Coming Out + Beyond | LGBTQIA+ Stories

🌈 Welcome to another episode of "Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories"! In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal interviews Pastor Greg Bullard, the longest-serving affirming pastor in Tennessee. They discuss Greg's coming out journey, the importance of community in faith, and the role of acceptance within the church. Greg shares his experiences growing up in a strict religious environment and how he found his place in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). the conversation delves into the challenges of language in faith, the duality of love, and the need for community support. Greg emphasizes the importance of transforming hate into love and creating a beautiful world through action and connection. ❓ What to Expect in This Episode: ✔️ Emphasis on the importance of community to faith and salvation. ✔️ The importance of language in faith matters and how it can be a barrier or a bridge. ✔️The power of transforming hate into love and more! ✨ Why This Matters: Many within the LGBTQIA+ community experience rejection from their faith communities and suffer religious trauma. Pastor Greg Bullard offers a perspective that makes space for queer individuals and emphasizes that church trauma stems from individuals, not God. Finding friendship and support within a faith community can be deeply meaningful and healing for those who have suffered religious trauma. 📌🎙️About Pastor Greg Bullard: Pastor Greg Bullard started his ministry in northern Alabama when he first felt the call at his home church. His pastor, then, said, “Greg, I’m sorry you’ll never be able to be in ministry because of who you are, and that’s not fair.” Over three decades later, Pastor Greg has built one of the most long-standing affirming ministries in the Southeast. A graduate of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, he made Nashville his permanent home in the late 1990s. With an accounting and business systems background, he marries his analytical side with his humor and storytelling each week as he ministers in the community and his home church. Greg has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign, Tennessee Equality Project, Middle Tennessee State University, and Hands On Nashville for his work in LGBTQ+ ministry and food security. He and his husband, Brian, live with their son, Micah, born in 2011 and daughter, Esther, born in 2014. You’ll find his other son, Zach, on the piano bench every Sunday, sharing the ministry. Learn more about Greg here: https://www.covenantofthecross.com/staff-nav 💬 Join the Conversation: What does faith mean to you? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s foster a supportive community where we can learn from each other. 🔗 Visit our website: Anne-Marie's : [ www.annemariezanzal.com] 🌟 Why Watch This Episode? If you're a queer person who has been impacted by a conservative faith tradition and feeling the loss of acceptance by your faith community, let this episode inspire you and help you to know that you are inherently lovable and that there is space for you in an affirming church. 🔗 Follow us on social media: 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal [https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal] 💠 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/ [https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/] 💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal 💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/] You can also tune into this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Apple Podcasts: (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coming-out-beyond-lgbtqia-stories/id1569859569) Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/show/27kocr4llm6syHKaeX1x9e) 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Buckle up, daters! In this episode of Coming Out & Beyond, we’re diving even deeper into the complexities of dating in the LGBTQIA+ community with Barbara Rowlandson, a seasoned relationship coach and LGBTQIA+ advocate. 🌈❤️ Dating can be both exciting and daunting, especially when you’re navigating life after coming out or rediscovering your authentic self. In this candid conversation, Barbara offers insights, tools, and strategies to help you assess your dating readiness and build meaningful connections that honor your true self. 💡 Topics Covered: ☑️ What you need to consider before starting to date ☑️ The importance of self-acceptance to the dating experience ☑️ Ridding yourself of limiting thoughts about yourself and dating ☑️ Why vulnerability is essential for connection ☑️ Preparing for rejection – an inevitability in dating 🎙️About Barbara Rowlandson: With years of experience as a relationship coach, Barbara specializes in helping LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples create fulfilling and authentic relationships. Her compassionate approach empowers individuals to embrace their identity and build strong connections. 💬 Join the Conversation: What does dating readiness mean to you? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s foster a supportive community where we can learn from each other. 🔗 Visit our website: Barbara Rowlandson’s : [ lavenderdating.com [http://www.lavenderdating.com/]] Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com [http://www.annemariezanzal.com/]] 🌟 Why Watch This Episode? Whether you’re new to the dating scene or seeking to improve your approach, this episode provides valuable insights to help you date with confidence, authenticity, and purpose. 🔗 Follow us on social media: 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal [https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal] 💠 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/ [https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/] 💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal [http://twitter.com/annemariezanzal] 💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/] 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Please download, like & subscribe! You can also tune into this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Dating later in life can feel like tricky business! That's why we've asked our in-house dating expert, Barbara Rowlandson, to chat about best practices when stepping out into the dating world after a long hiatus. This episode covers dating while you're still in your heteronormative marriage, assessing your dating readiness, priorities in dating, and much more! Interested in taking part in Lavender Dating's 2-part dating workshop, Jan 25th & Feb 1st? Visit www.lavenderdating.com or www.annemariezanzal.com for more information and to register.

Another year of podcasts is in the history books! In this first episode of Season 6, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and her fellow coach/producer Barbara Rowlandson review some of their favorite episodes of 2024, and give us a peek into topics that will be covered in 2025. Happy New Year, everyone!

80% of gender is between your ears (not your legs) says, transition coach Wendy Cole. Wendy's remarkable story begins in the 1950s, when as a very young child she knew she was a girl. In her conversation with host Anne-Marie Zanzal, Wendy shares her struggles in early childhood with her parents and psychiatric professionals who gave her harmful labels, how she coped in a heteronormative world, her eventual breaking point when she finally stepped into her identity as a woman, her friendship with her ex-wife, figuring out her sexuality post-transition, and much more.