Queer & A

About Queer & A

Religiously-grounded homophobia is on the rise, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people deserve more love and support. In the Queer & A podcast, I interview experts about queerness and religious homophobia. nadyapohran.substack.com (https://nadyapohran.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Nadya Pohran

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Aug 2023

Latest episode

21 May 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 May 2026

   Singing Queer Joy

   In this episode I speak with Naledi Sunstrum of OKNaledi. We heard about their songs that Naledi wrote during the Queer & A artist residency program , and the musical they are working on now. Check out more of OKNaledi’s music here: https://oknaledi.com/ or follow along with Naledi here: https://www.instagram.com/oknaledi/ This is the final episode of series two, which explores themes that came up in the artist residency. I truly have loved doing these artist residencies and the podcasts that ensued from them. Thank you again to Naledi and Charley for trusting me to create a space where the two of you could explore art on the theme of spiritually and queerness! The instrumental soundtrack of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used in the intro and outro with permission This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nadyapohran.substack.com (https://nadyapohran.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   8 Apr 2026

   Transgendent: A play on gender, spirituality, religion, queerness, and God

   In this episode, we heard from playwrite Charley Bouchard about what it was like to write their play Transgendent, and where they are with it now. Permissions: The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission in the Intro and Outro of this podcast. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Learn more about OkNaledi’s music by checking out their instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/oknaledi/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nadyapohran.substack.com (https://nadyapohran.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   26 Nov 2025

   How to Know When a Project is Finished

   In this episode, we heard from artists Naledi Sunstrum and Charley Bouchard during their participation in Queer & A’s virtual artist residency, in which both artists were given the prompt to create art on the topic of queerness and spirituality -- whatever that meant to them and however they wanted to explore it. Naledi ended up writing two songs, one on Ruth and Naomi and one on David and Jonathan, and Charley focused on a play called Transgendent. We also heard a summary with Kaitlin Carlson about research on the topic of how to know when a work is finished. And speaking of work being finished, this series is almost up! We have one final episode left and in that episode we are going to hear retrospectives from the two artists about what it was like to create art throughout this residency, and you’ll also hear more of the artist projects themselves. Permissions: The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission in the Intro and Outro of this podcast. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Learn more about OkNaledi’s music by checking out their instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/oknaledi/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nadyapohran.substack.com (https://nadyapohran.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   31 Oct 2025

   Sharing Unfinished Work

   This episode’s podcast is all about sharing unfinished work. Kaitlin Carlson (she/her) and I start with a conversation about the research before hearing excerpts from the virtual artist residency in which Naledi Sunstrum (they/them), Charley Bouchard (they/them), and I chat through their two respective creative projects. Ok Naledi’s instrumental song track of the sound “Bones” is used with permission by Naledi — hear it in the intro and outro of this podcast. If you want to read more of the research covered in this episode, here are some great starting points! Read More * Diehl, M., & Stroebe, W. (1987). Productivity loss in group ideation—incl. evaluation apprehension. (homepages.se.edu (https://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/Productivity-Loss-In-Brainstorming_Toward-the-Solution-of-a-Riddle.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams (Admin. Sci. Q.). (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (https://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Group_Performance/Edmondson%20Psychological%20safety.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Nicol, D., & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006). Formative assessment & seven principles of good feedback practice. (psy.gla.ac.uk (https://www.psy.gla.ac.uk/~steve/rap/docs/nicol.dmd.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Double, K. S., et al. (2020). Meta-analysis: peer assessment improves performance (g≈.31). (SpringerLink (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-019-09510-3?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Zhan, Y., et al. (2023). Meta-analysis: online peer assessment → higher-order thinking. (bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com (https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.13310?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Wei, Y., et al. (2024). Peer feedback in academic writing—benefits & challenges (review). (PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11628301/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Project Zero (Harvard): See/Think/Wonder routine (low-threat critique). (pz.harvard.edu (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-wonder?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Lerman, L. Critical Response Process (CRP) steps. (lizlerman.com (https://lizlerman.com/critical-response-process/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Catmull, E. (2008). How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity (Braintrust). (Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2008/09/how-pixar-fosters-collective-creativity?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Frost, D. (2023). Minority Stress Theory: application & critique (comprehensive review). (UCL Discovery (https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10168532/1/1-s2.0-S2352250X23000246-main.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Neff, K. (2012/2017). Self-compassion → less fear of failure; stronger re-engagement. (Self-Compassion (https://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/Chap4_Mindfulness-Acceptance-and-Positive-Psychology_11.06.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Forbes explainer on imposter syndrome prevalence (accessibly written pop source). (Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/05/08/what-to-know-about-imposter-syndrome-the-psychological-phenomenon-making-people-doubt-their-success/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   13 Oct 2025

