In/Out: A scandalous story of falling into love and out of the church

by Steph Lentz

'Steph takes you into her world with refreshing honesty. Her voice is that rare combination of conviction and vulnerability' Kumi Taguchi 'With In/Out , Steph Lenz shows that if love does not conquer all, something has gone very badly wrong' Ed le Brocq thanks In January 2021, Steph Lentz was fired from her job as an English teacher at a Sydney Christian school after she came out as a lesbian. A hardcore Christian during her teens and twenties, Steph once preached against homosexuality and defended her church's conservative teachings about marriage and sex - that is, until she fell in love with a woman at her church, and her world turned upside-down. Being honest about her sexuality cost Steph her marriage, her job and her community. At once a gripping recount, a heartfelt apology and a scathing take-down, In/Out charts Steph's course from inside Christian fundamentalism, out of the closet and into a fuller sense of herself. Questioning what she once believed and bearing witness to the grief that can accompany radical change, her story ultimately attests to the truth, beauty and goodness of reclaiming agency over our own lives. In the midst of ongoing debates about religious freedom and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in Australia, Steph's story is timely and necessary.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Queer

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2023

Reviews

[juno]

i don't really feel i can give this book any sort of number rating, so i'll instead use this review to say that ms lentz was one of my favourite teachers in highschool, that she was kind but firm, and always pushed my friends and i to think critically for ourselves and do our best (even when i habitually didn't!). the way she taught and spoke to us carries strongly through into her writing - its articulate and honest, and assured even when describing experiences of uncertainty. lentz mentions a few times throughout the negative impact she is sorry she had prior to coming to terms with her own sexuality and wrestling with her faith, a sentiment i fully sympathise with. however, speaking for myself, i always felt a sense of safety, respect and steadfast support in her classroom. my friends and i missed her in our final year of highschool, and i can only imagine what a wonderful, intelligent presence she would've been to other students there after we graduated, queer and not alike.

as a queer person who was raised in very similar christian circles, i'm grateful to ms lentz and the other teachers, friends and people in my life who, like her, encouraged me to engage deeply and curiously with the world. i hope we all get to live full, true lives.

[Katie Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly I thought it was a good story, but I found myself being irritated by Lentz and her sort of ‘I’m taking responsibility for the people I hurt, but it’s really not my fault but the fault of the dastardly church’ narrative. She sort of came across not like she was raised in a mainstream Anglican community but like she was raised in something akin to The Children of God or the People’s Temple. While her suffering was undoubtedly real the cult narrative was laid on a bit thick and I felt slightly annoyed by the end.

I also felt that some of the details of her personal life were uncomfortable to read given that some people like her husband would be identifiable. It felt a little cruel and unnecessary. I was left with the impression that she is still so deep in her own pain she can’t fully appreciate the pain she’s caused others - and will do by publishing this. I think she desperately wants to be a writer and perhaps has written this too soon in her own journey. Nevertheless the book had some entertaining passages, she made her points strongly and it was readable.

[Tori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Steph Lentz can write. There are some incredible uses of language in this book, some descriptions and turns of phrase that clearly show she is a writer. She has a gift. Unfortunately the gift gets lost in this book… because the book does not appear to know what it is or what it’s doing.

Is it an attempt at some (heavily biased) social commentary? Is it a kind of airport steamy romance? Is it a soapbox for her own recently formed opinions on the church? Is it a philosophical contemplation with a literary edge (if it has stayed simply that it could have been beautiful)? Or is it what it most appears to be: a public justification for some pretty horrible behaviour, some scintillating details thrown in to validate the use of “scandalous”… and a clear lack of concern for who she takes down with her?

The fact that Steph herself doesn’t seem to know what she’s doing makes the book a bit of a complicated mess, all told with an unfortunate air of superiority and what feels like a desperate desire to communicate that she was the victim in every situation - with a few caveats thrown in to make her appear self-aware.

I was so interested to read a book that promised so much, not least after the media storm around “I was fired for being gay” (a false headline, one discovers. The details are far more nuanced than that - hence the media party rather than going down the legal route which would have been a dead end), but this book just made me really uncomfortable, as if I was listening to someone trying to offload responsibility for some really destructive behaviour and not caring whose private lives she (often needlessly) detailed and exposed.

