GET THE RESOURCE GUIDE HERE: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth
Welcome to You Can Be Both — the podcast for LGBTQ+ Christians, gay Christians, and anyone navigating faith and sexuality while healing from religious trauma, church hurt, and rejection.
In this New Year episode, Lauren shares how we’re moving from confusion to clarity in 2026. If you’ve ever wondered “Can I be Christian and LGBTQ?” or felt stuck between your identity and your faith, this conversation is for you. We talk about what it really takes to heal, rebuild confidence, and deepen your relationship with God—without shrinking who you are.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• What “confusion to clarity” means for LGBTQ people of faith in 2026
• How community and testimony help us heal from evangelical trauma, Catholic guilt, and spiritual abuse
• Why understanding Bible context and translation matters (and why Lauren plans to bring on guests who can unpack “clobber verses,” theology, and Scripture interpretation)
• The 3-step healing framework: get educated, get connected, and start healing
• How to release what’s holding you back in 2026: addiction and coping behaviors, approval-seeking, and toxic relationships
• Why you don’t need permission from pastors, parents, or church culture to be okay with God
• Practical next steps: finding affirming churches, following helpful creators, getting therapy support, and using journaling prompts for healing and future visionLauren also shares big plans for 2026, including guest interviews, TikTok Lives, Zoom community calls, and future live events built around worship, healing, testimonies, and connection.
To close, Lauren leads a guided Christian meditation for healing—an imaginative prayerful exercise centered on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—followed by Psalm 23, and a heartfelt community prayer for freedom from depression, addiction, shame, and abusive relationships.
📌 RESOURCE GUIDE (Confusion to Clarity Healing Guide): Lauren created a downloadable healing guide for LGBTQ+ people of faith packed with books, podcasts, affirming church resources, therapist support ideas, and journaling prompts to help you start your healing journey.
GET THE RESOURCE GUIDE HERE: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth
The book she mentioned called "Letting Go" (which is also in the resource guide) can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/49kYwcu
📩 Share your testimony / join the community: Submit your email + location in the form below so you can get updates about lives, Zoom calls, and upcoming events/tour dates: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz
If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share—it helps this message reach other LGBTQ+ Christians who feel alone. You are loved. God loves you. And you are not alone.
🔔 New episodes every Sunday at 11am
🎧 Also available on all podcast platforms
For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta
#LGBTQChristian #GayChristian #YouCanBeBoth #Deconstruction #ReligiousTrauma #ChurchHurt #AffirmingChurch #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndSexuality #HealingJourney #christianmeditation
Why are Christians so obsessed with LGBTQ people—when LGBTQ Christians make up just 3% of the Church?In this episode of You Can Be Both, we explore a question many LGBTQ people of faith are asking: Why does such a small, vulnerable community receive so much scrutiny, legislation, and moral policing from Christians—while far bigger issues go ignored?This episode unpacks the rise of Christian nationalism, the explosion of anti-LGBTQ legislation, and the deep religious trauma experienced by LGBTQ people—especially those who still love God and want to keep their faith. We explore how Jesus’ actual teachings of love, compassion, and care for the vulnerable have been replaced by fear-based politics, moral superiority, and targeted attacks on queer and trans people.💬 In this episode, we discuss: • Why LGBTQ people are disproportionately targeted by Christians and lawmakers • The role of Christian nationalism in anti-LGBTQ bills and policies • How religious abuse and church trauma impact LGBTQ mental health • Why sexual orientation is not a sin—and why comparing it to abuse is harmful • What Jesus actually taught about love, power, and human dignity • How LGBTQ Christians can heal, reclaim their faith, and find safe community • Why you can be both LGBTQ and ChristianThis podcast exists as a safe space for LGBTQ people of faith—especially those who’ve been told they must choose between who they are and God. If you’ve experienced church hurt, spiritual abuse, or rejection from family or faith communities, you are not alone.✨ This episode is for you if you’re searching for: • LGBTQ Christian support • Healing from religious trauma • Conversations about faith and sexuality • Christian perspectives that center love, not harm • A reminder that God hasn’t abandoned you🙏 If this episode resonates: • Subscribe for weekly conversations on faith, healing, and LGBTQ identity • Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it • Leave a comment—your story matters hereYou don’t have to give up your faith to be yourself.You don’t have to give up yourself to love God.You can be both.⸻🔔 New episodes every Sunday at 11am🎧 Also available on all podcast platformsTo submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpzFor sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com. Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta #LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity#YouCanBeBoth #LGBTQChristian #QueerFaith #GayChristian #ReligiousTrauma #AffirmingFaith #HolidayStress #ChosenFamily #Deconstruction #LGBTQPodcast
Navigating the holidays as an LGBTQ+ person—especially in religious families—can be incredibly stressful!