   Collaborating with others

   This episode’s podcast is all about collaborating with others. Kaitlin Carlson (she/her) and I start with a conversation about the research on collaborating with others. We then hear excerpts from the virtual artist residency in which Naledi Sunstrum (they/them), Charley Bouchard (they/them), and I chat through their two respective creative projects. Ok Naledi’s instrumental song track of the sound “Bones” is used with permission by Naledi — hear it in the intro and outro of this podcast. If you want to read more of the research covered in this episode, here are some great starting points! References * Amabile, T. (2012). Componential Theory of Creativity (HBS Working Paper). (Harvard Business School (https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/12-096.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Amabile, T. (1988). A Model of Creativity and Innovation in Organizations. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (https://www.web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Group_Performance/Amabile_A_Model_of_CreativityOrg.Beh_v10_pp123-167.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Diehl, M., & Stroebe, W. (1987/1991). Production blocking & group idea loss (reviewed in). (PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6620827/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Nunamaker et al. (1991). Unblocking brainstorms (electronic brainstorming). (PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2016214/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological Safety and Learning in Teams. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (https://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Group_Performance/Edmondson%20Psychological%20safety.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Google re:Work (Project Aristotle summary). (Rework (https://rework.withgoogle.com/intl/en/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Pizarro et al. (2022). Collective Effervescence (meta-analysis). (PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9473704/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Rimé et al. (2023). Why We Gather. (SAGE Journals (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/17456916221146388?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Page, S. (2017). The Diversity Bonus (course/overviews). (online.umich.edu (https://online.umich.edu/collections/entrepreneurship/short/diversity-bonus/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Yang et al. (2022). Gender-diverse teams produce more novel, higher-impact work (PNAS). (PNAS (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2200841119?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Wu et al. (2019). Small teams disrupt; large teams develop (Science). (Europe PMC (https://europepmc.org/article/med/30760923?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Argote & Ren (2012). Transactive Memory Systems and Performance. (Carlson School of Management (https://carlsonschool.umn.edu/sites/carlsonschool.umn.edu/files/2018-10/ArgoteRen-JMS-TransactiveMemory-2012.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Catmull, E. (2008). How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity (HBR). (Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2008/09/how-pixar-fosters-collective-creativity?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Warhol’s Factory (Guggenheim + Time photo essay). (The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation (https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/andy-warhol-a-factory?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Blacklips Performance Cult (Pitchfork retrospective). (Pitchfork (https://pitchfork.com/features/photo-gallery/a-deep-dive-into-blacklips-the-queer-performance-art-cult-cofounded-by-anohni-in-the-1990s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Frost, D. (2023). Minority Stress Theory review. (PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10712335/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) * Kim et al. (2021). Chosen Family (LGBTQ+) (open-access). (PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8066340/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   30 Sept 2025

   The Challenge of Choices

   We’re back with to explore another theme that came up during Queer & A’s virtual artist residency, during which Charley and Naledi took 10 weeks to develop their respective art projects on the topic of queerness and spirituality. One of the themes that emerged in our meetings was the challenge of choices — how hard it is to choose a project at the beginning when you have many options to take.Listen to this podcast to hear some research about the challenge of choices, and then listen in to excerpts of Charley, Naledi, and I talk in one of our earlier meetings about their projects.Permissions:The instrumental song track of Bones by OK Naledi is used with permission. Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   15 Jun 2025

   Creative Block and how to get through it

   Host Nadya Pohran and Karis explore creative blocks, referencing insights from artists Charley and Naledi, who share personal experiences navigating creative obstacles in their work in this interview episode.