I’m glad Steph appears to be working through some of her issues, but I wonder if writing a “memoir” while still in the middle of this process will be a decision she’s glad she made later in life. It seems at this point she’s incredibly clouded by herself and her own (self professed) unreliable emotions right now.

Ultimately, while making a few interesting observations and with a few moments of beautiful writing, this book feels chaotic and unsettling to read, like a teenage girl has left her diary open for you to read in the hope that you’ll think she’s cool. It needed a good editor and a more canny publisher.

[Emelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling memoir I finished over a weekend. I found Lentz’s examination of self and faith illuminating, with a compassion for each side and an honesty that was deeply moving. Highly recommend.

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Steph Lentz tells her story about growing up as an evangelical christian in Sydney and her move from conservative christian to lesbian "ignostic".
If you've seen other reviews of this book, then you'll see many people, both christian and queer, who are frustrated by the tone and style of this book. Steph can write well, but there are a range of things that will frustrate readers as one sees her willingness to demonise those she disagrees with, while painting a rosy picture of the argument she is aiming for.
I was put off almost from the beginning when Lentz notes how she will use the word "Fundamentalist" throughout the book. On one side it is accurate, as it's a term I might have used myself as a teen/twenty-something, but of course, the meaning of the word was different in the 90s/naughtys, and it becomes very clear that Lentz wants to use this word as a pejorative term, not in the way it originally meant, referring to a broad theological conservatism.
The rest of the book is shaped by a victim mentality that refuses to really think critically about herself. One glaring example is the comparison of two moments; the first being when her husband finally calls it quits on their marriage. She has been cheating on him with a married man for a long time and has grown more and more distant from him, so he is understandably incredibly upset. Steph's comment on this is "let me be perfectly clear, he was never physically violent toward me... but that night I felt really unsafe.. Cut to the end of the book on the night where the woman, with whom she cheated for years, tells Steph that she's done, she discusses how she got incredibly drunk, and thrust a knife into this woman's couch after cutting herself with it. In the first experience, Steph frames the whole thing as if her ex was acting in an abusive way for being upset an angry about her attitude toward him. In the second, it is simply a reflection of her dealing with a stressful situation and some depression.
In the end, the title itself lends to the idea that this is a story about a woman who was "let go" because she came out as gay & wasn't allowed to teach an alternative understanding of Christian faith in the Christian school she taught at. In the end, it's the story of a woman who was repeatedly unfaithful to her husband, had massive issues with alcoholism, is clear that she had jettisoned her faith some time ago, yet lacked the integrity to own up to all of this.
A really frustrating read. I've struggled not to write a much longer essay on all of the ways it bugged me. Yet I'm happy to have read it, so I can think more deeply through just how far off the mark this book is.

[Jacqueline Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A raw, eloquent and courageous account of an individual’s dogged pursuit of discovery of their truest self and their faith. I’m usually a slow reader this book had me insatiable - I completed it in three sittings and stayed up until 3am to finish it. Steph Lentz is generous with her vulnerability and bravely honest with the challenges of existing as queer and Christian in Sydney. It made me laugh and cry and reflect. What an inspiring gift this author has given her readers. It is rare for a memoir to achieve such a delicately perfect balance of humour, emotive reflections and sharp social commentary, to delve into theological philosophy and to remain so compelling. Perhaps what is only more remarkable than the eloquence of this author is her own capacity for growth, pursuit of authenticity, resilience of spirit and courage to survive.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a scandalous story, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a well written, gripping recount, this isn’t it.

I found the book to be quite boring, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the promise of being scandalous (the reason I picked it up in the first place). It didn’t even make me raise an eyebrow.

The writing was uninspired and un-imaginative. I felt like there was a lot of ‘fluff’ and unnecessary content – seemed like she was padding out the text in an effort to make a target word count?

I really struggled to see where the heart-felt apology was. It didn’t feel genuine, and was almost childlike in her attempt to blame everyone but herself.

