Description: A gay Christian's behind-the-scenes account of evangelical megachurches and eight years in conversion therapy. Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez charts a path to authentic faith beyond religious trauma, and reclaims wholeness after leaving the only world he ever knew.
Brief description:
Shauna Niequist is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books, including I Guess I Haven't Learned that Yet and Present Over Perfect. Shauna and her husband, Aaron, and their sons, Henry and William, live in New York City. Shauna is an avid reader and traveler, and a passionate gatherer of people, especially around the table.
Review Quotes:
"Schraeder Rodriguez guides us through evangelical megachurching, private struggle, and public silence--and what emerges is rooted in honesty, compassion, and the sacred claim that all people are made in God's image. A powerful contribution to both queer theology and the future of faith communities." --Jen Hatmaker, five-time New York Times bestselling author and host of the For the Love podcast
"This raw and moving read offers a critical look into the realities of undergoing conversion therapy--a dangerous, discredited practice that, sadly, continues to harm young people across the United States today. Schraeder Rodriguez's story serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of our community." --Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project
"I wish I had this book when I was twenty-five, when I was still trying to fit my queerness into the shape of what I was taught God could love. I pray it's read widely and leaves ripples of hope in its wake." --Jedidiah Jenkins, New York Times bestselling author of To Shake the Sleeping Self
"Conversion Therapy Dropout offers an incisive look into the 'quiet, desperate choices' queer people face when buried deep inside harmful theology. Schraeder Rodriguez has gifted readers another important entry in the canon of conversion therapy survivors' stories, tracing not only his own harrowing journey but also the context of a movement that continues to exploit vulnerable Christians to this day. This is an essential memoir, especially for those navigating the complex terrain of being a queer Christian in the twenty-first century." --Garrard Conley, author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Boy Erased
"As a queer man navigating faith, identity, and belonging, Schraeder Rodriguez challenges the harmful systems that shaped him and reclaims his story with honesty and heart." --Curtis Chin, author of the Stonewall Book Awared Honor recipient memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant
"There's no manual for being gay, but in Conversion Therapy Dropout, Schraeder Rodriguez offers something more powerful: raw, radiant field notes on survival, belonging, and becoming." --Greg Marshall, author of Leg
"A wildly honest, hopefully potent true story--one that's bound to ruffle feathers, turn over tables, and change minds. Powerful, earnest, this book is a grace for queer folk and our allies and a lifeline for those still existing in closets or among unaffirming communities." --Matthew Paul Turner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Is God Like? and When God Made You
"Rarely have I read something so capable of breaking a heart and mending it in the same breath. This is a book I will be sharing with everyone I know who still believes the gospel is good news for us all." --Joseph Awuah-Darko, artist, writer, and creator of The Last Supper Project
In today's increasingly polarized world, nuanced narratives like this are essential for building bridges of empathy and unconditional love. I felt so deeply connected to this story of searching for faith as a queer person, and I know I won't be the last." --Philip Calabro, PFLAG NYC
"An unflinching account of finding a faith that fits." --- Publishers Weekly
"An unflinching account of finding a faith that fits." --- Publishers Weekly
"Both heartfelt and heartbreaking." ---The Advocate
"This is an eye-opening account, filled with just the right amount of humor, that every family member of a queer child should read. Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez reminds us that love is love." --- Debutiful