“Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story”
Julie Rodgers
1517 Media, 2021, 224 Pages

At A Glance: “Outlove” is a compelling memoir, from participating in ex-gay ministries to becoming a leading voice for 2SLGBTQIA+ acceptance in the church, encapsulating the broader struggle for inclusion within evangelical Christianity.

Overview: “Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story” by Julie Rodgers is an evocative memoir documenting her journey from a deeply ingrained belief in needing to be ‘cured’ of her homosexuality to a powerful advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in the church.

Raised in a Baptist, Evangelical environment, Rodgers initially sought to reconcile her faith with her sexual identity through ex-gay ministries, hoping for a transformation that never came. Her story unfolds from these personal struggles to her instrumental role in dismantling Exodus International, a prominent ex-gay organization, culminating in her marriage to a woman at the Washington National Cathedral.

“Outlove” is more than a personal narrative; it’s a reflection on the ongoing, tumultuous relationship between conservative religious institutions and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, highlighting the personal and communal costs of seeking acceptance within faith communities that are often unyielding.

Thoughts from Readers: