Letting Things Be Exactly as They Are with Rev. Yolanda

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Queerly Beloved, Wil is joined by Rev. Yolanda Mapes, a trans femme genderqueer actor, singer-songwriter, performance artist, and interfaith minister. Yolanda is currently working on her tenth studio album and recently released the singles “Did Ya Know” and “Sparkle.” She also guest-starred in episode six of Ryan Murphy’s television series The Beauty.Yolanda shares her journey of gender expression, spirituality, and artistic self-discovery from growing up as a feminine child in Alabama to finding freedom and affirmation within the Radical Faerie community. She reflects on the limitations of binary gender and the importance of creating enough safety for each person’s unique expression to emerge.The conversation moves into Yolanda’s longtime practice of A Course in Miracles and its teachings about forgiveness, ego, nonattachment, and remembering who we truly are. Yolanda also speaks movingly about her relationship with her late husband and soulmate, Rev. Glen Ganaway. His unconditional love helped her feel at home in herself, and their shared spiritual practice became a foundation of their life together.After Glen’s sudden death, Yolanda experienced a profound shattering that eventually opened into what she describes as a second awakening. She shares how grief, spiritual community, and experiences of Glen’s continued presence have deepened her trust in the eternal nature of love—including an extraordinary experience while filming her role in The Beauty around the first anniversary of his passing.Together, they explore: Growing up gender-nonconforming in Alabama before language for trans and nonbinary identities was widely available  Finding affirmation, freedom, and possibility through the Radical Faeries  How unconditional love can create safety for our authentic identity to emerge  Moving beyond binary gender and releasing judgments that block connection  Building bridges of compassion through music, performance, drag, and ministry  Using A Course in Miracles to recognize ego-based thoughts and return to love  What it means to be sustained by the love of God  Grief as a second spiritual awakening  Trusting the ongoing connection between souls beyond physical death  Letting things be exactly as they are instead of resisting life’s natural changes This soulful conversation invites us to welcome every moment—whether it contains grief, fear, anger, joy, or infinite love—as part of our healing and spiritual unfolding.Connect with Rev. YolandaWebsite, music, and upcoming offeringsYolanda’s Louise Hay-inspired affirmationsLearn more about A Course in MiraclesConnect with WilWebsiteInstagramYouTubeSupport the show