Two friends, each with a gay son, Allison Dayton and Jenie Rae Hunter, are faithful members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who feel raising their LGBTQ children is a calling to be embraced not feared. Jenie and Allison bring you into the conversation as they address the most current topics, suggest solutions and breakdown some seriously unhelpful thinking. Allison shares thoughts and tips on managing your faith and your LGBTQ family on liftandlove.org and @liftandloveorg on Instagram and Facebook. Jenie can be found teaching invaluable LGBTQ parenting skills to families @Jeniehuntercoaching on Instagram and Facebook and www.jeniehuntercoaching.com where you can also book a zoom LGBTQ parenting coaching session.
Episodes
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
Jenie and Allison talk with John Gustav-Wrathall about his journey as a LDS gay man. John grew up in a faithful LDS family and served a mission and attended BYU. At the end of his BYU student career he decided to leave the church because he couldn't find a way to honor his sexuality and stay in the church. John's shares his powerful story about his relationship with Christ and his journey back to attending the LDS faith as a man how is in a committed gay marriage.
Since his returning to church with his LDS brother and sisters, John has founded Emmaus LGBTQ Ministry. Emmaus is a community of heterosexual/cisgender and LGBTQ Latter-day Saints who are called to ministry for the safety, well-being and happiness of LGBTQ people in and adjacent to The Church of Jesus Christ
John Gustav-Wrathall is a published scholar and teacher in the fields of LGBTQ history and American religion and a former president and executive director of Affirmation. He is active in the Lake Nokomis Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his husband of almost three decades are parents of a gay foster son and live in south Minneapolis.
While many would insist that he choose between his husband or his Church, Gustav-Wrathall has written, "I could not reject either and remain a person of integrity. I could not be disloyal to either and not feel that at some level I was betraying both myself and God."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmauslgbtq/
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you need some one-on-one guidance for you and your family. Please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Can I support my LGBTQ child and still hold a temple recommend?
We get this question a lot. We tackle this pain point head on and arm you with apostle quotes, handbook references and stake president's views on how you can do both.
This episode will help educate you on why we have temple recommend interviews. It will also help you understand your role and the role of the Bishop/Stake President.
Attending the temple is a right that Heavenly Father wants for all of his children. We feel like our temple attendance helped us parent from our higher self. We want you to have the same confidence and surety in going to the temple and your temple recommend interview.
Join us in our 5 monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - to get the link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Allison and Jenie talk with Dr. Julie Hanks and get her wisdom on some tough situations that families face raising LGBTQ children.
She shares some great strategies on questions like:
-How do you set boundaries and expectations with your LGTBQ child without them feeling you are not being supportive of them?
-How do you handle your child's ultimatum asking you to leave a church that doesn't support them?
-How do you handle parenting issues when you and your spouse disagree?
-How do you survive spiritually and still support your LGBTQ child?
This episode will teach you some amazing strategies on how to handle tricky situations but still stay connected to your child.
Dr. Julie Hanks, LCSW is the owner and Executive Director of Wasatch Family Therapy. She works on helping you thrive in your personal life and in your family relationships. You can find her on her podcast - Ask Dr. Julie Hanks or Instagram.
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
This is our continued conversation with David Doyle's about the list that he has created to help Bishops/Leadership navigate how to support their LGBTQ membership. He has curated this list through his experience as an LDS LGBTQ member and someone who has had many interactions with Bishops, youth and stake leaders as he has served as a Stake Young Men's President and Stake Executive Secretary for many years.
This will be a great resource to share with any LDS leader.
10 Suggestions for Bishops interacting with LGBTQ members
1) All LGBTQ members need a trusted adult in their life who loves, supports and sustains them, no matter which path they choose.
2) When someone “comes out” they should be greeted with love, validation and hope, not a lecture on repentance or reminder of the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage
3) Create a safe culture for the LGBTQ person. Express your love for a variety of members, including LGBTQ members.
One idea is to share what would happen if someone came to your office and shared they are queer. “I would thank you for trusting me enough to share, and recognize the courage it took to come here. I’d ask you, if you’re comfortable doing so, to share with me some about your journey up to this point. Then I’d ask if it’s alright if I give you a blessing. Then, regardless of if you wanted a blessing or not, I’m a hugger, so I’ll ask if it’s okay to give you a hug.”