8. 

   14 Apr 2025

   Queer Artist Residency Launch

   Excited to launch the second series of Queer & A podcast. Queer & A podcast is a community-oriented educational project aimed at bringing awareness about, and sharing resources to combat, religiously-motivated queerphobia and transphobia. In Series 1 I interviewed a combination of academics, activists, therapists, and individuals with personal experiences to share from, and we conversed widely about the history and present day experiences of homophobia and the role that religion plays in it. I loved those conversations. And yet, somewhere in the midst of talking about religion and queerness, I realized something: I didn't only want Queer & A to talk about this topic, I wanted Queer &A's engagement to not only be intellectual but to be creative. Slowly but surely, the concept of Queer & A sponsoring artists in a virtual artist residency program took shape. Through financially supporting artists in a virtual residency atmosphere, artists spent 8 weeks creating art on the topic of Queerness and Spirituality—broadly defined In this round of the virtual artist residency, Queer & A was joined by two artists: Naledi Sunstrum and Charley Bouchard. Charley and Naledi joined me in weekly virtual meetings as they worked on their individual artistic projects. Each week, the artists shared updates on their respective projects as they advanced in them. Charley was working on a play and Naledi was working on two songs.In this episode, you’ll meet the artists, hear a little bit about their respective artistic projects, and you’ll also get introduced to the broader themes that the remainder of this Series 2 podcast is going to explore. I’m a qualitative researcher at heart, and I couldn’t help but notice that, in each week we met, I was not only hearing chronological updates about the artists’ projects. Rather, we were also talking broadly about themes related to artistic creation. We talked about writer’s block. What it’s like to collaborate with others. The feeling of sharing your work in progress and the vulnerability that comes with that. How to know when a project is finished — and much moreI began to realize these themes didn’t only apply to the process of creating art—they’re themes that all of us experience throughout our personal lives, work tasks, etc. So in this series, we’re going to explore those themes broadly AND follow along with the artists’ journeys.I cannot wait to share more! Please subscribe to get notified as new episodes release—I’ll aim for 1X a month. And share this podcast with a friend who you think may find the content intriguing. Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission in the Intro and Outro of this podcast. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Learn more about OkNaledi’s music by checking out their instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/oknaledi/) Clips from “Reggae is the Answer (Instrumental)” and “Never be the same again (instrumental)” were freely sourced through my paid membership to Descript platform. They are used throughout the show when Charley and Naledi speak about their work. Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   28 Nov 2024

   Queer & A Season 1 Wrap Up and Recap

   Nadya Pohran recaps key takeaways from Season 1 guests, including messages of love and acceptance for queer individuals and those who have felt religion weaponized against them.

10. 

    20 Aug 2024

    Queerness in Ancient Christianity: exploring concepts of gender transgression, sexuality vs purity, and heteronormativity

