The Power of Allies: Why This Straight White Male Pastor INCLUDES LGBTQ+ in Church

What does it mean when a straight, white male pastor says LGBTQ+ people fully belong in the church?In this powerful episode of the You Can Be Both Podcast, host Lauren Lanzaretta welcomes her first-ever guest, Danny Lybarger — a straight, white male pastor, theologian, and founder of The Well: An Inclusive & Justice-Centered Church in the St. Louis area.Danny is known for using his platform, privilege, and voice within the church to advocate loudly for LGBTQ+ inclusion, even when it put his ordination, funding, and career at risk. His viral TikToks challenge harmful theology and center a message many queer Christians have never heard from someone who “fits” traditional church leadership: you are not excluded from God’s table.Together, Lauren and Danny unpack some of the most searched, debated, and emotionally charged questions in Christianity today, including:• Can LGBTQ+ people be Christians?• Are gay people going to hell?• What does the Bible actually say about homosexuality?• Why “welcoming” churches often aren’t affirming• How to tell if a church is truly LGBTQ+ affirming• Why church trauma drives so many queer people away from faith• The responsibility of straight allies and pastors to speak up• United Methodist theology vs evangelical Christianity• The Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, tradition, reason, experience)• Responding to clobber verses, proof-texting, and online hate• Why representation in church leadership matters• How radical inclusion is not political—it’s deeply biblicalDanny also shares the real consequences of choosing affirmation: performing same-sex marriages before his denomination allowed it, risking being defrocked, receiving hate mail, and building a church in one of the most conservative counties in Missouri—while refusing to back down.This episode is for you if:✔️ You’re LGBTQ+ and have experienced church hurt✔️ You were raised evangelical and are deconstructing✔️ You still love Jesus but feel unsafe in church spaces✔️ You’re searching for an affirming church✔️ You’re a pastor, leader, or ally who wants to show up better👉 Subscribe to the You Can Be Both Podcast for conversations at the intersection of faith, sexuality, healing, and justice👉 Download the LGBTQ+ Healing & Resource Guide: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear they still belongYou can love Jesus. You can be queer. You can be both.⸻Connect with Danny Lybarger:🌐 The Well Church: https://www.thewell636.org/📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danny_lybarger📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danny_lybarger/?hl=enConnect with Lauren Lanzaretta:🌐 Website: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com📱 TikTok: @lanzaretta,  ⁨@YouCanBeBoth⁩  📷 Instagram: @lanzaretta,  ⁨@YouCanBeBoth⁩  📧 LGBTQ+ Healing & Resource Guide: https://www.laurenlanzaretta.com/youcanbeboth⸻#ChristianTikTok #FaithTok #QueerTikTok #ChurchTok #ProgressiveFaith #DeconstructingFaith #LGBTQAlly #StraightAlly #AffirmingFaith #ReligiousTrauma #YouCanBeBoth #LaurenLanzaretta #DannyLybarger #TheWell #AffirmingChurch #QueerChristian #ChurchHurt #BiblicalInclusion