The Forbidden Apple: LGBTQ+ SPIRITUALITY

  In this episode, hosts Melissa and Zahra, are joined by Dr. Sara Glass, psychologist and author of  Kissing Girls on Shabbat . Dr. Glass’s journey from an insular religious community to embracing her true self is both profound and inspiring. We delve into her personal experiences with coming out, going back into the closet, and ultimately finding self-acceptance. We also explore our journeys thr...

In this episode of The Forbidden Apple Podcast , hosts Melissa Weisz and Zahra Ladak discuss navigating family and tradition as queer folks raised in religious homes. Though they come from different faiths—Zahra from a Muslim home and Melissa from a Chasidic Jewish home—their paths are very much aligned. They share how they've become each other's family and explore how to build a home that doesn’t...

Melissa Weisz, born and raised a Chasidic Jew welcomes new cohost Zahra Ladak, a Muslim born and raised in the US with deep East African/ Indian roots.  Throughout this season, Melissa and Zahra will discuss the parallels they've discovered in their lives. Expect engaging discussions on the complexities of navigating queerness and religious identity. From the meaning of home to the challenges of l...

In Part II of this Episode, Bishop Tolton talks about his mission of creating Interconnected Justice (ICJ)- a global racial justice movement in which the continent of Africa and its diaspora build an ecosystem of self-defined and determined advocacy. Bishop Tolton works directly with leaders to build integrated justice movements connecting activists with civil society advocates, media professional...

Bishop Joseph Tolton is a legendary global faith leader and the Founder and President of Interconnected Justice - a global racial justice movement in which the continent of Africa and its diaspora build an ecosystem of self-defined and determined advocacy. Bishop Tolton shares the complexities of growing up in Harlem as a promising preacher kid with an inner conflict: feeling the devil had planted...

The inimitable Dr. Stella Nyanzi is a Ugandan queer feminist activist, human rights advocate, poet, medical anthropologist, and scholar of sexuality, family planning, and public health. At the time of our recording, Stella speaks to us from Kenya where she is taking refuge due to the current regime in Uganda where she is unsafe as a very vocal opposition. Stella shares with us about her work being...

Mary Muthui is a human rights activist from Kenya. She shares the stigma and violence she faced being noticeably queer, and what gave her the strength and courage to fight for herself and others. Mary talks to us about the practice of corrective rape- which is unfortunately common practice against LGBTQ individuals specifically lesbians. Mary survived this sexual violence against her and is an out...

Coréon Dú is an award-winning Angolan recording artist, creative director, designer, screenwriter and producer.  Coréon shares how he started creating much-needed entertainment for folks his own age in Angola, and how he became a leading voice on the forefront of change with his revolutionary content. We discuss the far-reaching impact his work has had on the representation of the LGBTQ community...

Val Kalende is an activist and founding member of Uganda's LGBTQ MOVEMENT. Val helped launch Freedom and Roam Uganda-FARUG. She shares how taking the risk to be visible has paid off in advancing LGBTQ rights in Uganda. Val opens up about her journey of going back into the closet after being a vocal LGBTQ activist to undergo conversion therapy. Her journey is one of struggle and hope and finally co...

Edafe Okporo is a global gay rights activist, the founder of Refuge America , and one of the most visible voices on the issue of displacement.   Edafe grew up in Nigeria where religion played an important role in his childhood.  Edafe shares how he was guided to pray the gay away and how he became a pentecostal pastor in this effort.  An interaction with an older closeted priest made him realize h...

Aderonke is a Nigerian LGBTQ Activist and the founder of African Rainbow Family charity- a UK-Based organization that supports LGBTIQ people of African heritage and the wider Black and Asian Minority Ethnic groups.  Aderonke was born and raised in Nigeria where being gay is illegal. When she was found to be a lesbian she suffered intense persecution. Aderonke fled to the UK to seek asylum. Despite...

Luzie talks about her struggle growing up as a Lesbian in Kenya. She opens up about the spiritual violence she suffered and being made to believe that it's demonic to be attracted to the same sex. Luzie shines a light on how gay clubs become a safe haven for many LGBTQ folks- drinking to numb the pain- and even more dire, using it as place to sleep when they become homeless once they're rejected a...