4) Don’t use words like “struggling” or say they’ll be “fixed” in the resurrection
5) Our Heavenly Parents love their LGBTQ children, we should give them unconditional love and support and recognize they will bless the lives of others
Even when telling them hard things, marginalized people always felt Jesus' love. Their encounters with Jesus left them with more dignity than when they started. As you interact with queermembers, this would be a worthy goal, to help them feel loved, uplifted and strengthened.
6) LGBTQ individuals are more likely to be the victims of bullying and violence than any other minority group in the USA. Be on the lookout for youth or young adults who may be doing & saying unkind things.
7) Know the signs of suicide and depression. LGBT people are at much higher risk. It’d be a good idea for youth leaders to have some training in this.
8) Encourage them to pray and ask if God loves them as they are
9) Especially before or after lessons about marriage, say something like “I know there are people in this ward who cannot be married because of same-sex attraction or other reasons. I love you, and the Lord has a plan for you.”
10) Know that studies show that being active in the LDS church is often detrimental to the mental health and quality of life for LGBT people. For a person’s well-being, they may decide they need a break. Make sure they know they’re welcome to come back.
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
Allison and Jenie talk to Jessica Livier Mendoza De la Vega (Liv). Liv was recently asked to speak at BYU Women's Conference as an LGBTQ LDS member about the importance of creating a safer place in our church. She shares with us her amazing journey as she has personally navigated finding her own place of belonging as an LGBTQ woman in the LDS member. You will be uplifted, entertained and taught by her honesty and vulnerability as she shares her amazing story.
To see Liv's session at BYU 2021 Women's Conference Session BYU 2021 Women's Conference
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
David navigates a unique journey in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as an openly gay man. David is currently serving as the Brandon Stake Executive Secretary. He shares his thoughtful testimony of Jesus Christ with Allison and Jenie and talks about what it was like growing up in the LDS church and gratefully does not sugar-coat the brutally hard parts.There is so much to learn in David's story.
You will walk away, from this conversation, with a changed heart for our LGBTQ members and will learn how Heavenly Father is mindful of all his children.
David Doyle's Blog (https://nerdygaymormon.tumblr.com/post/159164583009/so-do-you-remember-the-guy-in-yesterdays-general)Example of a video that David Doyle made of the stake presidency (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRMDXsobNls)Example of video David Doyle created for Stake Youth Conference: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVhb0HQLGQA).Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
We get really real about how marriages can take a hit when your child comes out. Jenie and Allison share how their marriages faired and what they had to do to keep them on track.
The strength of the marriage is as important as the health of your child.
We share six tips that can help protect and grow your marriage into your strongest relationship.
- Stop thinking your spouse is doing it wrong.
2. Focus on each other’s strengths vs. their weaknesses.
- Great a safe place for each other.
- Be mindful of creating time together
- Invest in your marriage - therapist, coach, books. Keep learning and educating to learn new skills and tools to help you.
6. Tag Team - this is a marathon, not a sprint
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen is the clinical director and founder of Flourish Therapy, Inc., (Flourish), a behavioral health clinic located in Provo, Utah, which she founded in February 2017 to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ and SSA individuals and their families. Lisa received a B.S. from Brigham Young University in 1990 as university valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude with Honors thesis), an M.S. in 2012 and Ph.D. in 2017, both at BYU, focusing on improving the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in conservative family and community. As part of her graduate programs at BYU, she taught a course on the family proclamation and a course in graduate research and writing.
Suicide resources : The Trevor Project
https://www.thetrevorproject.org
Join us in our twice monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - to get the link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
I thought I was alone! This is the number one thing we hear from mothers of LGBTQ kids.
When your child comes out as LGBTQ it can feel very lonely as the mom. You are not sure who you can talk to and who, if anyone, would understand what you are going through. This is tricky because this is a time when you need the MOST support.
Allison and Jenie talk about how finding each other and how creating a safe place has changed their life. And using their experience, they are creating a community with other LGBTQ LDS mom's. The mom support system is the best way to learn the tools needed to support their child in healthy ways.
Join us in our twice monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - to get the link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Saturday Feb 20, 2021
Saturday Feb 20, 2021
Jenie and Allison talk about the lessons they have learned by loving their LGBTQ family members. Jenie learned that she found out that she had some "blind-spots" when her son came out and how his coming out changed her ability to love herself and others. Allison and Jenie share their lessons learned and how this journey changed them. Listen to this episode if you want to learn the path to loving your LGBTQ family members unconditionally.
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
We would also love for you to join us in our twice monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - to get the link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching