Reviews

Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story, by Julie Rodgers

drwozniak's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

micklz24's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book from start to finish today. This story is incredibly honest and moving and touches on the experiences common to many - including myself and many I care about. This book gave me some hope and put words to a lot of things I’ve often failed to articulate, and I would highly recommend it.

liralen's review against another edition

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3.0

I don't think the book description does the book justice—it doesn't really touch the impossible situation Rodgers found herself in as a teenager, spending years in pray-the-gay-away therapy (including various forms of residential...I hesitate to say 'programmes' because some of it was informal, but situations, anyway) and then—still as a teenager—being put on an expanding stage to testify an ex-gay message. Her perspective gradually changed: she shifted from thinking she could be 'turned straight' to accepting that she was gay and would just have to be celibate forever to questioning whether celibacy was necessary to her faith. And she did this in a series of public settings, which is under any circumstances difficult for someone trying to figure things out.

I found there to be a bit more 'telling' (instead of 'showing') than I'd prefer, but it also covers a lot of ground, so it would have been a very different book if more scene-based. My background is very different from Rodgers', but in the hands of the right audience I expect this is quite powerful. Conversion 'therapy' and unsupportive parents; a job at a Christian college being on paper a sign of progress but in reality a sign that the college wanted a puppet they could trot out on demand. It's a milder story than many (e.g., Rodgers doesn't describe physical abuse as part of her conversion 'therapy'), but in a way that makes it all the more important because more people are likely to see themselves in the story.

alainajlreads's review against another edition

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5.0

TW: Homophobia, Conversion Therapy

Outlove is such a necessary book for all LGBTQ Christians and their allies. Julie Rodgers’ bravery and honesty when discussing her involvement in conversion therapy and evangelicalism and ultimately move towards becoming LGBT-affirming. As a real, complex human being, the author acknowledges their role in the harm that conversion therapy has done and moves forward with grace. As such, rating memoirs feels hard for me as they are highly personal. There were so many times I nearly cried reading this book and parts that were hard to get through, as someone who’s also struggled and felt they had to choose between their faith and their identity. I recommend this memoir.

zacattk01's review against another edition

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5.0

This book.....wow.
This wrecked me.....in the best possible way.
I grieved with Julie.
I celebrated with her.
I'm now asking some different questions!

hollyn_middle's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

lt_reads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

jessicabrazeal's review against another edition

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5.0

Julie Rodgers, tip of the hat to you, sister. Our stories are so very similar and it is so important that stories like ours get told. Those of us in the LGBTQ community that are also people that love Jesus are far more than people realize. We deserve love, safety and celebration. We deserve to be seen as whole humans, not just as a category based on one element of our lives. Your bravery to tell the truth is inspiring.

camsara99's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

outtoexist's review

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challenging emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

This is an incredible memoir that teaches me, as someone who was raised outside the Christina church, so much about what it means to be queer in the Evangalical church, to renegotiate your faith, and to find yourself. I can only imagine that people who share parts of this experience would find this book all the more meaningful