The Forbidden Apple: LGBTQ+ SPIRITUALITY – Détails, épisodes et analyse

We delve into her personal experiences with coming out, going back into the closet, and ultimately finding self-acceptance. We also explore our journeys through arranged marriages within Muslim and Jewish communities, examining how these experiences shape our views on intimacy and desire. Together, we discuss the challenge of navigating our identities without traditional guidance and how we’re stepping into the role of becoming the elders we need for ourselves and others.

Tune in to hear how her role as a therapist and her work with clients shape her writing in Kissing Girls on Shabbat.

Learn more about Dr. Glass and her work at drsaraglass.com. Follow her on Instagram @drsaraglass.

In this episode of The Forbidden Apple Podcast, hosts Melissa Weisz and Zahra Ladak discuss navigating family and tradition as queer folks raised in religious homes. Though they come from different faiths—Zahra from a Muslim home and Melissa from a Chasidic Jewish home—their paths are very much aligned. They share how they've become each other's family and explore how to build a home that doesn’t look like the traditional home. 

Aderonke was born and raised in Nigeria where being gay is illegal. When she was found to be a lesbian she suffered intense persecution. Aderonke fled to the UK to seek asylum.

Despite fearing imprisonment and death in her country, Aderonke was not believed and she languished in the asylum system for years with her claim being repeatedly refused by the UK authorities. After a 13-year long battle Aderonke was finally granted refugee status.

Aderonke shares how she has used her journey, and the tools she learned struggling to get refugee status, to now  provide services for others through her charity which supports LGBTIQ refugees and people seeking asylum and campaigns for global LGBTIQ equality - standing against hate crimes and supporting communities who face constant harassment, hate crimes and discrimination heaped on them by an ignorant society because of their sexuality or sexual preferences and or gender identity.

You can support the African Rainbow Family charity here:

https://africanrainbowfamily.org/

 We discuss how traditional religious values can co-exist while being queer and Muslim. We are joined by two special guests.  Wazina, the co-creator of “Coming Out Muslim”, was born in Afghanistan and raised in New York. Our other guest is a practicing Muslim whose family comes from Tanzania. Listen to learn more about their families’ religious expectations, traditions they incorporate into their own daily practice, and how they stay connected to their families.

To connect with Wazina: comingoutmuslim.com or email comingoutmuslim@gmail.com 

Watch Wazina Zondon and our very own Melissa Weisz in Them’s “Can you be religious and queer?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnG3BSDfvhk&app=desktop  

Remember to subscribe, listen, share, take a bite, and stay in touch:

https://www.instagram.com/theforbiddenapplepodcast/

theforbiddenapplepodcast@gmail.com 

Welcome to "The Forbidden Apple".

We go where no other podcast has even gone, exploring the complex relationship between queer people and religion.  In a world where organized religion does not often embrace queer voices we wanna hear from those pushed to the margins who had to find their own meaning and faith.

In this episode, we discuss what pride means to us and explore how to continue the celebration throughout the year.

Join our conversations:

@theforbiddenapplepodcast

It is our pleasure to introduce Melissa Weisz. The Forbidden Apple host shares her insight into growing up as an Ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jew. Melissa discusses embracing life as a queer person, finding meaning, and using this platform to celebrate queer voices.

Join our conversations

@Theforbiddenapplepodcast

It is our pleasure to introduce Pelayo Alvarez.  The Forbidden Apple host talks about his religious upbringing and Spanish Catholic traditions like "Semana Santa". Pelayo looks forward to exploring how the LGBTQ Community relates to religion and spirituality.

Luzie talks about her struggle growing up as a Lesbian in Kenya. She opens up about the spiritual violence she suffered and being made to believe that it's demonic to be attracted to the same sex.

Luzie shines a light on how gay clubs become a safe haven for many LGBTQ folks- drinking to numb the pain- and even more dire, using it as place to sleep when they become homeless once they're rejected and kicked out of their homes.

Luzie also shares about being shunned from her family at the same time that she is the sole caretaker for her mom who has dementia. She hopes to be a pastor one day to other LGBTQ folks in Kenya so they don’t have to suffer like she has.

Paypal info to help Luzie care for her elderly mom and her daily expenses:

marienganga35@gmail.com

Ezra Chitando is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Zimbabwe and co-author of “Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa”. 

Ezra serves as Theology Consultant on HIV and AIDS with EHAIA, the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy, of the World Council of Churches.

Ezra talks about the importance of diversity of opinions and how education helps in the fight to bring about equal rights for LGBTQ folks. 

Ezra speaks of his work educating about African indigenous spiritual practices and their accepting views on gender and sexuality as opposed to the oppressive teaching christianity brought about to their region.

Buy his most recent book  “Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa” co-authored with Adriaan van Klinken :

https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/reimagining-christianity-and-sexual-diversity-in-africa/#!/

Learn more about Ezra: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Chitando

Cedric Tchante is an activist, marketing coordinator and blogger from Cameroon, currently living in San Francisco. 

Cedric talks about growing up in Cameroon where being gay is illegal. He shares how he became a vocal activist and appeared in the documentary “Born This Way”.  A first in Cameroon, this documentary showed the faces of LGBTQ folks talking about their sexuality. 

With the documentary making national news, Cedric was the target of harassment and violent attacks. It was only when his loved ones were threatened that Cedric knew he must leave Cameroon and claim asylum. 

Listen to hear Cedric share his experience of being a refugee in America. 

You can learn more about Cedric here:

https://www.huffpost.com/author/cedric-tchante

To watch the documentary “Born this way” visit:

https://www.bornthiswaydocumentary.com/