A review by leviofmichigan
Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story by Julie Rodgers

5.0

Julie Rodgers does a fantastic job writing about her personal experience with the “ex-gay” movement and the Evangelicals that sought to manipulate it for their gain before it ultimately fell. I appreciate this book especially because it doesn’t try to explain why a progressive interpretation of Scripture is correct, but instead, shows how again and again, the conservative interpretation produces bad fruit and is unsustainable no matter one’s commitment or faithfulness. If you’re a queer person of faith, or you’re the Christian parent of a queer person, this could be really helpful.

One note; weirdly, there’s a passage in which Rodgers deadnames a trans friend, referring to them in the past with incorrect pronouns. On one hand, I understand it, because, with Rodgers being gay, it could be confusing for some readers to read about her having this short infatuation with a man. At the end of the day, if the trans person in question was consulted about this choice, I’m in no position, as a cis guy, to stand in judgment. I just hope that is the case.