Reading the Rainbows

What do teens do when they realize they might be queer (LGBTQ+) and are also part of a faith community? There's a general belief that you can't be both: That embracing a queer identity means rejecting religion, and vice versa. While this is a myth--many queer persons are deeply religious--the expectations and the experiences of queer youth in Christian contexts is most commonly one of rejection. H...

Transgender. These days just speaking the word can trigger intense emotional reactions. The topic has become a political hot potato. It's difficult to have a considered, thoughtful, evidence-based conversation about transgender. I invite you to take a deep, calming breath. We're going to take time to reflect on what the term transgender means and what experiences the word captures. In this episode...

How do you know your gender? Is it something you learn from others? Something that is hardwired into your brain from the beginning? Is gender identity something tightly connected to to your biological sex, or can it vary independently of sex? These questions become concrete when someone's experience and expression of gender differs from what we expect. This episode, co-hosted by Jonathan Sieswerda...

We casually toss around words like "gay," "straight,", "bi," and "ace" and use them as touchstones or calls to arms in our culture wars around sexual diversity. We often act as if we all know and agree on what these terms mean.  And regularly we bolster our own positions with claims about what "scientists say." So what do "scientists say" about sexual orientation? In this three-part series, I exam...

We casually toss around words like "gay," "straight,", "bi," and "ace" and use them as touchstones or calls to arms in our culture wars around sexual diversity. We often act as if we all know and agree on what these terms mean.  And regularly we bolster our own positions with claims about what "scientists say." So what do "scientists say" about sexual orientation? In this three-part series, I exam...

We casually toss around words like "gay," "straight,", "bi," and "ace" and use them as touchstones or calls to arms in our culture wars around sexual diversity. We often act as if we all know and agree on what these terms mean.  And regularly we bolster our own positions with claims about what "scientists say." So what do "scientists say" about sexual orientation? In this three-part series, I exam...

The theme to the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, "Those Were the Days," is a lament for a time when, supposedly, a clear sex and gender binary existed and everyone conformed: "Girls were girls and men were men." What does the science say about these binaries? Are they real? Universal? Unchanging? In this series of three episodes, I explore three common arguments in support of a binary view of sex...

The theme to the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, "Those Were the Days," is a lament for a time when, supposedly, a clear sex and gender binary existed and everyone conformed: "Girls were girls and men were men." What does the science say about these binaries? Are they real? Universal? Unchanging? In this series of three episodes, I explore three common arguments in support of a binary view of sex...

The theme to the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, "Those Were the Days," is a lament for a time when, supposedly, a clear sex and gender binary existed and everyone conformed: "Girls were girls and men were men." What does the science say about these binaries? Are they real? Universal? Unchanging? In this series of three episodes, I explore three common arguments in support of a binary view of sex...

Conversations about sexual and gender diversity often become emotionally heated. Christians especially struggle with the apparent tensions between the call to holiness and the call to hospitality, and the emotions of disgust and empathy seem to pull us in opposing directions. In these two episodes, I explore the emotional psychology around disgust and empathy, which are strongly involved in our co...

Conversations about sexual and gender diversity often become emotionally heated. Christians especially struggle with the apparent tensions between the call to holiness and the call to hospitality, and the emotions of disgust and empathy seem to pull us in opposing directions. In these two episodes, I explore the emotional psychology around disgust and empathy, which are strongly involved in our co...

When we have conversations about sexual and gender diversity we can quickly become emotional and defensive. We are often baffled how other people can think so differently than we do about these topics. Why is this? In this episode, I explore some of the psychological dynamics that can get in the way when we try to stay at the table and have constructive dialogue. This episode contains five shorter...

When we have conversations about sexual and gender diversity we can quickly become emotional and defensive. We are often baffled how other people can think so differently than we do about these topics. Why is this? In this series of five short episodes, I explore some of the psychological dynamics that can get in the way when we try to stay at the table and have constructive dialogue. In this fina...

When we have conversations about sexual and gender diversity we can quickly become emotional and defensive. We are often baffled how other people can think so differently than we do about these topics. Why is this? In this series of five short episodes, I explore some of the psychological dynamics that can get in the way when we try to stay at the table and have constructive dialogue. In this four...

When we have conversations about sexual and gender diversity we can quickly become emotional and defensive. We are often baffled how other people can think so differently than we do about these topics. Why is this? In this series of five short episodes, I explore some of the psychological dynamics that can get in the way when we try to stay at the table and have constructive dialogue. In this thir...

When we have conversations about sexual and gender diversity we can quickly become emotional and defensive. We are often baffled how other people can think so differently than we do about these topics. Why is this? In this series of five short episodes, I explore some of the psychological dynamics that can get in the way when we try to stay at the table and have constructive dialogue. In this seco...

When we have conversations about sexual and gender diversity we can quickly become emotional and defensive. We are often baffled how other people can think so differently than we do about these topics. Why is this? In this and the next four episodes, I explore some of the psychological dynamics that can get in the way when we try to stay at the table and have constructive dialogue. This first epis...

Talking about sexual and gender diversity is difficult when we're not sure what words to use. Old words have new meanings, new words keep appearing, and it seems too easy to unintentionally give offense. Here is a guide to that language, and two basic principles to help you engage in constructive conversations even as the language keeps on changing.

What does it mean to "read the rainbows?" In this episode I explain how this metaphor supports the goals and spirit of this podcast.