It’s not the worst book I’ve read, but I feel like I wasted my time with this one.

[Desney King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Other reviewers have expressed my reactions and thoughts so well, I won't belabour them here.
But yes, I feel Steph is still in the early stages of working out who she is and how she wants to live her life; that she has written her story way too soon.
The memoir is self-indulgent, tedious, and maddeningly repetitive.
Having come from a similar background, and having lived a long life as a bi woman since my devastating 'unconversion' from fundamentalist Christianity, I found Steph's story lacking in insight and self-awareness; still mired in the 'someone else (God/Jesus) is responsible for my behaviour' thought patterns that sit at the core of fundamentalism of many kinds.
This could have been a fast-moving, informative, challenging, entertaining much shorter book.
That's what the title and cover hint at.
Unfortunately, it's none of those things.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read. Lentz’ memoir documented her journey from extreme Christian fundamentalism to coming out as a lesbian, whilst working in a highly conservative Christian school. I admired Lentz’ honesty at the guilt that she grapples with, having been not only complicit, but also an active voice against the LGBTQIA+ community. A particularly moving section of this book was the letters Lentz received from former students at the school she was subsequently fired from. Within these letters, students detailed their experience at the school and their gratitude for her bravery as an openly out teacher, noting the significance that this representation had on their lives. Lentz’ writing is poignant and highly reflective, loved this book!!

[Emily W · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many parts were deeply relatable and it was so reassuring to see my own experiences articulated

[Daisy K · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s a funny thing to read a memoir written by someone who details the ways in which she deceived and lied to people she claims to love (or have loved at the time). “I started lying less” says Lentz. Kind of reveals her as a bit of an unreliable narrator doesn’t it?

A few of these reviews claim to be objective, disconnected parties. Maybe they are. Maybe some aren’t. I admit that am not: I am somewhat distantly connected to this story via friends of friends etc. But I did read the book, the whole thing.

Because of this, I know some of what is in this book to be true, some to be exaggerated, some to be patently untrue (lies) and some details to be carefully omitted - especially those that would reflect poorly onto Steph. Some of what has been left out left me truly surprised by her audacity to manipulate truth for the sake of her story (although more concerning is if she believes her curation to be true).

I know some parts of this would certainly ruffle feathers in the church (that’s the point, isn’t it? Just look at the title!) but some of it would also make people in the church really sad. Sad for what happened. Sad for messages both said and received. Sad for Steph’s experience. Sad for those in her story. Any generalisations of groups leaves little room for nuance - on any end of the scale.

But mostly I know that this book (much like events in the book) has hurt people. Hurt people with its lies and its curation and omission of facts. Hurt people with its tone of self-justification from a perspective of a victim. Hurt people with the lazy characterisation of the players on the stage of Steph.

This review has nothing to do with religion, politics, communities or philosophies; just the unfortunate collateral damage of this story: people. Perhaps Steph choosing to write “in media res” impacts her ability to see truth, herself and consequences with clarity. I almost hope that, for her sake.

I honestly read the book hopeful that the brilliance she can possess would outshine the heavily biased telling of personal stories, but it didn’t. It made me incredibly sad. Yes this review is also biased - but that seems only fair as some kind of right of reply.

I genuinely wish Steph the very best. I think she has some thoughtful things to say and I hope one day she will have the maturity to find the wisest ways to say them.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reviews for this are fascinating! People seem uncomfortable with the idea that organised religion can be significantly harmful - if Lentz was a survivor of a more notorious cult, I imagine people would be a lot more forgiving.

I really appreciated the part toward the end when Lentz ran through all the things she missed, having given up her faith - it really demonstrated how a person’s core identity can be shaken.

Personally, I thought it was an interesting and readable memoir, that was insightful and had clever cross-textual references (just like a Bible study or book club would, of course)!

[Alinah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steph’s story is one a lot of people can relate to I think regardless of sexual orientation, growing up in the church is growing up as a blank person, all your likes and dislikes are chosen for you, you simply have to play the part, but it’s undoing all that damage when you start to discover who you truly are, it’s hard enough discovering yourself, but having to go against core teachings and beliefs you prescribed to before evening really knowing what that meant can be life destroying, I hope Steph is living her best life now and takes comfort from the fact that this book is a fantastic tool for people who are taking those first baby steps into discovering who they are. Well done Steph!

[Merceiam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of a woman’s journey from “hard core” fundamentalist Christian to a gay ignostic (new term for me) person. The author hit the headlines a few years ago after she was fired from a private Christian school when she came out as gay.
Lentz has obviously done a lot of soul searching and kudos to her for being able to show such vulnerability. However, I do wonder how those once close to her would feel after such exposure about their own lives.
At times I found this a little too dense (unsurprisingly, lots of theology) and a bit too earnest. There’s an interesting reading list at the end (surprised that it doesn’t include the excellent book “Unfollow” by Phelps-Roper).

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading this book, I was left with the feeling that parts of the book were embellished. The author also seemed to have a victim mentality, with zero empathy for the pain she caused others by her self destructive behaviour. The writing also felt clunky as if she couldn’t work out what genre of book she wanted to write. While I did feel empathy for her and what she went through, I felt she also made blanket generalisations about Sydney Anglicans that were untrue in my experience. She also perhaps needed to consider the privacy of those she wrote about, as she wrote in graphic detail about her husband’s (“perceived”) shortcomings and her affairs. Very unkind.

[Julia Gilchrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very confronting, intense, extremely clear and well written read. I honestly couldn’t put it down and read it in 24 hours.

Lentz explains her backstory life with Sydney Anglicans, her family, parts of her upbringing, and how she formed her Christian faith and views. It was genuinely so interesting to see how someone’s faith worldview develops and what influences this. I liked her intelligence and inquiring mind as she delves into her feelings and sense that “not all is well and how on earth do I deal with this?”

Lentz comes across as quite hard on in herself and she clearly wanted to the heteronormative, faithful Christian wife with the house, lots of children and picket fence, but had such a massive conflict over wanting that, but not truly feeling that was in her life path. I had imagined that it would take a lot of courage to admit that to oneself and then to friends, family, work colleagues and to know that coming out will your life upside down but until I read Lentz’s story, I hadn’t understood the true extent of the challenge, both emotionally and psychologically.

This was particularly only after Lentz explained and explored what was happening to her, looked at the role of the church and Biblical interpretation, the position of women, how schools educate, how Australian society functions, there was a real array of topics, influences and aspects that she explored as she worked her way through several painful years of trying to make sense of and reconcile her sexuality with her faith.

From a Christian (and human) perspective, offering compassion, a safe space, an active listening ear and showing love, as Jesus would, seems the most natural response. Essentially, I come away from reading this book thinking how can I judge someone else’s feelings, experiences, conflicts and challenges, if I was in the same position, I would want compassion and love as the first response, not an opinion on what I should be doing. Because of this, I would say this book is an absolute must read, because even if you disagree with Lentz, (even if you very very especially disagree with her), it will help illuminate the difficulties faced by people of faith (and those who profess no faith) who find themselves same sex attracted when it comes to romantic relationships and this could be particularly useful to parents and friends of those who are starting to our who have just recently “come out.”

[Hank Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…isn’t life an ongoing creative project, with endless drafts and fresh iterations?” - Steph Lentz, In/Out

In/Out was a captivating, illuminating and healing read, start to finish.

It is incredibly well-paced, I found myself staying up hours beyond my bed time desperate to read the next chapter.

And it hits close to home. Steph Lentz perfectly articulates the complex feelings that come with being expelled from a religious institution. There is a grief for what is left behind, and a freedom in experiencing a bigger, brighter, more compassionate world beyond the church doors.

In the most paradoxical way, I wholeheartedly resonate with Steph’s closing premise that I am a better “Christian” having left the church. I lie less. I give more. My purpose is rooted in improving the lives of people on the margins.

Thank you Steph for writing this book and sharing your story.