    Summary: A lot of the Queer & A podcast episodes have looked at queerness in the present day, sometimes looking closely at theological interpretations of biblical passages but still focusing on how these play out and affect people today. Here I'm excited to look back in time, trying to understand not the various strands of present day Christianity but looking back to early christianity, speaking with Lydia Schriemer and Phoebe Hancock. In our conversation we talk about gender transgression and how queerness was conceptualized differently in the ancient world than it is today. We also hear about ancient worldviews of sexuality, ideas of procreation as being a way to be holy, and how that influenced and amplified a heteronormative worldview. I love how this conversation helps situate current understandings of sexuality and gender through informing us about ancient Christian understandings of these topics. Our guests: 1 - Lydia Schriemer is a neurodivergent, lesbian woman, PhD candidate, and part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, researching the origins of modern “Christian” morality as it relates to women, agency, and sexuality. Her graduate research seeks to answer the question, “Why did we, and why do we, treat women the way we do in western society?” Her MA research focused on the early effects of Christianity on women’s roles, rights, and responsibilities, and her current PhD research hones in on women’s legal agency in the Mediterranean world during the period when first Christianity and then Islam became significant socio-political forces. While her research does not focus specifically on queerness, she deals with gender, religion, marginalization, and law, all of which intersect frequently with queer histories. Lydia was raised in a fringe Calvinistic church, which some might call a cult. She left at the age of 18 and has been working on deconstructing and rebuilding her worldview, including tackling some serious compulsive heterosexuality. While she’s always known that she was queer, it wasn’t until about 2018 that she realized that she didn’t have to date men. So, she started dating women and, two years later, married Lex, who has since come out as nonbinary (they/them) and is in the process of transitioning. Together they have two cats, Clementine and Cassandra. In her spare time (i.e. 9 to 5, Monday to Friday), Lydia works as an archivist at Library and Archives Canada (LAC), where she is also a member of LAC’s LGBTQIA+ Committee. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-schriemer/?originalSubdomain=ca 2 - Phoebe Hancock: My preferred name and pronouns are Phoebe and she/her. I’m a lesbian and a researcher of the history of queer AFAB people and Early Christianity, particularly looking at differences between how Christian men, Pagan man, and queer people saw AFAB queerness in the first 500 years of the Common Era. The bulk of my thesis is this: that the idea that a queer woman is a woman who has sex with other women is an invention of Christianity. Prior to Christianity, the idea of a queer woman* (which I define in this period as an AFAB person with non-normative sexual behaviour and gender identity), was based on the actual mechanics of how one has sex. This thinking led to some truly wild writings--the sources I share are often humorous and erotic, written by men who are not totally sure just how sex without a penis functions. *The use of ‘woman’ in this context is also something I confront in my research. I tend to use ‘woman’ because that is how the sources refer to them, but the ideas of being lesbian/bisexual/trans/enby in this period are incredibly intertwined. Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    2 Jun 2024

    The Queer Interfaith Coalition: Faith-based love and acceptance of 2SLGBTQIA+ folx

    In this episode I speak with Rabbi Naj and Pam Rocker. Rabbi Naj is a second-generation Holocaust survivor, a rabbi, as well as a board certified interfaith chaplain and registered social worker and trained mediator. Pam Rocker is an atypical activist, consultant, and writer. From Pride to politics, she advocates for the full inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ people in every area of society. The three of us talk about the Queer Interfaith Coalition and the ways it is reclaiming the religious voice from those who have sought to weaponize faith against 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones).Resources (shared by Pam Rocker and Rabbi Naj)1. Open Letter from The Queer Interfaith Coalition (https://affirmingconnections.com/interfaith-coalition#:~:text=Open%20Letter%20calling%20for%202SLGBTQIA%2B%20rights&text=We%20seek%20to%20bring%20healing,2SLGBTQIA%2B%20communities%20and%20their%20advocates.) 2. https://pieday.ca/ * https://affirmingconnections.com/interfaith-coalition (https://affirmingconnections.com/interfaith-coalition) * https://affirmingconnections.com/draganswers (https://affirmingconnections.com/draganswers) * https://www.pamrocker.com/ * https://tanenbaum.org/about-us/tanenbaum-resources/shared-visions/ Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    15 Feb 2024

    Psychedelic therapies, religion, and LGBTQ+ wisdom

    In this episode I speak with psychedelic researcher and community organizer Amy Bartlett. Amy draws on her doctoral research at the University of Ottawa where she explores how psychedelics are used as part of people's healing journey, including for the healing of PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, and other experiences and states. One thing Amy brings to light is the fact that most clinical trials (USA/CAN-based) have not included participants from different identity groups, meaning that 2SLGBTQIA+ folks are notably absent from the clinical trial. If you're familiar with human-cenetered design principles, you know that this means that the needs and unique experiences of queer folks never get designed into the clinical trial process. This is a sad loss for queer folks for many reasons that Amy and I get into. But Amy makes another great point: queer folks are effectively experts when it comes to the ability to embrace multiplicities...which is a sort of fundamental part of the integration process following a psychedelic journey. It's truly a loss that we do not have queer voices shaping the clinical trial experiences. This isn't just about "queer trauma" it's about queer wisdom. While Amy and I talk about psychedelic healing and the potential this has for queer folks in particular, we also explore some of ramifications of religion in all this. As we've heard in other episodes, queer people are unfortunately at a higher likelihood to experience religious trauma f, due to the ways that some people weaponize religion against queer people. But thankfully the relationship between religion, queerness, and psychedelic healing isn't all shadows and dark--there's also some "light" there, and Amy and I explore this in our chat together. Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

13. 

