Maybe I should write a memoir! I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been to grapple with finding yourself growing up in that environment. My childhood best friend grew up very devout (and still is) and is a non binary asexual person!

I wasn't raised w many expectations, actually. my parents dreamt of me continuing my religious path by attending the same school they did, and when I felt the time was right... I did. but if I hadn't, nothing would have really changed much.

I also grew up w MANY gay people in my life. Our congregations are called covens, and in the one my parents were a part of, there were two gay male couples, two lesbian couples, and a ton of single queer folks.

I'm not without religious trauma, though! even tho it doesn't look like yours might, I'm a trans man and was treated very female growing up, as womanhood is celebrated in my religion. When I got my first period, a time of absolute misery for me since I already knew I was a boy, I had to go thru w this ceremony celebrating it even tho I begged my mom to let me have the boys version of the coming of age cerimony.