June, a transgender listener, shares their pre-transition struggles and brings a unique perspective to Matthew 19:12.

For more on Matthew 19, and Jesus’s affirming words, see episodes: 6, 7, and 16.

Link to various translations of Matthew 19:12: https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%2019:12

Link to the history of the transgender flag: https://www.pointofpride.org/blog/the-history-of-the-transgender-flag

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠

Synthesized speech also using Descript

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

Is same sex attraction a mental illness?

UCLA Prof. Evelyn Hooker, whose research showed that gay men were just as mentally healthy as straight men. And how one cleverly designed experiment changed the views of many medical professionals and theologians.

Articles quoted:

Catholic Catechism: https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/568/

The Pope Speaks: https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-pope-chile-gay-20180520-story.html#:~:text=In%202013%2C%20Francis%20famously%20said,Catholic%20views%20on%20sexual%20orientation and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/20/pope-juan-carlos-cruz

Early DSMs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4695779/#:~:text=Moor%20%5B44%5D;%20Tripp%20%5B45,as%20a%20%E2%80%9Csexual%20deviation.%E2%80%9D

APA on same-sex attraction: https://www.psychiatry.org/file%20library/about-apa/organization-documents-policies/policies/position-2013-homosexuality.pdf (see second sentence)

Mainstream health organizations:https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts#:~:text=the%20idea%20that%20homosexuality

Finding Affirming, Sex-Positive Counselors Who Do NOT Believe in Conversion Therapy:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt#organizations

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/california?category=gay (Find the LGBTQ Affirming pull-down or edit the URL and replace “California” with “Texas” or whatever state you’re in)

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/finding-an-lgbtq-therapist/

• https://allintherapyclinic.com/how-to-find-an-lgbt-affirming-therapist/

• https://directory.choosingtherapy.com/

• https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org/

On-line therapy:

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/best-lgbtq-online-therapy-options/

• https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/lgbtqia

This episode challenges conventional messages on well-being and prompts listeners to question what truly contributes to their wellbeing and living “The Good Life.”

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠

Episode Cover art: Microsoft Copilot

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming