The Forbidden Apple: LGBTQ+ SPIRITUALITY

Reconciling Faith and Desire: with Dr Sara Glass

  In this episode, hosts Melissa and Zahra, are joined by Dr. Sara Glass, psychologist and author of Kissing Girls on Shabbat. Dr. Glass’s journey from an insular religio

Navigating Family and Tradition with Melissa Weisz & Zahra Ladak

In this episode of The Forbidden Apple Podcast, hosts Melissa Weisz and Zahra Ladak discuss navigating family and tradition as queer folks raised in religious homes. Thou

Welcome our new Co-host Zahra Ladak

Melissa Weisz, born and raised a Chasidic Jew welcomes new cohost Zahra Ladak, a Muslim born and raised in the US with deep East African/ Indian roots.  Throughout this s

Becoming an LGBT Global faith leader - Bishop Joseph Tolton (Part II)

In Part II of this Episode, Bishop Tolton talks about his mission of creating Interconnected Justice (ICJ)- a global racial justice movement in which the continent of Afr

Becoming an LGBT Global faith leader - Bishop Joseph Tolton (Part I)

Bishop Joseph Tolton is a legendary global faith leader and the Founder and President of Interconnected Justice - a global racial justice movement in which the continent

A Queer Feminist Activist - Dr. Stella Nyanzi

The inimitable Dr. Stella Nyanzi is a Ugandan queer feminist activist, human rights advocate, poet, medical anthropologist, and scholar of sexuality, family planning, and

Raising the voice of sexual violence survivors with Mary Muthui TW Sexual Violence

Mary Muthui is a human rights activist from Kenya. She shares the stigma and violence she faced being noticeably queer, and what gave her the strength and courage to fig

A Media Pioneer from Angola - Coréon Dú

Coréon Dú is an award-winning Angolan recording artist, creative director, designer, screenwriter and producer.  Coréon shares how he started creating much-needed enter

It Feels Good To Be Forbidden- Val Kalende

Val Kalende is an activist and founding member of Uganda's LGBTQ MOVEMENT. Val helped launch Freedom and Roam Uganda-FARUG. She shares how taking the risk to be visible h

Asylum, a manifesto for LGBTQ refugees with Edafe Okporo

Edafe Okporo is a global gay rights activist, the founder of Refuge America, and one of the most visible voices on the issue of displacement.   Edafe grew up in Niger

African Rainbow Family with Aderonke Apata

Aderonke is a Nigerian LGBTQ Activist and the founder of African Rainbow Family charity- a UK-Based organization that supports LGBTIQ people of African heritage and the w

I ran away from God - Luzie from Kenya (TW: suicide, violence, homophobia)

Luzie talks about her struggle growing up as a Lesbian in Kenya. She opens up about the spiritual violence she suffered and being made to believe that it's demonic to be

Professor of Religious Studies in Zimbabwe - Ezra Chitando

Ezra Chitando is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Zimbabwe and co-author of “Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa”.  Ezra serves

The story of a Refugee from Cameroon - Cedric Tchante (TW: Suicide,Violence, Homophobia)

Cedric Tchante is an activist, marketing coordinator and blogger from Cameroon, currently living in San Francisco.    Cedric talks about growing up in Cameroon where

An LGBTQ artivist from Botswana - Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile

Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile is a performance artist, musician, writer and LGBT artivist from Botswana. She is known for being the first public figure from Botswana to

Life-saving work for LGBTQ folks in Uganda - "Biggie" from FARUG

Ssenfuka Joanita Warry (Biggie) is the Executive Director of Freedom and Roam Uganda FARUG which is a Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer diverse persons and women's rights organ

Nigerian Gay Rights Activist - Bisi Alimi

Bis Alimi is a Nigerian gay rights activist, public speaker, blog writer, and HIV/LGBT advocate who gained international attention when he became the first Nigerian to co

The Forbidden Apple around the world series

After two years of exploring the relationship between LGBTQ people and religion, TFA is traveling abroad.  In this new season we amplify LGBTQ voices from African countri

Summer Break - with hosts Melissa Weisz & Pelayo Alvarez

On this final episode of The Nuanced Series, your hosts look back on the lessons learned throughout this season. From listening to others perspectives to giving ourselves

Preacher's Kid - with Grace Semler Baldridge

Singer/songwriter Grace Semler Baldridge shares with us their journey from being a preacher's kid to charting on Christian music charts as an openly queer artist. Grace s