LGBTQ: Outing My Christianity

by Ann Townsend, David L. Rattigan (Editor)

“My life as a lesbian hasn’t been a big deal. Admitting I was a Christian was embarrassing!”
Proceeds to Non-profits Learn More: http://lgbtqoutingmychristianity.com
Inspired by Vicky Beeching's coming out, her work with the United Nations, and her fight for LGBT rights in the Church and the world, Outing My Christianity is a story for the curious reader and the ashamed Christian about a lesbian's life, salvation, love, pain, loss, and survival. It is a story about a walk taken as a quirky flower child, awkward teenager, over-enthusiastic twenty-something, and blind adult who can now see. The time is now, folks. Regardless of your faith, we have to stand together if we want change.

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2014

About the author

I am a Christian lesbian and an application developer, primarily mobile web application development, for a government agency. My day-to-day life consists of using technology to help my arm of the government be more efficient and productive. On my breaks, I am an avid Tweeter, advocating for LGBT groups, kids, and girls in STEM. I participate in various social media events of Out Leadership, Respect Yourself and Stonewall UK. I recently started leading sessions teaching girls/women that they can code. I'm studious, creative, and a left/right brain combination of an awkward geek and nerd. I'm occasionally amusing, particularly to myself...

My first book is available for Kindle/eBook, Audible/iTunes/audio (narrated by the awesome Lauren Fortgang), and paperback. The book was a surprise to me. The plan was to write science fiction/fantasy in a few years after I got my PhD, but my story apparently had to be written now.

I was born in California. I grew up in a little town in Northwest Arkansas. I spent my 10th grade year in Hawaii. After graduating high school and washing out of Air Force basic training, I moved back to Hawaii to go to college. My education focused on writing, art, and psychology. Later, I switched and got an Associates in Respiratory Care. I couldn't get a job, and given the expense of living in Hawaii, I moved back to the mainland, to California, where I still live today.

I went back to school for Computer Science. I washed out of Computer Science, because I apparently don't have a brain for Engineering. I ended up getting a Bachelor's in Business with an emphasis on Computer Science and a minor in Psychology. I followed that up with a Master's in Management of Information Systems and an MBA. Can you tell that education is important to me?

Reviews

[Amber]

I was fortunate enough to meet the author a couple months ago and she told me about her book. While I am neither religious nor LGBTQ (fierce ally!), I found the book to be a good read and am glad the author shared her story.

[James J. Gurksnis Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need to have an open mind as believers when it comes to LGBT issues

If you're against gay marriage, I respect your opinion. Tough luck though because it's not going away anytime soon. I think that this is one issue I struggle with the most. I don't know whether to be for it or against it. This book makes you think and that is what we need to do. We can't keep hiding from LGTBQ folk anymore.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book. Different to what I expected. I didn’t liked it as much as I thought I would, but part of it might be my dislike for biographies and not the book for itself.

I think one of the issues I had was my expectative for a more spiritual book, instead it was more center on telling the author’s experience as a lesbian and a Christian. I learn a lot from the book, mostly about the beliefs of some Christian religions that I wasn’t aware of. It was a nice start point to make some research by myself. I liked getting to know the author’s experience, I can’t help to think how different it is from other places in the world, like where I live. A mostly Christian country, and yet, more surrender by hate than love, and surely much less accepting of homosexuality as I learn every day. I think getting to know a story like this can be helpful to people struggling with similar issues, but I hardly think a book like this can be find in places where is most needed.

There are some great messages in the book, and some of them would work as a great arguments to some extremist people. One that got my attention and I can’t get out of my head is: “God can’t be magnanimous and then, as some of His followers claim, hate any one of His creations, His children. God’s love is absolute and unconditional, and with absolute and infinite love, there can be no hate”. I think that’s the basic massage of the book. I might have some issues about it, but the intention and the overall feeling of it was just great.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read

I chose this book as I am so interested in the connection between homosexuality and religion, and it's not everyday you read a fair and modern book about the combination! I enjoyed this book as it's a lovely insight into having faith and still being you. Thoroughly enjoyable

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

More about a search for comfort in the Church rather than Townsend outing herself as a Christian
My Full Review

[Caitlyn Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good!

I think I was expecting something else in terms of development for myself and someone who is a lesbian and loves God. But it is a great memoire and look into Ann's life.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Townsend gives us a glance into her personal struggle of being a lesbian and a Christian. Intense, relevant, and at times a bit awkward, her story will help thousands with the same struggle.