Lauren
My name is Lauren and I am a lesbian of faith. I grew up as an active member of the Christian church and even went to a Christian college in hopes of growing my relationship closer to God.
I think I knew from an early age that I was different from other girls in my youth group, making me feel even further from God. But being constantly surrounded by religious settings, I never had the space to explore and find myself.
Pronouns: she/her
Photo of Lauren Stephenson
It wasn’t until I moved out on my own that I realized I didn’t know who I was because I was so used to being the girl that others wanted me to be. Around this time, I began to question my sexuality as I realized that I was in love with my best friend. I fell into a deep spiral of shame and depression, trying to hide this significant part of myself. I had heard from many people of faith about what God had to say about the LGBTQIA+ community, and my faith was important to me. It felt like a no-win situation where I had to choose between God and myself, and I didn’t know if it would ever get better.
I began to follow Queer people of faith on Instagram like Beloved Arise and Cori Latousek to figure out how to bridge my sexuality and my faith. It’s still something I wrestle with to this day, as I don’t identify as a Christian due to the harm the church has caused. But I know that I am loved and cherished by God exactly as I am. I am a testament to the fact that it does get better, and living your truth is the best way to reflect the love and joy of God.
Photo of Lauren Stephenson
