to bring autonomy and joy to all queer & trans youth across the United States.

Links from the Show:

• Find Queer Youth Assemble here: https://queeryouthassemble.org/
• Donate to Queer Youth Assemble: https://queeryouthassemble.org/donations/1738/
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.

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For far too many LGBTQ+ people, the idea of changing who they are has been forced upon them—through family pressure, faith communities, or the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. These programs, often cloaked in the language of care or religious devotion, have left deep wounds on survivors—shame, trauma, and fractured relationships with themselves and others. Today In the Den, Sara visits with Dr. Lucas Wilson, editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy, a powerful collection of 17 survivor accounts—including his own—shedding light on the emotional and psychological fallout of conversion practices. Together they explore what conversion therapy looks like in practice, how survivors navigate the lasting impacts, and why storytelling is such a powerful tool for healing and change.

Special Guest: Lucas Wilson

Lucas Wilson is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto Mississauga and was formerly the Justice, Equity, and Transformation Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary. He is the editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy, as well as the author of At Home with the Holocaust: Postmemory, Domestic Space, and Second-Generation Holocaust Narratives, which received the Jordan Schnitzer First Book Publication Award. He is currently working on a new literary anthology about queer experiences in Christian higher education, tentatively entitled Don’t Ask, Tell All: Stories of Christian Colleges’ Anti-Queer Regimes.

Links from the Show:

• Find Shame-Sex Attraction here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shame-sex-attraction-survivors-stories-of-conversion-therapy-lucas-wilson/21360797?ean=9781805011323&next=t
• Find At Home with the Holocaust here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/at-home-with-the-holocaust-postmemory-domestic-space-and-second-generation-holocaust-narratives-lucas-f-w-wilson/21705604?ean=9781978839816&next=t
• Find Lucas on IG/Threads/TikTok: @lukeslamdunkwilson
• Lucas on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lukeslamdunkwilson.bsky.social
• Lucas on FB: www.facebook.com/luke.wilson.96
• Lucas on Twitter/X: https://x.com/wilson_fw
• Lucas at LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-wilson-2a0753b1/
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.

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