I am 12-years old and gay.

In 2001, Ryan Robertson, 12-years old, reached out to his mother on Instant Messenger. Their lives forever changed.

Then, 11 years later, Linda Robertson told their story publicly on Facebook, hoping that it would help other families avoid the missteps and pain they experienced.

Here is the original Facebook post, read and dramatized by AI generated voices. I have changed only a few words for clarity.

Linda’s website and original FB post: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/

Helpful resources recommended by Linda: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/resources/

https://reformationproject.org/resources/

https://www.qchristian.org/

Linda and Ryan’s Story:

Linda’s blog: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/blog-posts/

Long version filmed at Towne View Baptist Church in Kennesaw, GA in May 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3xiDek0aXg

Shorter version at NorthPoint Church in Atlanta from May 2021, which includes a question-and-answer session (helpful for parents):

https://youtu.be/wNS77sfT2zY?si=gzqrA6Yn1dzoRTYa

You can also view their story as part of the movie: For They Know Not What They Do, available on:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/They-Know-Not-What-Do/dp/B08HQYQJLC/

and iTunes: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/for-they-know-not-what-they-do/umc.cmc.2fm6il6v1aw47v5nvdv16w1nc

Linda’s Parent Support Group that meets every Wednesday: https://fs9.formsite.com/4BUph1/amlfznmjbc/index.html

The QChristian Fellowship: https://www.qchristian.org/

The QChristian Fellowship Parent team: https://www.qchristian.org/parents

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠

AI synthesized speech: ⁠⁠Speechelo⁠⁠ and Descrpt

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

Almost half its users are Queer: Dateability is a dating app designed for the disabled and chronically ill communities.

Individuals with disabilities or chronic illness often encounter problems on dating apps. Alexa and Jacqueline Child have created Dateability, a safe and accepting space to find meaningful connections for people with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities.

To learn more about Dateability:

https://info.dateabilityapp.com/

Quote from Autism Research Center: https://autism.org/lgbtq-and-autism/

Elton’s Three Affirming Podcasts:

Bible and Homosexuality: An LGBTQ Positive View

https://open.spotify.com/show/4hXGABXM2JxyBJNAtqwc0m

The Queer Christian: Navigating Faith, Church and the Bible:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2iDmc5boju3rZyAYqiLOUA

La Biblia y La Homosexualidad - Valorando Minorías Sexuales: https://open.spotify.com/show/1prENuZWHDjYUsiRU684pd

Elton’s Three Rotary Podcasts:

Development Success Stories: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ezxqZIuL6OMFHC7dYLhNK

Inspiring Solutions for a Better World: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IDQhRnwnT1iqINDJo6rXc

The Weekly Rotarian:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3fbnO3K6fxKt9pfaTp8mYn

To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley: https://siliconvalleyrotary.com/

Gisell Quihuis, the Director of Faculty Development and Diversity at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and I have created a Spanish Version of this podcast called: “La Biblia y La Homosexualidad.”

In this episode I also introduce my AI generated Spanish co-host, Catalina Maestra, who will be making appearances in some future English episodes.

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠

Synthesized speech using: ⁠⁠Maestra.ai

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

#Spanish