{"product_id":"conversion-therapy-dropout-a-queer-story-of-faith-and-belonging","title":"Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith and Belonging","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A compelling journey of faith, healing, and finding purpose.\" --\u003cem\u003e- Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"An unflinching account of finding a faith that fits.\" --- \u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eJen Hatmaker\u003c\/strong\u003e, five-time \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author and host of the \u003cem\u003eFor the Love\u003c\/em\u003e podcast\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eJaymes Black, \u003c\/strong\u003eCEO of The Trevor Project\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eJedidiah Jenkins, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eTo Shake the Sleeping Self\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Conversion Therapy Dropout\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eGarrard Conley\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/em\u003ebestselling memoir \u003cem\u003eBoy Erased\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eCurtis Chin, \u003c\/strong\u003eauthor of the Stonewall Book Awared Honor recipient memoir \u003cem\u003eEverything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"There's no manual for being gay, but in \u003cem\u003eConversion Therapy Dropout\u003c\/em\u003e, Schraeder Rodriguez offers something more powerful: raw, radiant field notes on survival, belonging, and becoming.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eGreg Marshall, \u003c\/strong\u003eauthor of \u003cem\u003eLeg\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eMatthew Paul Turner, \u003c\/strong\u003e#1 \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eWhat Is God Like? \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eWhen God Made You\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Awuah-Darko\u003c\/strong\u003e, artist, writer, and creator of The Last Supper Project\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\" --\u003cstrong\u003ePhilip Calabro\u003c\/strong\u003e, PFLAG NYC\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"An unflinching account of finding a faith that fits.\" --\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A compelling journey of faith, healing, and finding purpose.\" --\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA gay Christian's behind-the-scenes account of evangelical megachurches and eight years in conversion therapy before finding wholeness and authenticity. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTimothy Schraeder Rodriguez was an invisible architect behind evangelical Christianity's digital empire, crafting messages of belonging for some of the most influential megachurches--Hillsong Church, Elevation Church, Willow Creek--all while secretly questioning his own place within the faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a desperate attempt to \"fix\" himself, he turned to conversion therapy, spending eight years trying to pray the gay away. And he wasn't alone. More than 700,000 people in the US have undergone some form of conversion therapy. Even though Exodus International, the largest ex-gay organization, closed in 2013, the practice still thrives in many conservative religious communities. After years of this harmful \"therapy,\" Schraeder Rodriguez's sexuality never changed. But his faith did.The more time he spent in evangelical Christianity, the more he witnessed the hypocrisy of institutions that claimed to love everyone while quietly pushing people like him into silence. But Schraeder Rodriguez wouldn't remain silent. Instead, he forged a new path, discovering a vibrant faith beyond the constraints of non-affirming theology and finding a community that embraced his whole self.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eConversion Therapy Dropout\u003c\/em\u003e is a behind-the-scenes look at megachurch culture, the hidden harm of non-affirming Christian spaces, and the ongoing impact of conversion therapy on gay Christians. This isn't just a coming-out story--it's about what happens after. About rebuilding a life outside the only world you've ever known. And the radical act of stepping into the light after being told your whole life to stay in the shadows. Sometimes, the greatest act of faith isn't holding on--it's letting go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 03\/15\/2026 (EAN 9798889835431, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 02\/09\/2026 (EAN 9798889835431, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eSchraeder Rodriguez, Timothy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTimothy Schraeder Rodriguez\u003c\/strong\u003e spent almost a decade trying to \"pray the gay away\" in conversion therapy--all while working at some of the world's most influential megachurches. After embracing his identity as a gay Christian and stepping away from church work, he co-founded Church Clarity, an organization that helps queer people find affirming faith communities. His story and work have been featured by NBC, \u003cem\u003eVICE\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHuff Post\u003c\/em\u003e, Religion News Service, and \u003cem\u003eNewsweek\u003c\/em\u003e. Born in the Midwest, he now calls New York City home, where he continues his work as a digital strategist, writer, and advocate for queer people of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eNiequist, Shauna\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShauna Niequist\u003c\/strong\u003e is the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/em\u003ebest-selling author of seven books, including \u003cem\u003eI Guess I Haven't Learned that Yet\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePresent Over Perfect.\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Broadleaf Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496106885398,"sku":"9798889835431","price":33.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9798889835431.jpg?v=1783053283","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/conversion-therapy-dropout-a-queer-story-of-faith-and-belonging","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}