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OUTWords: LGBTQ Storytelling with Joel Barrett

OUTwords: LGBT StoryTelling at The Outburst Performance Gallery

For generations LGBTQ people have been ignored, abused, condemned, and even murdered by those who would have the world believe we are to be feared and ultimately eliminated. It is no longer acceptable for our history to remain in the closet. OUTwords LGBTQ Storytelling is our way of throwing open the closet doors to share, listen and celebrating our history. Each month 6 storytellers will share a story from their life. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, this is our history, a story comprised of many stories.

Hosted by Joel Barrett, an LGBTQ writer, Professional Speaker, and Gatherer.

A little about Joel, from the man, himself:
I am a survivor of ex-gay therapy. Some call it conversion therapy, reparative therapy or just plan counseling, but the goals are the same: To eliminate or reduce homosexual desires and actions. Needless to say, it didn't work.
I am a recovering fundamental Baptist. If you don't know what a fundamental Baptist is, I can explain: We thought the Southern Baptists were liberal.

I was a Baptist pastor married to a woman living the midwest raising our three children. Yes, I spent over 15 years in ministry before exiting that line of work to focus completely on becoming fixing myself so I could save my marriage and live as a straight man.
I always knew I was gay, but being gay wasn't an option in the world I lived in so I kept trying to make it go away through church, prayer, scripture, and the pursuit of godliness because everyone told me that being gay was a sin and probably just about the worst sin anyone could commit.
Today I am happily married to my husband of over a decade. I share my colorful story with audiences everywhere to encourage them to live each day as their authentic, powerful and beautiful self.