Ezra Chitando is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Zimbabwe and co-author of “Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa”.   Ezra serves as Theology Consultant on HIV and AIDS with EHAIA, the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy, of the World Council of Churches. Ezra talks about the importance of diversity of opinions and how education helps in the fig...

Cedric Tchante is an activist, marketing coordinator and blogger from Cameroon, currently living in San Francisco.    Cedric talks about growing up in Cameroon where being gay is illegal. He shares how he became a vocal activist and appeared in the documentary “Born This Way”.  A first in Cameroon, this documentary showed the faces of LGBTQ folks talking about their sexuality.    With the document...

Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile is a performance artist, musician, writer and LGBT artivist from Botswana. She is known for being the first public figure from Botswana to openly identify as trans. Katlego is also the first-ever TED Fellow from Botswana.  Katlego talks about the biggest misconceptions from the western media about LGBTQ folks in Botswana.  She shares her personal journey and talks pa...

Ssenfuka Joanita Warry (Biggie) is the Executive Director of Freedom and Roam Uganda FARUG which is a Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer diverse persons and women's rights organization based in Uganda.  FARUG’s mission is to strengthen and mobilize the voice, visibility, and collective organizing power of LBQ womxn in order to change the norms, institutions, policies, and practices that perpetuate inequa...

Bis Alimi is a Nigerian gay rights activist, public speaker, blog writer, and HIV/LGBT advocate who gained international attention when he became the first Nigerian to come out on television. Bisi shares about how coming out on tv caused him to be driven out of his country and shaped his life and the legacy he is creating. He also opens up about his struggles and the journey he went through to bec...

After two years of exploring the relationship between LGBTQ people and religion, TFA is traveling abroad.  In this new season we amplify LGBTQ voices from African countries. We will hear from people who have survived gender-based violence and corrective rape, live with HIV in Africa, and those who risked their lives to work towards legalizing homosexuality in their countries.  They share these sto...

On this final episode of The Nuanced Series , your hosts look back on the lessons learned throughout this season. From listening to others perspectives to giving ourselves permission to think differently, Melissa and Pelayo discuss how to engage in difficult yet meaningful conversations. Thank you all so much for listening. The Forbidden Apple Podcast will be back in the fall . Follow us @thhttps:...

Singer/songwriter Grace Semler Baldridge shares with us their journey from being a preacher's kid to charting on Christian music charts as an openly queer artist. Grace shares how they deconstructed and reconstructed their faith coming out stronger on the other side with a deeper and more connected spirituality. We discuss music, inspiration and relationships.  Follow Semler @ https://www.instagra...

Melissa sits down with Rabbi James, Director of social justice programming at CBST to discuss being a queer liberal Jew in 2021. We discuss how it may seem at odds to stand up for more than one people's pain and our steadfast belief that all people should be free and live safely without fear. We discuss the harmful stereotypes about the Jewish people, the rise in antisemitism, and how it mutates f...

Melissa and Pelayo discuss 2021 Pride and the decision of the organization that runs New York’s Pride to ban cops from the parade. Do you feel safer without cops at the pride parade? We wanna hear from our community so let us know your thoughts on this via our Instagram @theforbiddenapplepodcast or email info@theforbiddenapplepodcast.com   Sink your teeth into... www.theforbiddenapplepodcast.com  

What if the word homosexual was never meant to be in the bible? Sharon Rocky Roggio, producer and director of the documentary film 1946 joins us to discuss the film that chronicles how the misuse of a single word changed the course of modern history. Rocky also shares her personal struggle and her complex relationship with her dad, a conservative pastor, and her hope that this film heals and preve...

Penny Cost, a drag queen in the process of getting ordained by the Methodist Church, shares how her ordination has caused “chaos” in the church. While she has received support from her church she has also received backlash from conservative Methodists. Penny wants to use drag and carnivalesque performance to transform the church into a more accepting and welcoming space for LGBT folks. Check out M...

Ross Murray from GLAAD, Yass, Jesus! podcast and the Naming Project is back on the pod! His new book ”Made, Known, Loved” shows congregations how to create a program that affirms LGBTQ youth. How can we transform religious spaces into more welcoming environments and guide future leaders? Listen to find out! Order this important book. Find it anywhere you buy your books and on www.rossmurray.org  ...