LGBTQ: Outing My Christianity

By: Ann Townsend / Narrated By: Lauren Fortgang

Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins

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

I did it again. I read the dratted Publisher’s Summary.

So I expected LGBTQ: Outing My Christianity to be about a well-grounded lesbian who worshipped in the closet and faced a backlash of ridicule and consternation by her tribe.

Uhm, maybe a taaaaad of that.

Mostly it’s about Ann Townsend’s trying to find a place for herself in Church… ANY Church.

This is 2 hrs and 43 mins of religious memoir and sexuality bio… which sounds like I’m complaining, but I’m not. It’s quite good, it’s just that it’s not what I expected. Expect much discourse on the many, many churches Townsend joined and tried to be a part of. Most of them she found to be far too judgmental and weren’t inclusive or were outright hostile to those who are different.

And as Townsend embraces her sexuality, she finds that many of the churches she stumbles upon, many of the congregations that initially welcome her, become harsh. People she’d like to just talk about the Bible with say they can’t meet her any longer, at least not privately as she might do something sinful to them (Heck, even Townsend’s own mother takes yeeeeeeears to come to terms with her).

Then too, this is about her relationships, and that’s where some nice things happen. Kinda. Cuz, see, she’s kinda drawn to the needy clingy type. The only true and loving relationship she has is a friendship with a completely straight woman with kids. Townsend doesn’t push the issue, becomes a devoted raiser of children, but things end horribly anyway.

Ditto the next serious longterm relationship. Gotta hand it to her (as someone who chose to work with children rather than have them myself), she does an AMAZING job with the kids from each of these relationships, and I’m guessing that has a LOT to do with her Faith.

Lauren Fortgang does a really terrific job. Sometimes authors of memoirs choose to narrate their own work, and I don’t know why Townsend didn’t (I dunno; maybe she has a really obnoxious and squeeeeeeaky voice?!?), but Fortgang zips through the narrative, knowing the text back and forth, so it seems as tho’ we’re hearing the author herself speak. This made me feel a better connection to Townsend, and it made me care (and giggle) about what was being said.

Townsend has made a lot of mistakes in her life, and she’s quite candid about them, so this isn’t some glossed over, holier than thou, work. This is just a very human work.

And even though she’s struggling with MS now, I’m soooo happy she feels she’s in a good place mentally and emotionally.

And spiritually? She rocks!