You Can Be Both
You Can Be Both
Lauren Lanzaretta
Can You Pray the Gay Away? The Truth LGBTQ Christians Aren’t Told
34 minutes Posted Jan 25, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
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• LGBTQ Healing & Resource Guide: www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth• Submit your story: https://bit.ly/49G1tpz________________

Can you stop being gay?Can you pray the gay away?Does God actually change someone’s sexual orientation — and if so, why doesn’t He do it for everyone?In this episode of You Can Be Both, we take an honest, compassionate, and deeply personal look at ex-gay testimonies, conversion therapy, and the psychological and spiritual harm caused by shame-based faith narratives.Many LGBTQ Christians are told that if they pray harder, surrender more, or fully “commit,” God will remove same-sex attraction. But for countless people, that never happens — and the result is anxiety, depression, self-hatred, and even suicidal ideation.In this conversation, we explore:    •    Why “ex-gay” stories are often rooted in survival, trauma, or repression    •    The difference between healing trauma and trying to change sexual orientation    •    How shame-based Christianity fuels fear, guilt, and self-abandonment    •    Why being LGBTQ does not prevent you from following Jesus    •    The truth about conversion therapy and why it’s been denounced by major medical associations    •    How faith, mental health, and sexuality intersect    •    Why God’s love is not conditional on becoming straightThis episode is for:    •    LGBTQ Christians questioning their faith    •    Anyone harmed by “pray the gay away” theology    •    Parents trying to understand their LGBTQ child    •    People deconstructing harmful church teachings    •    Those healing from religious traumaYour identity is not a sin.Your attraction is not a failure of faith.And you do not need to change who you’re attracted to in order to be loved by God.✨ Resources mentioned:    •    LGBTQ Christian Healing Guide: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/shop/p/gaychristianresourceguide    •    Pray Away documentary on Netflix  📩 Have you experienced conversion therapy or ex-gay ministry?There’s a confidential form linked below — your story matters.👉 Subscribe for more honest conversations at the intersection of faith, healing, and LGBTQ identity.👉 Follow You Can Be Both on Instagram and TikTok as well!