The Preacher Who Couldn't Pray Away the Gay (And What He Found Instead)

About this episode

David Hulse shares his journey from fear-based religion to love-centered spirituality after years of struggle with his identity.

What happens when the life you’re told to live is slowly killing you—and the life you’re afraid to live is the one that sets you free? David Hulse has been a spiritual teacher for over 60 years. But his journey to get here took him through Pentecostal fundamentalism in Tulsa, Oklahoma, conversion therapy at 17, a church in the Jim Crow South at 19, and a marriage to a woman he thought would save him from himself. In this episode, David shares how he moved from fear-based religion to expansive, love-centered spirituality—and what that path looked like across six decades of searching, breaking down, and building something real. We talk about the bridges that can help you move from rigid doctrine to genuine spiritual connection, why religious wounds don’t heal just because you leave the church, how this current moment in history might actually be “labor pains before a rebirth,” and why 80-year-old queer elders like David are exactly the pioneers our community needs right now. Whether you’re deconstructing your faith, navigating a later-in-life coming out, or just need to hear that it gets better from someone who’s been there—this one’s for you. Connect with David: davidhulse.com |…

People in this episode

Host: Anne-Marie Zanzal

Guest: David Hulse

Topics covered

• spirituality
• coming out
• religion
• conversion therapy
• personal journey
• queer identity

Keywords

• spiritual teacher
• Pentecostal fundamentalism
• conversion therapy
• queer elders
• faith deconstruction
• love-centered spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Heartlight Spiritual Center

Places: Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jim Crow South

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