[Samuel Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book would be good but did not realise the ways that it would truly resonate with me. It put many of the daily thoughts in my head onto paper and put words to my similar experience in the Church. Missing ones Church community can cause a deep grief, and finding your identity and place in the world without it can be super daunting, although also eventually liberating. Steph really put words to that feeling.

Thank you Steph for being so honest and open with your journey, it brought up sadness, loss, hope, peace and reminded me that I am on the right path for my life. It is so important to not feel alone through times of deconstruction (and potentially reconstruction) of your own faith. It is a long journey, and this book has been a helpful, interesting and insightful resource along the way.

[Lee McKerracher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steph Lentz's journey from fundamentalist Christian through to her bravery taking the step to being her true self is harrowing.

What I find so sad about this is that churches, regardless of type, love to preach about love, understanding, equality, support etc etc etc but they do not practice what they preach. Churches hide behind walls of secrecy to hide their own discrimination and lust for power and control over their followers.

Claiming control over her own life, going through the grief of that change and then the beauty of being able to be exactly who she is, is a wonderful story.

If we treat everyone with respect and kindness, we get to a cohesive and caring society.

[lum琳]

i can't believe there was a time where folks could be fired for being gay like... sorry bffr rn??? and in australia??? (albeit in a Christian institute but regardless wtaf)

very insightful read and i'm absolutely in awe of the strength and resilience Steph possesses. hearing about her marriage to a man that was doomed to fail from the start to finally embracing her true identity even after knowing full well she would be ostracised from the one thing she depended on the most (her faith), steph's transparent retelling of these events and many more was masterful and it will be a piece of literature that will assist in shaping the landscape of lgbtqia+ in faith.

[Jessie Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Nothing grows in the arid soil of fundamentalism under the rainless clouds of fear and false hope."

A very raw and brutally honest account of the havoc fundamentalist religion can play in peoples lives, especially those who begin to question these teachings. Lentz details her sexual, emotional and spiritual revelations as she came to terms with her truth during the last years of her 20s. Lentz’ style is relaxed and allows readers to better understand the inside world of fundamentalist Christians and the power the church holds, in particular over young vulnerable minds.

An infuriating, sickening but also hopeful memoir.

[Dymocks Prahran]

Most know Steph Lentz from headlines in 2021 when she was fired for coming out, but this book is about much more than that. It's about the emotional isolation that comes with denying who you are. And the guilt
felt when a community embraces you after you’ve spent your life ostracizing and attacking them. Written very self critically, In/Out is a story about losing the very thing that defined your life trajectory in order to live.

[Suzanne Toomey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! A scary insight into Christian Fundamentalism and the damage it can do to try and make people not accept themselves and go down a path of denial. The author is very brave to write this account of her journey to self acceptance and enlightenment in spite of numerous obstacles.
I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down, I’ve been on a similar journey to Lentz and I truly appreciated finding a book that helped explain and gave voice to so many experiences that had left me feeling isolated in an exclusive community like Christianity.

[Alex Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and insightful memoir. Beautifully written, I was gripped from start to finish by her eloquence, vulnerability and astuteness.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. So many light bulb moments (for me as well as for the author 😅)! Recommend.

[Jessie P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to know how to rate this one. It was easy to read and I can see how some people would give it 5 stars.
As a queer person also from an Anglican background I was eager to read it. But although I found it engaging it was also just so disappointing. Not because of the arguments or analysis’ of the Anglican Church - they were quite interesting - but because of the way Steph has gone about it all.

I don’t understand why “but first I had to do some damage” is anything to be proud of. And I understand the concept of “neo-adolescence” and the beauty of a period of awakening to who you really are, but I don’t think this excuses behaviour that can and will hurt others.

I initially thought what she was doing when she went to the media was courageous but I’ve since been more convinced that that Steph is driven by a desire for fame and has rushed into getting her story published. The narrative that she was “fired for being gay” seems to be full of holes.

I noted how she wanted to be a role model to the kids at Covenant Christian School but I think that is something to be earned and needs to be a lot more than just being loud. It’s about character. Turning your own suffering into other people’s suffering is really sad. I felt particularly for Ben and Ella having their lives exposed for Steph’s personal gain.