    14 Dec 2023

    LGBTQIA+ Youth in Schools: | Mackenzie Kolton

    In this episode I speak with Mackenzie Kolton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-kolton-473b7b228/?originalSubdomain=ca), who is currently the Director of Learning of Egale Canada (https://egale.ca/training-workshops/about/ourpeople/). Mackenzie is passionate about working in 2SLGBTQI advocacy and education and prior to Egale she was the Manager of Program Innovation at Big Brothers Big Sisters, co-developing Manitoba’s first Queer Lens Mental Health Training and overseeing their 2SLGBTQI department and staff. In this interview, we hear from some of the ways that Mackenzie's time with Big Brothers Big Sisters set her up to focus on concepts like joy and love and capability and inner strength when it comes to developing resources for queer folx. As a Queer woman, Mackenzie is dedicated to working in collaboration with communities to build innovative programming and curriculum to address intersectional challenges. Mackenzie was awarded CBC’s Proud to Shine award in 2020 and 2021 to honour her work in advocacy and was named in the “Top 100 Fascinating Manitobans” in 2022. In the show, we talk about the current political and educational environment in Canada and the affect this has on 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. We explore topics including transphobia in and out of schools, the resources that exist for students, teachers, and parents/family, what the role of religion is in all of this. You'll hear more about it in the episode, but one of the things we talk about is how core teachings of so many religious traditions (like the call to love and respect others) can be brought into the conversation when we talk about queer acceptance and the acceptance of queer love. We finish the conversation by chatting about what it means to be an ally, and some of the various ways that people can practice allyship in their daily lives. Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones).Additional Resources (Egale) RESEARCH: * "Speak Out: Addressing 2SLGBTQ Youth Dating Violence. Lessons on how to support 2SLGBTQ youth who face dating violence in Canada." July 2022. https://egale.ca/awareness/speak-out-addressing-2slgbtq-youth-dating-violence/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/speak-out-addressing-2slgbtq-youth-dating-violence/) * Peter, T., Campbell, C.P., & Taylor, C. (2021). Still in every class in every school: Final report on the second climate survey on homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in Canadian schools. Key Takeaways. Toronto, ON: Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. https://egale.ca/awareness/still-in-every-class/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/still-in-every-class/) * "What 2SLGBTQI Youth in Esports Want" September 2021. https://egale.ca/awareness/esports-report/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/esports-report/) * "2SLGBTQI Suicide Prevention Research in Canada: Evidence, Gaps, and Priorities. PHAC Suicide and its Prevention Final Report," October 2021. https://egale.ca/awareness/2slgbtqi-suicide-prevention-research-in-canada-evidence-gaps-and-priorities/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/2slgbtqi-suicide-prevention-research-in-canada-evidence-gaps-and-priorities/) * "Playing “Safe” and Troubling Youth: An Esports Literature Review", June 2021. https://egale.ca/awareness/esports-literature-review/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/esports-literature-review/) * "Every Class in Every School: The first national climate survey (2011) on homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in Canadian schools." 2011. https://egale.ca/awareness/every-class/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/every-class/) * "Guide for the Development of an LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. Conference Paper: LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Summit" 2012. https://egale.ca/awareness/guide-for-the-development-of-an-lgbtq-youth-suicide-prevention-strategy/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/guide-for-the-development-of-an-lgbtq-youth-suicide-prevention-strategy/) * "Youth Speak Up About Homophobia and Transphobia, The First National Climate Survey on Homophobia in Canadian Schools, Phase One Report."  March 2009. https://egale.ca/awareness/phase1/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/phase1/) RESOURCES: * Adults Supporting 2SLGBTQI Youth. https://egale.ca/awareness/adults-supporting-2slgbtqi-youth/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/adults-supporting-2slgbtqi-youth/) * Faith and 2SLGBTQI Youth. https://egale.ca/awareness/faith-and-2slgbtqi-youth/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/faith-and-2slgbtqi-youth/) * Additional Resources: Trans and Nonbinary Youth Webinar.  https://egale.ca/awareness/trans-and-nonbinary-youth-resources/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/trans-and-nonbinary-youth-resources/) * Preparing Students for the Transition of a Trans or Gender Diverse Peer. https://egale.ca/awareness/preparing-students/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/preparing-students/) * Tackling Anti-2SLGBTQI Cyberbullying in Schools. https://egale.ca/awareness/tackling-anti-2slgbtqi-cyberbullying-in-schools/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/tackling-anti-2slgbtqi-cyberbullying-in-schools/) * What to do when your child comes out to you. https://egale.ca/awareness/what-to-do-when-your-child-comes-out-to-you/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/what-to-do-when-your-child-comes-out-to-you/) * Draw-The-Line — Against Transphobic Violence in Schools. https://egale.ca/awareness/draw-the-line-atv/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/draw-the-line-atv/) * Stuck in quarantine with your homophobic or transphobic family?. https://egale.ca/awareness/stuck-in-quarantine-with-your-homophobic-or-transphobic-family/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/stuck-in-quarantine-with-your-homophobic-or-transphobic-family/) * Pronoun Resource for Teachers. https://egale.ca/awareness/pronoun-resource-for-teachers/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/pronoun-resource-for-teachers/) * Supporting Your Intersex Child. https://egale.ca/awareness/supporting-your-intersex-child/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/supporting-your-intersex-child/) * Supporting Your Gender Diverse Child. https://egale.ca/awareness/supporting-gender-diverse-child/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/supporting-gender-diverse-child/) * 10 Faith-Based Reasons to Support 2SLGBTQI-Inclusive Education. https://egale.ca/awareness/10-faith-based-reasons-to-support-lgbtq-inclusive-education/ (https://egale.ca/awareness/10-faith-based-reasons-to-support-lgbtq-inclusive-education/) Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

