You Can Be Both

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 says2️⃣ 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 people3️⃣ 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 heartIf 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/49G1tpzFor 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/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

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:) _____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