Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch: A Podcast on Queer Spirituality

In this episode of Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch, host Stephen Stanley speaks with Reverend Duncan Teague.  Reverend Teague is lead minister and founder of the Abundant LUUv Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Atlanta. He is an out, Black, gay man recognized by Georgia legislators for his decades of HIV/AIDS research, education and advocacy. He previously was Faith Outreach Consultant for Freedo...

In this episode of Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch, host Stephen Stanley speaks with Reverend Robert Arrington.  Reverend Arrington is the Founder and Pastor at Unity Fellowship Church of Charleston.  He’s a passionate advocate for social change, for the LGBTQIA+ community, for Queer people of color, and for people living with HIV.  It was recorded at The North Charleston LGBTQIA+ Community Center He...

In this episode of Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch, host Stephen Stanley speaks with Reverend Dale Worley.  Reverend Worley is the spiritual leader and administrative director at Unity of Savannah, a center for spiritual awakening in Savannah, Georgia, whose mission is to be an inclusive community that embraces a positive. loving and uplifting approach to spirituality.  Rev. Worley discusses his own...

In this episode of Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch, host Stephen Stanley sits with with John Smid, a former leader of the ex-gay ministry Love in Action. John shares his extraordinary journey from coming out as gay in the late 1970s, to entering conversion therapy, and eventually renouncing those practices. He discusses the emotional toll of ex-gay ministries, the impact on families, and his path to...

In this episode, host Stephen Stanley speaks with Willow Sipling. Willow is a public policy sociologist focusing her research and writing on organizational ethics, religious fundamentalism, and conversion therapy.  Willow also serves as a nonprofit leader at OutCenter Southwest Michigan and is completing a PhD at Western Michigan University.  Willow grew up intersex and trans in a conservative rel...

In this episode of Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch, host Stephen Stanley engages in a lively discussion with Jeza Belle, a drag performer, Bible scholar, and accomplished author.  The conversation covers Jeza's journey navigating her Jewish and Christian upbringing, her studies at a conservative Southern religious college, the intersection of her faith with her drag persona, her motivations behi...

In this episode of 'Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch,' host Stephen Stanley sits down with Pastor Bill White of City Church Long Beach to discuss his evolving views on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church. Bill shares his personal journey, sparked by his son's coming out, which transitioned him from a conservative evangelical stance to becoming an affirming advocate.  They delve into the chal...

Episode 7:  Flamy Grant In this episode of Our Lady of Perpetual Brunch, host Stephen Stanley sits down with Flamy Grant, a groundbreaking, openly queer singer-songwriter who has made big waves in the contemporary Christian music scene. Flamy shares her journey from being raised in a conservative evangelical environment to becoming a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in a genre that has never...

Join me as I chat with Colby Holt and Sam Probst.  Colby and Sam are the directors of the recent film Ganymede , which examines coming out and religious trauma through the lens of a horror creature feature. Colby is also a drag nun in Chicago as part of a Mission House Of The Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence: Rev. Sister Merry Mae-King. I hope you enjoy! More on this podcast...

Join me as I chat with Michael Bell.    Michael is the Executive Director of the Savannah Pride Center in Savannah GA.  He’s also a multi-dimensional channel, Reiki Master Teacher and Energy Healing Practitioner.   We'll discuss his work with the Pride Center, his understanding of religious trauma and addiction among queer people, and how we can all tap into our own ability to heal.   https:/...

Join me as I chat with the Reverend Marc Trimm. Marc is the Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of our Redeemer in Augusta, Georgia. Augusta is home to a vibrant gay community but also an intense streak of conservative evangelicalism (including being known as the founding city of the Southern Baptist Convention.   We'll discuss how Mark leads a Queer church in this storied city, an...

Join me as I chat with Lynn Discenza.  Lynn will tell us about her journey as a trans woman in the Catholic Church and her ongoing conversations with everyone from her local Priest all the way up to Pope Francis.  After our brunch, we discuss her own journey of self discovery, the fight she's making within the Church, and why she stays a Catholic.  She's an absolute delight - thought-pro...

In Episode 2, I speak with Susan Gage, Priest in Charge of St Barnabas Episcopal Church in Valdosta GA, along with parishioners Kay and Sarah Riggle.  We discuss both the challenges and joys of being Queer in the rural South, how to respond when Scripture is used to attach our community, coming out as Trans at church, and how the Church should handle Spiritual Harm.  All - of course- in addition t...

In this first episode of the series, I speak with Erika and Candace Hardnett, Elder and Pastor of Agape Empowerment Ministries, two remarkable women who share their journey of LGBTQ+ affirmation.  I was able to attend a service in Savannah, GA and then, after having brunch together, we discuss their journey as well as how they created an affirming, international ministry in polarized times. I was...