An award-winning and popular LGBTQ+ author, Elizabeth Earley, recently shared her experience of navigating through religious trauma with The Advocate. Shout out to the Advocate, we love you. Earley was raised Presbyterian, and her upbringing in a conservative religious setting fostered shame and confusion regarding her identity. She vividly recounts moments of discomfort and alienation within her faith community, including the rejection she faced when coming out as gay to her pastor. Eventually, she found solace in the healing power of nature. Now a mother raising her children secularly, Earley seeks to instill in them a sense of acceptance, free from the constraints of traditional religious dogma. Through her profound journey, Earley illuminates the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-acceptance and connection with the natural world. To our listeners who are going through similar discomfort and trauma, prioritize self-care and seek support from understanding communities or mental health professionals. Sunshine Cathedral’s doors are always open for you. If you are a spiritual person who wishes to find solace in non-traditional ways, nothing comforts you better than Mother Nature. Practice self-compassion and forgiveness, acknowledging that healing is a gradual process. Surround yourself with positive influences and create boundaries with toxic religious environments. Remember that your worth is not defined by religious dogma. But let’s navigate LGBTQ+ religious trauma.
