SummaryIn this conversation, Brian Banks and Taylor Bird discuss Taylor's upbringing in a small town, their experiences growing up in the Church of God, and their journey to self-acceptance as queer individuals. They reflect on the challenges of being authentic and the process of shedding the personas they created to fit societal expectations. They also touch on the impact of religion on their lives and the importance of being open to learning and growth. The conversation highlights the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle to find acceptance. In this conversation, Brian Banks discusses his experiences with religion, specifically the negative treatment he faced within the church. He challenges the hypocrisy of churches that claim to preach love but only accept certain behaviors. Brian also shares his journey of self-acceptance and finding happiness in his own life. He talks about the importance of staying true to oneself and not worrying about what others think. The conversation touches on topics such as homosexuality, church teachings, and the influence of social media.

Keywords

upbringing, small town, Church of God, self-acceptance, authenticity, religion, family dynamics, religion, church, hypocrisy, self-acceptance, happiness, homosexuality, social media

Takeaways

• Growing up in a small town can shape one's perspective and limit their growth
• The process of shedding personas and being authentic is challenging but necessary for personal growth
• Religion can have a profound impact on one's self-acceptance and understanding of their identity
• Family dynamics can be complex, and acceptance may vary among family members Churches often preach love but only accept certain behaviors, leading to hypocrisy.
• Self-acceptance and staying true to oneself are key to finding happiness.
• It is important to challenge societal norms and question the teachings of the church.
• Social media can create a distorted perception of reality and put pressure on individuals to conform.
• Judging others based on their appearance or lifestyle choices is unfair and unkind.

Sound Bites

"You need to get a couple of bars that you can smoke inside of, do a drag in."

"They're still going to be a part of me that's just scared of the smite."

"I was always well behaved. I always wanted to do right. But I just have a little, I have bones inside of me that just require a little picking every now and again."

"What is everybody else's excuse?"

"God is love for sure when it looks good, when you're dressed right, when you talk right, when you sing right, when you preach right."

"Homosexuality is the only abomination they focus on."