14. 

    30 Nov 2023

    LGBTQIA+ Healing from the Church-Hurt | Charley Bouchard

    In this episode I speak with Charley Bouchard. Charley is an athlete, versatile artist, and passionate about volunteering for youth work in the community.  Charley considers themself to be a mystic Christian, ready and open to questioning and discussing big ideas that affect our culture and shape our lives. As we talk about their story with queerness and Christianity, Charley shares openly and honestly about the pain they experienced in their mid 20s when they attended an evangelical Christian church. I'll let Charley share their story of pain and rejection because of their queerness, but allow me to set up some broader context. Leading up to this episode, I found myself thinking a lot about the value of anger. In the Christian circles I grew up in, anger is often pushed aside--we're encouraged to forgive rather than to be angry when wrong is done. And, as an adult, I often struggle with feeling my own anger. But I'm learning that anger is an expression of my authenticity, and authenticity, at least for me, is a big component of my own queer identity. I am true to who I am--that includes all parts of me. That includes the angry parts. Anger is different than hatred--being angry with a person or a system does not mean that we wish them ill-will. In Charley's story, you'll hear them speak candidly about the pain they experienced at the hands of Christian leaders in our church, and you'll hear them get on the verge of angry. I hear this authentic anger as a necessary part of the story of moving out of the choking feeling of pain and into forgiveness or healing or beauty or freedom or whatever descriptor feels right for us. Charley’s highly empathetic approach to their own story is beautiful, authentic, and eye-opening…and I personally love that, although anger is a part of the story, the story does not end with anger but rather with love and joy and acceptance. Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones).The poem “Signs of Welcome” by Lucy Berry was recorded by Lucy Berry and provided to Queer & A with permission. Check out a written version her (https://opentable.lgbt/our-blog/2021/1/28/signs-of-welcome-a-poem-by-otn-trustee-lucy-berry)e. Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

15. 