In this holiday edition of You Can Be Both, host Lauren Lanzaretta shares practical tools, responses, and boundary-setting strategies to help LGBTQ+ people of faith protect their peace during difficult family gatherings.In this episode, we talk about how to handle awkward or triggering conversations, religious judgment, pronouns being ignored, political tension, and questions about faith, church, or identity.
Lauren draws from her own experience growing up evangelical, coming out later in life, and navigating loving—but theologically different—relationships with Christian parents.
You’ll learn:
• How to emotionally prepare before going home for the holidays
• Why changing minds at the dinner table isn’t the goal—and what is
• Boundary-setting responses that are firm, kind, and non-combative
• How to respond to offensive or triggering questions without escalating conflict
• When to disengage, redirect, or remove yourself for your own well-being
• Ways to preserve relationships without abandoning yourself
• How LGBTQ+ Christians can honor both faith and identity during the holidays
This episode is for LGBTQ+ people navigating family rejection, religious trauma, evangelical Christianity, deconstruction, or the tension of wanting connection without sacrificing authenticity.
You are not alone. You are whole. You can be both.
🔔 New episodes every Sunday at 11am
🎧 Also available on all podcast platforms
👉 If this helped you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share this with someone going through something similar. You don’t have to do this alone.
To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz
For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta
Thank you so much for watching and be sure to SUBSCRIBE and share this podcast to get it out to those who need it. See you in the next episode!
#LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity#YouCanBeBoth #LGBTQChristian #QueerFaith #GayChristian #ReligiousTrauma #AffirmingFaith #HolidayStress #ChosenFamily #Deconstruction #LGBTQPodcast
What happens when you’re a LGBTQ+ and Christian… but don’t fully fit into either community?
If you’re LGBTQ and Christian, you may feel caught in the middle — not fully welcomed by the church, yet not always aligned with everything in the LGBTQ community either.
That in-between space can feel lonely, confusing, and deeply isolating.In this episode of You Can Be Both, we talk about what it’s like to live in that tension — loving God, holding personal moral convictions, and still standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ community, even when you don’t agree with everything it believes or represents.
This episode is for anyone who has ever thought:
• “I don’t fully belong in church anymore.”
• “I support the LGBTQ community, but I don’t align with everything.”
• “Why do I feel judged by both sides?”
• “Why does it feel like I have to choose?”In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why many gay Christians feel isolated between faith and LGBTQ culture
• How the LGBTQ community formed — and why shared struggle created unity
• Why supporting LGBTQ rights doesn’t require agreeing with everything culturally
• How moral standards, faith, and sexuality can coexist
• Why the church often struggles to make space for LGBTQ believers
• How judgment from both sides affects mental health and identity
• Why you’re allowed to hold nuanced beliefs without shame
• How to stop feeling like you have to “pick a side”
• How to create your own community when neither space fully fitsWe also breaks down:
• The difference between belonging and agreeing
• Why LGBTQ people are not a monolith — and neither are Christians
• How faith can remain personal even when church spaces feel unsafe
• Why it’s okay to take what resonates from each space and leave the rest
This podcast exists for people living in the middle — too Christian for some LGBTQ spaces, too LGBTQ for many churches — and who are tired of being told they don’t belong.
You are not confused.
You are not broken.
You are not alone.
💬 Join the conversation:
Share your experience in the comments. Connect with others who understand.
📩 Use the link below to stay connected and be part of future You Can Be Both gatherings and events.
✨ You don’t have to fit perfectly to belong.
✨ You don’t have to choose.
✨ You can be both.
⸻
To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz
For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta
#LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity #gaychristian #lgbtqchristian #queerchristian #youcanbeboth #faithandsexuality #deconstruction #reconstruction #religiontrauma #churchhurt #affirmingtheology #lgbtqfaith #gayandchristian #lgbtqandchristian #jesuslovesyou
Have you ever had a partner break up with you because they “don’t want to be gay anymore” or because they’re “choosing God”?
💔 If you’re LGBTQ and your partner left you for religious reasons, this episode of You Can Be Both is for you.
In this powerful, faith-filled conversation, Lauren Lanzaretta talks honestly about LGBTQ heartbreak, Christian guilt, and the pain of being left “for God.” She reads a real testimony from a woman whose wife of nearly 12 years walked away to pursue a “better relationship with God,” and breaks down what’s really going on underneath decisions like that.
