About this episode

Jen Hatmaker revisits a powerful conversation with her daughter Sydney about growing up gay in the church and the importance of allyship and acceptance.

Description: As part of our Freedom & Flourishing series this Pride Month, we're revisiting the most downloaded episode in the history of For the Love—a conversation that has continued to ripple through families, friendships, and faith communities for years after it first aired. Six years ago, Jen sat down with her daughter Sydney to hand her the microphone and invite her to tell her own story in her own words. What followed was a brave, tender, and deeply honest conversation about growing up gay in the church, loving Jesus while feeling afraid and alone, and finding the courage to embrace the fullness of who you are. Sydney shares what it was like to navigate faith and identity as a young person, the messages she received from churches and Christian leaders, and the real impact those messages have on LGBTQIA+ kids sitting quietly in pews every Sunday. Together, Jen and Sydney discuss what true allyship requires, why affirmation matters, and how we can create homes, communities, and faith spaces where people are cherished exactly as they are. In this episode: Sydney shares her journey of growing up gay within a Christian family and faith community A candid conversation about…

People in this episode

Host: Jen Hatmaker

Guest: Sydney Hatmaker

Topics covered

• Pride Month
• faith and identity
• LGBTQIA+ youth
• allyship
• Christianity
• family dynamics

Keywords

• Pride
• faith
• identity
• LGBTQIA+
• allyship
• Christianity
• family
• acceptance
• transgender
• community

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: church, Christian leaders, LGBTQIA+

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