    1 Nov 2023

    LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers | Stéfanie Lacroix

    In this episode I speak with Stéfanie Lacroix. Stef is a Staff Attorney in Immigration Equality’s Pro Bono Program (http://immigrationequality.org/staff/legal/stefanie-lacroix). In this role, she represents immigrants seeking asylum and she provides mentorship for over 170 immigration cases placed with law firms nationwide through Immigration Equality’s pro bono program. In this episode you hear Stef and I speak about the hardships and realities  that LGBTQIA+ people from all over the world face when they are seeking asylum in the United States. We hear about the shifting legal frameworks that have affected the rights of asylum seekers, and have affected the avenues that lawyers have as they work to secure their asylum, but we also hear about some of the human stories of seeking asylum that Stef has worked in throughout her career as a staff attorney. We also hear about how religion operates in the sort of “background” of the legal system and social structures. It is not always in the front and centre of people’s mind when they seek asylum, nor is religion always an explicit root cause of social injustice or violence that LGBTQ+ people experience. This episode explores that, and more, pertaining to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Resources:www.Immigrationequality.orgwww. Rainbowrailroad.org www.volunteerottawa.ca Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

16. 

    11 Oct 2023

    Purity Culture, Religious Trauma, and LGBTQ+ Healing | Sandra Noble, LPC, PhD, NCC

    In this interview I speak with Dr. Sandra Noble (PhD, LPC, NCC), who holds a PhD in counsellor education and supervision and a masters in clinical mental health counselling. Sandra is a counselling professor at a grad school in Portland, Oregon and also a licensed professional counsellor in private practice. She’s certified as an eating disorder specialist and a clinical trauma professional, and in the show you’ll hear us talk about her research in embodiment, recovery, and spirituality, and especially how 2SLGBTQ+ individuals experience embodied reactions to the religious traumas of purity culture. In this episode we discuss some of the ways that purity culture (strongly emphasized in evangelical conservative Christian churches and especially to youth) have lasting negative affects on individuals’ sexuality, especially for 2SLGBTQIA+ women and trans people. One thing to forewarn about: if the topic of eating disorders, and/or being shamed for your sexual desire by authority figures is a sensitive topic for you, I wanted to let you know that you may find some of this content triggering. So a gentle reminder to check in with yourself to see if it’s a good time for you to listen to this kind of content. Show notes: Dr. Sandra Noble spoke of a number of resources and concepts related to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  If you’re interested in learning more about ACT, you can look into the workbook “Get Out Of Your Mind” or any content developed by Dr. Steven Hayes, as well as “Happiness Trap” by Russ Harris. To learn more about Sandra’s practice and research or to get in touch, you can contact her via: https://www.georgefox.edu/counseling-programs/faculty/noble.html (https://www.georgefox.edu/counseling-programs/faculty/noble.html). Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

17. 

    26 Sept 2023

    LGBTQ+ Activism: Drag Queen and Eastern Orthodox Christian Theologian | Nik Jovčić-Sas.

    In this episode I speak with Nik Jovčić-Sas (he/they). Nik is a musician, LGBTQ+ activist, drag queen, and Eastern Orthodox Theologian.  Nik grew up in rural Somerset, England within a Serbian family and attended  King’s College London to study theology, with a particular focus on the intersection of LGBTQ+ relationships and Orthodox Christian Theology and Identity. Nik has published work on this topic, which you can find links to in the show notes. In the show, you’ll hear Nik talk about doing his activism work as both a committed Christian theologian and someone who identifies as queer—some of Nik’s activism in Belgrade has led to them receiving financial lawsuits from the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as death threats. I recorded this episode with Nik a couple of months ago, before the current upsurge of anti-LGBTQ+ protests across Canada—where I am currently as I record this intro and summary in September 2023. He and I obviously don’t talk about those specific protests, but as I showed up just days ago to counter the anti-LGBTQ protestors in my city, Ottawa, I was reminded of my thought-provoking conversation that Nik and I had. Doing activist work as someone who has committed theological roots within a Christian community is an interesting and important position to be in, and in this conversation Nik provides thought provoking but also reality checks about what it’s like for them to do that kind of work. SHOW NOTES * Read Nik’s academic published work, entitled “The Tradition of Homophobia: Responses to Same-Sex Relationships in Serbian Orthodoxy from the Nineteenth Century to the Present Day.”  (https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/New_Approaches_in_History_and_Theology_t/MJhMDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0) * Watch Nik’s YouTube video about undergoing “an exoricsm to make him straight” (https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/New_Approaches_in_History_and_Theology_t/MJhMDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)when in Moldova. * Reach out to Nik (https://www.instagram.com/nikjovcicsas/) and/or learn more about the drag night called WIG that he runs in Bath, UK. CREDITThe instrumental version of OK Naledi’s song, Bones, is used with permission. Check out the full song here. (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones) Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

18. 

    5 Sept 2023

    Spiritual Community for Queer Christians? | Mike Maeshiro

    EPISODE SUMMARY:Mike Maeshiro (@mikemaeshiro (https://www.instagram.com/mikemaeshiro)) is Gay, Christian, and a Pastor. He hosts online communities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people looking for spiritual communities, and offers coaching to post-evangelical Christians in a journey of theological deconstruction. If you’re curious about the ways that evangelical conservative Christianity have systematically shaped the experiences of queer people weaponizing theology, or if you’ve endured this yourself and are looking for support and understanding, this is the episode for you. In this show, we hear about conservative Christian theology like “hate the sin love the sinner”, internalized homophobia, Mike’s own experience of encountering God and experiencing an embodied peace, church leaders’ “discrete censorship” of questioning theological teachings, and ways that Christian theology can be healthily deconstructed to embrace one’s queer identity. A gentle reminder for whoever may need it: if content about theology being weaponized against queer people is likely to be triggering for you, take a moment to reflect if now is a good day/time for you to dive into something like this. SHOW NOTES: If you want to flip through the podcast, here’s some “chapters” to help you out! * 5minutes: Mike breaks down some typical conservative evangelical Christian concepts and vocabulary such as “being saved” and how some of these theological concepts affects queer mentalities * 12minutes: Mike invites us to think about the difference between "Internalized homophobia" vs. "internalized heterosexism”, and highlights how this distinction is a big part of the healing journey for many post-evangelicals. * 18 minutes - Mike shares about his own radical experience encountering God in a church service, where God communicated to Mike that they [God] explicitly wanted Mike to be gay. * 31 minutes -  We discuss the discrete censorship and stigmatization that happens around critical thinking and asking questions to deconstruct potentially harmful theologies that we are taught * 37 mins -  Mike shares options for virtual communities which support queer people who are recovering from Evangelicalism. The Rainbow Room (Mike hosts this online community.) In Nashville, Mike is the Sr. Director of the Online Campus — see www.GracePoint.Net (http://gracepoint.net/) * 43 mins - We point out that “biblical marriage”, that is, the way that marriage occurs in the Old Testament, has all sorts of models that are far outside of White Evangelical Christianity….so why do certain evangelical Christians continue to attack gay marriage, claiming that they are upholding “biblical marriage” Permissions:The instrumental of the song “Bones” by OKNaledi is used with permission. Check out the full version here (https://oknaledi.bandcamp.com/album/bones). Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

19. 

    11 Aug 2023

    Introducing Queer & A, Season One

    Introduction Episode:- music: "BONES" by OK Naledi. All copyright belongs to OK Naledi and the instrumental version was used with permission. Check out the official music video for INtrlD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHCYUx6U4d8) BONES (https://open.spotify.com/album/5FLir9U4CkN7Gwr2I8iQub?si=1Sebia17QhKLeNNW46stww).- Pastor Zach Lambert’s tweet (https://twitter.com/ZachWLambert/status/1651233487267979264?s=20) documents the rise in "anti-LGBTQ+ bills and hateful rhetoric" which have increased in the last few years.- Intersectional lenses are important when understanding individual identity — read more via Myeshia Price (she/they) (https://time.com/6263354/black-lgbtq-history-representation/), as they speak about their identity as a Black non binary queer person, and how these three aspects of their identity shapes their experience. - In the 1980s and 1990s the word “queer” appears in several news NPR transcripts (https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2019/08/21/752330316/a-former-slur-is-reclaimed-and-listeners-have-mixed-feelings), often within people citing insults that they had received. - An activist group Queer Nation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_Nation#:~:text=Queer%20Nation%20is%20an%20LGBTQ,in%20the%20arts%20and%20media) was founded in March 1990 in New York. Thought to be part of the reclaiming “queer”. Get full access to Queer & A - 2SLGBTQIA+ and religious homophobia at nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe (https://nadyapohran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100

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