The Priesthood of All Queer Believers - The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

Welcome to Priesthood of All Queer Believers, a podcast exploring the intersection of the queer community and the Church—right here in Cincinnati. We’re so glad you’re here!

This is a space for real conversations about faith, identity, and belonging. For too long, the Church has overlooked the sacred truth that queer people are not just guests in God’s house—we are part of the priesthood. We are called, gifted, and essential to the life of the Church. That’s the heart of this podcast. The idea of the priesthood of all believers comes from the belief that every person—regardless of gender, sexuality, or background—is called to participate in God’s work.

Cincinnati has a deep and complex history—one of faith, one of LGBTQ+ activism, and sometimes, one of painful exclusion from religious spaces. But we believe healing is possible. Reconciliation is possible. And it starts with recognizing that the Church needs queer people. Not just as attendees, but as prophets, as pastors, as theologians, as worship leaders, as disciples. We bring something vital to the life of the Church.

In this podcast, we’ll talk with local voices—queer Christians, faith leaders, and community members—who are already living into this calling. We’ll explore what it means to build an inclusive, thriving Church where all people are affirmed in their belovedness and in their ministry. So, if you’ve ever felt like there wasn’t space for you in the Church—like you had to change who you were to belong—this podcast is for you. Because the truth is, you already belong. You are called. You are gifted. And together, we can build a Church where the priesthood of all believers truly includes all believers.

Join us as we dive into various topics affecting the LGBTQ+ Community directly, how those topics intersect the church—and where we go from here. Make sure to subscribe, share, and send us your thoughts—we want this to be a conversation, not just a broadcast. Thanks for being here. And remember, you are already part of God’s work.

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Episodes

Tuesday Oct 21, 2025

Drag king and burlesque artist Alexander Cameron (Alexis Anderson) joins Anny and Tym for a moving, funny, and deeply honest conversation about faith, family, and finding power on stage. From growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness to building community through drag and burlesque, Alex shares how visibility, embodiment, and queer joy become acts of healing—and sometimes holy rebellion. 
 
“Faith should feel good. If it doesn’t feel good, why go? I never found faith that felt right—but I did find community, joy, and purpose through performance.” — Alexander Cameron 

Monday Oct 13, 2025

Anny and Tym sit down with Lady Phaedra to trace a journey from a dare-gone-right in college drag to becoming a hometown legend and accidental activist. Phaedra opens up about a coming-out story that got “handled” by family, a grandmother’s unconditional love, and how a queen at historic Cincinnati club The Dock once said, “Welcome to your new family”—a moment that still shapes how she hosts, mentors, and welcomes today. We talk Catholic roots, why she stepped away from organized religion, and bringing drag into unexpected places—museums, zoos, riverboats, and a cathedral—as an act of pastoral care and radical hospitality. Diocese of Southern Ohio+5Our Community Roots+5WLWT+5 

National Coming Out Day

Saturday Oct 11, 2025

Saturday Oct 11, 2025

Enjoy this special episode for National Coming Out Day

Tuesday Oct 07, 2025

Drag queen and former pro ballet dancer Brock Leah Spears (Britton Spitler) joins Anny and Tym to talk community, queerness, and faith—from the Trocks to DanceFix, from Catholic trauma to joyful spirituality, and why worship shouldn’t be a chore. Grants, glitter, and gospel… in one fierce hour. 
Topics: 
Pro ballet to drag: Les Ballets Trockadero, stage names, and slapstick Swan Lake. 
Leaving harmful church spaces; finding spiritual practices outside buildings. 
Community as sacrament: DanceFix as “gather • transform • send.” 
Giving back: why tipping street neighbors is part of Brock’s spirituality. 
Coming out (or not): consent, timing, and Love, Simon. 
“Worship shouldn’t be a chore.” 

Tuesday Sep 30, 2025

Drag artist PHDee joins Anny and Tym for a tender, laugh-out-loud conversation about coming out, finding community, and why drag carries both joy and righteous rage. From a Jeep-Liberty driveway confession to a mirror-leotard first performance, PHDee traces how the stage persona gave “Josh” real-life confidence—and why drag is more than a party or paycheck. The trio also wrestle with faith, harm, and the work of building affirming spaces where people can be both/and. Plus: queer joy, book-club nerdiness, and Denali sightings. Whether you’re churchy, drag-obsessed, skeptical, or all of the above, this episode is a love letter to chosen family and the communities that hold us. 

