Called to Queer

In this episode, we interview Dr. Lisa Diamond (she/her). Some topics we cover include:

• How she started studying sexual fluidity and some of what she found while doing that research
• The importance of parents creating safety for their queer children, even if they struggle to accept their child's sexual or gender identity
• A metaphor she uses when people try to use her research about sexual fluidity in ways to promote harmful ideologies and practices

Lisa M. Diamond is Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies at the University of Utah. For over 25 years, she has studied the development and expression of gender and sexuality across the life course. Her current work focuses on the biobehavioral mechanisms through which social stigma, social stress, and social safety shape the health and well-being of sexually-diverse and gender-diverse individuals at different stages of development. Dr. Diamond is best known for her research on sexual fluidity, which describes the capacity for individuals to experience unexpected shifts in sexual identity and expression over time. Her 2008 book, Sexual Fluidity, published by Harvard University Press, has been awarded the Distinguished Book Award from the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Study of LGBTQ Issues. Dr. Diamond is also co-editor of the first-ever APA Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology, published in 2014, and is a fellow of two divisions of the APA. She has published over 130 articles and book chapters, and has been invited to present her research at nearly 140 national and international Universities and conferences.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Meghan Decker (she/her). Some topics we cover include:

• The changing church teachings about LGBTQ individuals (as highlighted by the document she helped create)
• Removing the narrow expectations we have about what God would or could say
• The vital need to dispel shame and how connection and being seen are the antidote to shame

Meghan Decker is a respected writer, speaker, and gay Latter-day Saint. She is co-author of Reaching for Hope: An LDS Perspective on Recovering from Depression, which has provided insight for thousands of readers who experience depression. Her new book, Tender Leaves of Hope: Finding Belonging as LGBTQ Latter-day Saint Women, shares her own experience and amplifies the voices of scores of LGBTQ women who are seeking to hear God in their lives. She has been a stake Seminary and Institute teacher, and she continues to engage with the Church as an active member. She and her husband David have five daughters and fifteen grandchildren, and they enjoy gathering to explore, eat, and trade book recommendations. To further connect with Meghan, go to her website, attend her book launch event on April 12, or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Melissa Malcolm-King. Melissa is an educator, author, and advocate whose work can be found in the Exponent 2 Magazine, Innerversion Magazine, and West View Media Newspaper, as well as in her most current publication, New World Coming: Frontline Voices on Pandemics, Uprisings, and Climate Crisis, and her second anthology that is currently available for pre-order, "I Spoke to you with Silence: Essays from Queer Mormons of Marginalized Genders." Melissa runs a nonprofit entitled Project B.E. S.A.F.E. -Bridging the Education of Safety, Awareness and Female Empowerment. As a survivor of abuse, Melissa has appeared on multiple panels for We Brave Women to advocate for survivor rights and discuss the intersection of being a Queer, Disabled, and Person of Color. They are also an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and is on various planning and leadership boards throughout the continental United States, is a director of the People of the Global Majority (which represents and supports the International BIPOC communities), and is a proud and active board member of the disability rights activist committee. (D.R.A.C.) and ADAPT American Disabled for Attendant Programs. You can connect with them on their Facebook fan page.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Reaching for those "in the cracks" and giving everyone a voice
• Growing up around various religions and making a place for themselves
• How internalized and systemic ablism has impacted her life

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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Dr. Lacey Bagley, LMFT (she/her) is the Owner & Clinical Director of Celebrate Therapy. She identifies as bisexual and loves celebrating and advocating for her community! She grew up in northern Minnesota, was raised as a Latter-day Saint, and continues to practice the faith. As a queer family therapist, she works to help parents learn how to hold space for their LGBTQIA+ children. She also founded the Queer Mormon Therapists directory.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Being an activist, and using power and privilege to help marginalized individuals
• Redefining service as social justice, activism, and following Christ's example (and not just taking someone a casserole)
• Celebrating all bodies, regardless of size and society's expectations

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Debra Asper. Debra is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and worked at Children’s Hospital focusing on assisting children and their families recover from various types of traumas with the use of CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). She also participated in research to identify variable that help children recover from their abuse. Debra did her thesis project on how homophobia affects the developmental stages of the LGBTQ population and she continues to carve out a portion of her private practice to work specifically with the LGBTQ community. Debra played college basketball at the University of Utah and still loves to be active and be competitive by being a member of the San Diego Rowing Club. You can learn more about her and contact her at her website, www.debraasperlmft.com.

