Episode 22 - From Conversion Therapy to LGBTQ Advocacy with Elena Joy Thurston
This week, I am joined by Elena Joy Thurston. Elena Joy is an inspiring LGBTQ speaker, trainer, and founder of the nonprofit Pride and Joy Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to reducing the rates of suicide and homelessness within the LGBTQ community. Elena Joy is also featured in the award-winning documentary, Conversion, and has delivered a viral TEDx talk on surviving conversion therapy.
Back in 2017, Elena Joy was a stay-at-home mom of four, deeply entrenched in her Mormon community. However, she began to question her happiness and realized that she was not attracted to men and is a lesbian. This realization led her to believe that she needed to be "fixed," prompting her to seek help from someone who claimed to have the solution. In this episode, Elena Joy delves into the dynamics of conversion camps worldwide, where the promise of an eternal reward of being united with their families in heaven is used as a manipulative tool to change and "fix" queer individuals. Ultimately, she discovered that the support she truly needed did not come from the church, which compelled her to choose life and embark on a journey of healing. In the process, she found a way to assist LGBTQ youth and individuals facing similar challenges. Elena Joy dedicates herself to daily healing work that positively impacts the world, and I am thrilled for you to listen to her story.
You can connect with Elena Joy on IG at @elenajoyspeaks @pridejoyfoundation
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