In this episode, we talk about:
• 💔 Why some LGBTQ partners leave to “choose God” or “stop being gay”
• 🧠 How internalized shame, religious pressure, and family approval influence their decisions
• 🙏 Why their choice does not mean you’re spiritually inferior or unloved by God
• 🩹 Practical ways to grieve, heal, and rebuild your identity after LGBTQ Christian heartbreak
• 🚩 Red flags in secret/closeted relationships and partners who aren’t proud to claim you
• 🌱 How to set higher standards, write a vision for your future, and stop settling for breadcrumbs
• 🌈 Why you can be both LGBTQ and Christian—and still have a hopeful, loving future
From there, she walks you through how to heal after a breakup like this—especially if you’re gay and Christian. You’ll hear practical, hope-filled steps to grieve, rebuild your identity, reconnect with yourself, and trust that God still loves you completely as you are. Lauren also shares red flags to watch out for in secret or half-hidden relationships, and how to set higher standards so you stop settling for breadcrumbs and start choosing partners who are truly proud to love you.
The episode ends with a heartfelt prayer for anyone going through LGBTQ heartbreak, reminding you that: You are loved. You are not spiritually inferior. You can be LGBTQ and have a deep, real relationship with God.
💜I f you’re navigating:
• LGBTQ Christian heartbreak
• A partner choosing religion over your relationship
• Feeling “not good enough” for God because you’re gay
• Confusion about whether you can be both LGBTQ and Christian…this episode will help you feel seen, comforted, and less alone, and give you tools to move forward with hope.
👉 If this helped you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share this with someone going through a similar breakup. You don’t have to do this alone.
To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz
For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta
Thank you so much for watching and be sure to SUBSCRIBE and share this podcast to get it out to those who need it. See you in the next episode!
#LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity
Can you be gay and still love Jesus? Can you be LGBTQ+ and Christian? Yes—and this episode of You Can Be Both walks through exactly how. 🏳️🌈✝️
In this honest, vulnerable conversation, I share my journey of balancing my relationship with God while being gay—and how I moved through deconstruction, becoming conscious, and reconstruction of my faith.
If you’re a gay Christian, queer Christian, LGBTQ+ believer, or someone with church hurt or religious trauma, this is for you.
We talk about:
-Why you can be both LGBTQ+ and Christian
-How I deconstructed beliefs about hell, patriarchy, Sodom and Gomorrah, and “clobber verses”
-The historical context of the Bible, patriarchy, and how sexuality was viewed 2,000 years ago
-Why many teachings about homosexuality in the Bible were about power, patriarchy, and abuse—not loving, consensual LGBTQ+ relationships
-What it really means to be Christlike vs. just wearing the label “Christian”
-How childhood wounds, trauma, and church culture shape how we see God, ourselves, and other people
-Letting go of shame and seeing God as compassionate, loving, and not out to punish you
-How loving, healthy, same-sex relationships can actually draw us closer to God
🧱 3 Big Parts of This Episode:
1️⃣ Deconstruction – Questioning what we were taught about:
• Hell, eternal punishment & fear-based salvation
• The patriarchy in Scripture and how women were treated as property
• Sodom and Gomorrah, rape vs consensual sex, and what the text actually says
2️⃣ Becoming Conscious –
• Seeing our patterns, trauma, and “stories” we carry from childhood
• How we project unhealed pain into our relationships
• Why being a Christian means doing the work: therapy, self-reflection, growth, and learning to truly love people
3️⃣ Reconstruction –
• Rebuilding faith around Jesus’s character: justice, mercy, compassion, and inclusion
• Asking: “Is this destructive or is this life-giving?” instead of “Is this on a rule list?”
• Understanding that a loving, affirming gay relationship can be holy, healthy, and aligned with God’s heart
If you’ve ever asked:
• “Is it a sin to be gay?”
• “Can I be gay and still be a Christian?”
• “Does God hate me for being LGBTQ?”
• “How do I heal from religious trauma and church hurt?”
…this episode will help you feel less alone and more grounded in knowing you can be both. 💛👇
✨ You are loved. You are not broken. You can be both.
If this resonated with you:
• Drop a comment and share where you’re at in your faith and sexuality journey
• Turn on notifications so you don’t miss new episodes
• Share this with a gay Christian, someone with religious trauma, or a friend who’s deconstructing
🔔 Subscribe for weekly encouragement, faith exploration, healing conversations, and LGBTQ Christian support.To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpzFor sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com. Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta #LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity
Are you LGBTQ and grew up hearing “I love you… but”?