Some things we talk about in this episode include:

• How she moved away to preserve her relationship with her family, as well as reconciling years later
• Grief, trauma, and rejection, as well as vicarious healing
• Becoming involved with Peculiar and the work that organization does

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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You likely know a lot about American anti-LGBTQ legislation, especially if you listened to the "The Family Proclamation with Called to Queer" episode we recorded with The Faithful Feminists. But what do you know about the history and legislation more globally? Tune in to this episode and learn more! We're honored that Channing Parker from The Faithful Feminists joined us for this discussion.

This episode covers:

• Some global history you may not have learned in school
• The creation of the World Congress of Families and its spread of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across many countries
• How current events tie into all of this

For episode transcripts and further resources (including all citations from this episode), please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Maggie Slighte. Maggie is a queer disabled autistic lesbian creator. She is finishing her first full-length memoir, The Car that Ran on Prayers, about her experience living in her Volvo sedan with 2 dogs for a year traveling the country on her way to college graduation. After converting to Mormonism at 46, she recently left at age 55. Maggie can be found on most social media platforms as "Maggie Slighte, Author," and on TikTok @NeurodivergentGranny. She produces a podcast about twice a month about the experience of being a neurodivergent disabled powerchair user at Slightely Maggie. You can follow along with her at MaggieSlighte.com.

Some things Maggie talks about in this episode includes:

• Her experience with dissociative identity disorder
• Being disabled, living in a world designed for able-bodied people
• Her view on neurodivergence and God

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Freddy Banks. Freddy is a house husband and dog dad. Prior to living the dream, he: was raised Mormon, went to BYU-Provo, discovered he was queer 1.0 (gay), left Mormonism, worked as a technical writer, met the love of his life, went to grad school at the University of Utah, moved to Canada, worked as a project manager, discovered he was queer 2.0 (trans), and got a permanent ileostomy. He now spends too much time online, either on Twitter or Twitch.

Some things Freddy talks about in this episode includes:

• How he discovered both versions of his queerness (thanks YouTube!)
• His view on masculinity and male privilege
• Transitioning and healthcare for trans individuals

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Elena Joy Thurston. Elena is an inspirational LGBTQ+ speaker, trainer, and founder of the nonprofit Pride and Joy Foundation. A Mormon mom of four who lost her marriage, her church, and her community when she came out as a lesbian, Elena’s viral TEDx talk on surviving conversion therapy has been viewed 45,000+ times and landed her media and speaking opportunities with ABC, CBS, Logitech, Michael’s, and more. Elena Joy recently launched Pride and Joy Publishing, the only publisher of solely LGBTQ+ empowerment and business books. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Some things Elena talks about in this episode includes:

• Undergoing conversion therapy
• Dealing with a divorce with children
• The systemic issues that get in the way of realizing queerness

To hear Elena's podcast episode on Human Stories with Jill Hazard Rowe that Kate mentioned on the podcast, click here.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Tiana Matson. Tiana's favorite prank is to decorate her friend's cars while they're at work to say, "just married" and tie empty soda cans to the axel so they don't notice them until they're in motion and can't do anything about it. She's also a bipolar, post-Mormon lesbian with childhood trauma and she loves to serve and advocate for her community. So you know. Well rounded.

Some things Tiana talks about in this episode includes:

• Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder
• Her work with both NAMI and Rainbow Circle Treasure Valley
• The trauma of having her brother die when she was younger

You can connect with Tiana on Facebook or Instagram.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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