When Joe Hyman left his parents at the airport for a year away at a religious seminary, he was carrying so much more baggage than just his suitcase.  His then hidden gay identity, dragged behind him wherever he went.  

A few months before leaving for his gap year abroad, Joe found what’s known as a conversion therapist online, falsely peddling a so-called cure to same sex attraction.  And as time went on, it became clear that this quackery that includes humiliation, degradation and the vilification of his parents, wasn’t going to change who Joe was.

In this episode Joe and I speak about growing up in an Orthodox world; the horrific abuse that is conversion therapy; and the irreparable damage it causes.  We also chat about Joe’s quest to find a space where his sexual identity as well as his love for his faith, could both find their home.

It’s important that I preface this episode by saying that this incredibly vital conversation is not about besmirching any religious community – because Joe’s story, like so many others, can be found in virtually any and every faith community - but rather, to shed some genuine light and gain some profound understanding, of how people, irrespective of religious affiliation, find their place when they are LGBTQ+.  

As always, I come to this conversation from a place of compassion, love, respect and authentic curiosity and it’s in that spirit that I am so thrilled to introduce Joe.  

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CREDITS:

Creator, Host & Executive Producer: Tammi Faraday

With thanks to my special guest: Joe

Audio Editor: Zoltan Fecso

With very special thanks to George Weinberg. 

BRAVE JOURNEYS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Yaluk-ut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung who are part of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to their Elders, both past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.