I think Steph helpfully raised how the church has a lot to answer for and change in regards to their treatment of LGBTQIA+ people but overall I am very disheartened by this book. I hope that people who read it know that not all queer people from a faith background are as reckless as Lentz.

For all this I just can’t give it more than 2 stars.
Sadly, I don’t recommend this book.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by the author. Steph Lentz was a dedicated Christian, immersing herself in church life, marrying a fellow Christian, teaching in a Christian school. But Steph was attracted to women throughout her life, and finally came out as gay, causing a seismic shift in her life.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It gave a good idea about how all-encompassing a particular type of Christianity can be, and as a result there is little knowledge of how other people might view an issue. It also dealt well with how difficult it is to reconcile Evangelical Christianity with modern life - accepting feminism and non-heterosexual lives. Steph was honest about how her world was shaped and effectively fell apart as she realised she couldn't continue living as an Evangelical Christian. I appreciated how lonely she felt after losing the certainty of her faith.

But the book was also over written. It was a memoir but also there was a lot of philosophising and I felt lectured to while reading. It's true that Steph was fired from her job, but difficult to know why she expected NOT to be, when she was apparently becoming aware of how ingrained her own attitudes to sexuality had been when she was firmly evangelical. This is a conundrum in present day life - we believe that people should have freedom of religion, but how do we as a society cope when that religion contradicts human rights?

I think this will speak to some people, and help with an understanding in the current 'culture wars' why issues of sexuality seem to inflame people with a conservative Christian faith. But it's not a particularly enjoyable read/listen to.

[Rosalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I did struggle with this book. While I do understand that Steph Lentz was telling her story of being raised in a conservative/fundamentalist Christian environment, I felt that we were being preached at. Coming out as gay would have been difficult, but this was a tortuous book in the details about books, podcasts, online sermons etc. that Steph Lentz used to support her discussions and feelings. There was a lot of reliance on other people’s perspectives and opinions, I appreciate that Steph was trying to give us some background into the theology of conservative/fundamentalist Christianity, but again it felt too much like preaching. I gave up about a third of the way through, which was more than my usual 50 pages, but I was hoping that it would get better, but sadly it didn’t. I thought that Steph Lentz was slightly hypocritical, in her attitude towards the Sydney Anglican Church and their attitudes towards LGBTQIA+. These were opinions and beliefs that Steph herself had held and would expound on in seminars, addresses etc. Then she criticizes these people for saying what they believe (just as she had done). I don’t think that these views are correct, and conservative/fundamentalist Christians such as the Sydney Anglicans (and other similar groups) should not be able to use their power and influence to push theses views onto the general public as they tried with the Same Sex Marriage Referendum. Nor do I think that Steph should have been sacked for coming out as a lesbian. However, they do have a right to hold these personal beliefs, just keep them personal.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2021, high school english teacher Steph Lentz was sacked by Covenant, an interdenominational christian school in Sydney, for disclosing that she was a lesbian. Steph was raised Anglican in the highly-conservative Sydney Diocese and became a fundamentalist christian. This memoir is her bumpy journey from committed christian in a heterosexual marriage to agnostic lesbian. 🎧 She narrates the audio herself and does an excellent job of the writing and performing.

As a gay man who was also raised in christian fundamentalism and who also made a very conscious decision to walk away for similar reasons, I could relate to a chunk of Steph’s journey. This is journaling as therapy—it’s brutally candid, it’s messy and it’s raw. Steph details her periodic infatuations with other women, her increasingly dysfunctional marriage, her mental health struggles, her affair, and much, much more. Along the way she examines and dissects the christian fundamentalist views of the Bible, of sexuality, of marriage, and of women’s roles in the church and the home, all of which she says contributed to her mental anguish. The book doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, a very personal journey or theological debate, but it’s incredibly thought-provoking, I couldn’t put it down. Should Steph have shared so much or included as much detail? Maybe not, if some of the people involved are hurt by the revelations. Maybe yes, if it helps other LGTBQIA+ people come to terms with their religious upbringing or it helps them shrug off some of the hateful messaging or it saves a life.