Confessions of the Queer Believer

Bisexual advocate, writer and speaker , Angélique  "Angel" Gravely joins Kwame to share her  experience as a bisexual woman navigating complex social institutions  and her experience in an affirming Black church. She also shares about her work with GLSEN Philadelphia and her training and advocacy work within  communities in the  Philadelphia area. 

Pennsylvania based  singer and recent Wharton Business School graduate , Evan Thomas joins Kwame to discuss his experience  enduring conversion therapy . We also explore how his music has been inspired by his own journey towards complete self -acceptance. Listen to Evan's perspective  on how  he has reconciled his  sexual identity with his spirituality. 

Married and Bisexual California native, Christiana Cobb-Dozier joins Kwame to discuss her early life growing up in a Christian home and her experience attending a Christian private school.   She shares how she had to step away from her job as a campus staff minister with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship because of her sexuality.

Former member of the conservative Baptist church and Los Angeles  native, Jade Cobb-Dozier joins Kwame in this episode to discuss her personal journey and her research conducted in 2018.   Jade received her Master's degree from San Jose State University, after writing her thesis statement, "For the Bible Tells Me So." As a Black lesbian, Jade felt compelled to evaluate the similarities and differences between queer men and women based on upbringing, denomination, and familial acceptance.

Our host confronts his own socialization and the role the church played in "colonizing" his sexual identity. 

This episode  examines some of the issues we face as Black Queer people in religious spaces.  Joty Allison, a  gay  African American Pastor from the Powerhouse Church of Boston joins us to explore some of the challenges queer people of faith face in their communities.