Tuesday Sep 23, 2025

Anny is back from vacation, Tym recaps last week’s Cincinnati queer history episode with guest co-host Jake Hogue, and we launch our Drag Series with Jake’s riveting crash course on drag in Cincinnati and the Midwest. You’ll hear about early female and male impersonators, how minstrelsy and sexology shaped public perception, why some performers went mainstream while others were erased, and how drag threaded through churches, clubs, fundraisers, and everyday life long before modern politics tried to define it. 
 We also preview upcoming interviews with local drag performers about art, calling, and spirituality. 
Content note: This episode includes historical references to blackface minstrelsy, anti-cross-dressing laws, and police harassment, discussed critically and contextually

Tuesday Sep 16, 2025

Cincinnati has always been queer—long before Stonewall. Tym sits down with historian Jacob Hogue, author of Cincinnati Before Stonewall, to unearth hidden histories: Unitarian allies hosting the first gay rights meetings, FBI surveillance of affirming churches, obscenity trials, drag before baseball (!), and how the pendulum of progress swings—fast. 
They also name the church’s role (good and bad), why inclusive pulpits still matter, and what effective activism can look like right now. 

Queer Youth - Part 2

Tuesday Sep 09, 2025

Tuesday Sep 09, 2025

In this second conversation on queer youth, Tym and Anny dive deep into what it means for the church to create safe, joyful, and authentic spaces for young queer people. Together, they reflect on their own experiences, the importance of co-creating community with youth, and how scripture calls us to the narrow way of radical love rather than condemnation. 
From laughter-filled lock-ins to the wisdom of living authentically, this episode explores how the church can move beyond shame and judgment to truly embody the gospel. Tym and Anny share stories, offer encouragement, and lift up the truth that being queer is not a sin but a sacred gift. 
The episode closes with a powerful queer blessing for youth — a reminder that you are not alone, you are sacred, and the future is yours. 
 👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear they are sacred and not alone. 

Queer Youth - Part 1

Tuesday Sep 02, 2025

Tuesday Sep 02, 2025

🌈✨ In this powerful episode, Anny and Tym dive deep into the lived experiences of queer youth navigating faith, identity, and belonging. Through honest conversation and personal storytelling, they explore the challenges and joys of growing up queer in faith communities, the importance of radical inclusion, and the transformative power of unconditional love. 
Key Topics Covered: 
What queer youth wish they’d heard about faith, queerness, and the future 
The call for radical inclusion in churches and spiritual spaces 
The impact of being able to be “out” in faith communities 
Why youth are full members of the church—not just the future 
How summer camp can offer a model of unconditional love and acceptance 
Why Listen? Whether you’re a queer youth, an ally, a faith leader, or someone seeking to understand, this episode offers insight, affirmation, and hope. Anny and Tym’s stories remind us that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated—just as they are. 
Connect & Share: If this episode resonates with you, share it with your community and join the conversation using #QueerYouth #QueerYouthVoices #PriesthoodOfAllQueerBelievers #QueerBelievers #LGBTQ #FaithAndInclusion #Episcopal #EpiscopalChurch 

Tuesday Aug 26, 2025

In Part 2 of our conversation on Love in the World, Anny and Tym dive deeper into what it means to embody love beyond the walls of the church. We talk about community organizing, stewarding our resources, and how individual callings intersect with the vision of the church. 
From Redeemer’s mission to karaoke drag queens, queer baby showers, rainbow cowboy hats, and Lindsay Bonadonna’s be. café Pride event — this episode celebrates the many ways God’s love takes shape in the world around us. 
✨ Themes you’ll hear: 
Mission as community organizing with God at the center 
Balancing priorities, values, and resources in our faith communities 
Local vs. global callings — and why both matter 
Redeemer’s mission statement as a living, breathing vision 
Queer joy in karaoke, drag, Pride, and family 
Stay to the end for Tym’s drag debut as Ariana Venti Soy, No Foam Latte — and a celebration of queer joy in the everyday. 
Follow us: 📲 Instagram: @queerbelievers_pod 📲 Follow Lindsey Bonadonna’s be. café: @nourishatbe 
Subscribe, share, and review — it helps spread the word about queer believers dreaming of a more just and joyful church. 

© 2025 The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

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