In this moving episode, Pastor Xavier shares his journey from growing up in 1960s South Central Los Angeles to relocating to Altadena/Pasadena area, where he faced the devastating 2025 Eaton Fires that destroyed over 9,000 structures and claimed at least 18 lives. He discusses how spoken word poetry became a lifeline for processing trauma in the face of mass destruction and loss.

Raised in conservative evangelical Christian churches, Pastor Xavier reflects on surviving abuse and the decades long struggle to understand his bisexual identity. He examines how rigid traditions within some Christian institutions can deter critical thinking and hinder personal growth.

Drawing from over 30 years of ministry, he offers insights into identifying affirming Christian churches that uphold both biblical integrity and LGBTQ+ inclusion. With his mother as his biggest advocate and a renewed connection to scripture, Pastor Xavier reimagines his faith as a source of healing, justice, and service to youth at large.

This conversation invites listeners to reflect: Who shaped our beliefs? Can faith and identity coexist? How does questioning authority lead to self-discovery?

And above all, Pastor Xavier reminds us: who we are is God’s greatest gift.

Resources from Pastor Xavier:

• Kathy Baldock – Author of "Walking the Bridgeless Canyon," and former evangelical who explores how cultural and political forces shaped anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and theology. Recommended for: unpacking myths, observing social, political, scientific, cultural timelines, and reclaiming inclusive faith.

• Father Richard Rohr – Catholic priest and author. Quote: “Sin is being complicit in the suffering of the world.” Recommended for: reframing sin through compassion and justice. Suggested Listening: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oprahs-super-soul/id1264843400?i=1000415592929

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – A book on creative recovery through journaling and reflection. Recommended for: healing trauma, reclaiming joy, and nurturing inner creativity.

• Queerfully and Wonderfully Made by Leigh Finke

• The Gospel of Inclusion - Brandan J Robertson

• Outside the Lines - Mihee Kim-Kort

• Changing Our Mind - David P Gushee

Affirming Faith Communities & Organizations

• • The New Evangelicals – Jesus-centered, inclusive, and justice-focused
  • The Reformation Project – Bible-based LGBTQ+ inclusion https://reformationproject.org/
  • Q Christian Fellowship – Community for LGBTQ+ believers seeking truth and belonging - https://www.qchristian.org/
  • Post-Evangelical Collective - https://www.postevangelicalcollective.org/
  • https://www.gaychurch.org/

Biblical References from Pastor Xavier:

• • Matthew 22 – Misuse of scripture and Jesus’ correction of religious leaders
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 – The nature of God’s love
  • Jeremiah 1 :4-8– Affirmation of calling and worth
  • Luke 10:25-37, Parable of the Good Samaritan – Radical inclusion
  • Galatians 1:1-2:10 - Gospel of Uncircumcision = Inclusion for those excluded by the Law
  • Matthew 5-7 - Sermon on the Mount – Reinterpreting law through love

  
  

How do you reconcile family expectations, cultural traditions, and queer identity—especially when you’re growing up in rural China?

Join host Ross Victory as he sits down with Dr. Chongzheng Wei, a Chinese clinical psychologist and bisexual activist whose extraordinary path spans rural southern China, Thailand, France, and the United States. Hear how Chongzheng navigated stigma, internalized shame, and family obligations to find empowerment through personal and professional advocacy. Discover how geography and cultural factors influence the mental health needs of bisexual individuals and why tailored support networks, online and in-person, are crucial for overcoming isolation. If you’ve ever struggled to honor your heritage without erasing who you are, or wondered how to find a community that embraces every facet of your identity, this deeply personal conversation offers keen insights and practical steps for claiming your full self. Holding onto our roots doesn’t mean letting go of our truths.

Are you interested in using the art of writing for personal development? Fill out the Interest Form for the upcoming book "Embracing All of Me: Identity-focused Writing & Self Discovery for Bi+ & Pan Men," so you don't miss it.

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In this guided meditation from Embracing All of Me, host Ross Victory invites you to release shame, silence, and the inherited weight of stigma. Through breath, visualization, and affirmations, you’ll reconnect with your inner light and remember that you are not broken, in-between, or too much—you are whole. This episode is designed for anyone navigating layered identities, especially those in the bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and queer communities who’ve been required to shrink, split, compartmentalize, cover or conceal to survive. Return to your body. Root yourself in your truth. Carry forward only what is yours.