In today’s emotional and empowering episode of You Can Be Both, I break down how conditional love from Christian families, churches, and communities impacts LGBTQ+ people—mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
We talk about:
✨ The trauma behind “love the sinner, hate the sin”
✨ How conditional love damages self-worth
✨ Internalized homophobia & identity splitting
✨ Why LGBTQ+ Christians struggle with shame and faith
✨ Codependency, people-pleasing, and fear of rejection
✨ Rebuilding a healthy relationship with God
✨ How to deconstruct harmful beliefs and reclaim joy
✨ Practical steps for healing (journaling, therapy, inner-child work)I also share my own story—growing up Christian, hiding who I was, dealing with depression and anxiety and eventually rebuilding my faith with unconditional love at the center.
If you’ve ever felt torn between being LGBTQ and being Christian, this episode is for you.
You are worthy. You are loved. You don’t need to change for God or anyone else.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly encouragement, faith exploration, healing conversations, and LGBTQ Christian support.
To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz
For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta
Thank you so much for watching and be sure to SUBSCRIBE and share this podcast to get it out to those who need it. See you in the next episode!
#LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity
In today’s episode of You Can Be Both, Lauren Lanzaretta dives deep into one of the biggest questions she receives across comments, DMs, and emails: What is the TRUTH—especially when it comes to being gay and Christian?
Christians can’t agree on anything… yet claim they know the "TRUTH" about gay people. We explore Biblical interpretation, denominational differences, context behind the “clobber verses,” and why LGBTQ+ Christians have long been denied the same grace extended to others in the church.
This is a compassionate, honest conversation about orientation, scripture, love, and what it truly means to follow Jesus.
If you’ve ever wondered whether faith and sexuality can coexist, or if you simply want to understand this conversation on a deeper level—this episode is for you.
If you’re searching for answers about faith, sexuality, and the Bible, this video will give you clarity, context, and compassion.
✨ What You’ll Learn
• Can you be gay and Christian?
• Is being gay a sin in the Bible?
• What the Bible REALLY says about homosexuality
• Breaking down the “clobber verses”
• Biblical context most Christians never learn
• 42,000+ denominations = 42,000+ interpretations
• Why Christianity isn’t black and white
• How churches misinterpret Scripture
• Misconceptions about LGBTQ people & sin
• Why Jesus focused on love, not legalism
• How mistranslations (including 1946) shaped modern beliefs
• Why orientation ≠ sin
• Why LGBTQ Christians exist — and always have
• How to reconcile faith and sexuality
• Understanding hypocrisy and selective literalism in the church
• What Jesus actually taught about compassion
• Why LGBTQ+ inclusion is Biblical
🙏 Don’t forget to like, comment, and SUBSCRIBE for more real conversations about faith, identity and authenticity.
✨ Because yes — you can be both.
👉 Share this with someone who needs to hear it!
To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz
For sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow my other socials on TikTok and Instagram!@YouCanBeBoth @LaurenLanzaretta
#LGBTQ #Faith #YouCanBeBoth #laurenlanzaretta #Christianity #SelfAcceptance #ComingOut #Spirituality #Healing #authenticity
Welcome back to the "You Can Be Both" Podcast! 🌈✝️In today's episode we're talking about how to deal with people in our lives who DON'T fully accept us for who we are. From parents, to siblings, to friends and of course, our churches, I dive into how I've been able to maintain relationships with people who say "I love you, but..." or those who simply don't accept us at all. I also read a VERY powerful testimony, that literally brings me to tears. Comment below if her story touched you as well. To submit your own testimony or question click this link: https://bit.ly/49G1tpzFor sponsorship opportunities email: youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com. To find my music you can follow me on Spotify and social media @LanzarettaThank you so much for watching and be sure to SUBSCRIBE and share this podcast to get it out to those who need it. See you in the next episode!#YouCanBeBoth #LaurenLanzaretta #YouCanBeBothPodcast #gayChristian
Welcome to the very first episode of "You Can Be Both!" 🌈✝️
In this powerful debut, host and singer/songwriter Lauren Lanzaretta opens up about her personal journey of being both gay and Christian -- two identities that many say can't coexist. Lauren shares her heartfelt testimony, reflecting on the struggles, faith and freedom she's found through embracing all parts of who she is. She talks about how she found peace with herself, discovered unconditional love from God and offers hope to others who may be wrestling with their faith and identity. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+, are questioning your beliefs, or simply want to better understand the intersection of spirituality and authenticity - this episode will inspire you to know that you can be both. Listen, reflect and begin your own journey toward peace and connection with God and yourself. Please like/subscribe and share this with someone you think it will help:)
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I want to hear your story and questions! Email me with what you want to talk about/ any questions you have -- youcanbebothpodcast@gmail.com. I can't wait to start this journey with you and build a beautiful community!To find my music you can follow me on Spotify and social media @Lanzaretta#YouCanBeBoth #LaurenLanzaretta #YouCanBeBothPodcast