Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandan Robertson.

Hi Brandan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a lower-class family in a trailer park in Maryland. I didn’t have a religious upbringing, and the prospects of “becoming” something seemed very much out of sight for me. I experienced a good deal of abuse and trauma as a child, and developed a severe anxiety disorder and depression at an early age. It was when I started attending church with my neighbors that everything changed- I heard a message about a God who had a plan for my life, who could redeem all the broken places in my life, and who loved me unconditionally. On top of that, the church community was among the first places I experienced a warm welcome and could show up as myself. I began diving into church and faith, and discovered I had a sense of calling and gifting towards preaching- sharing the good news of God’s love with others. I continued to be committed to my faith and very involved in the church through high school, and went off to college to study to become a pastor. During that season, I recognized I was gay for the first time, and also recognized that my religion didn’t have room for someone like me. I began studying the Bible, and recognized that while my church had taught God condemned gay people, the Bible was not so clear, and there were other kinds of Christian communities that held a broader, more expansive and progressive faith. After getting rejected from my evangelical world for embracing my sexuality, I began to work in progressive religious spaces and spent a lot of time writing, teaching, and trying to help combat the toxic theology of evangelical Christianity that I had been a part of. As time went on, new opportunities arose for me to share an inclusive vision of faith with more and more people- through publishing books, speaking tours around the world, interviews in national media, and developing a large social media platform especially on TikTok. My passion today continues to be to teach an alternative version of faith that is inclusive and progressive, and to keep confronting the toxic religion that is continued to be used by millions of Christians around the world to oppress and demonize the LGBTQ+ community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road has not been smooth- but whose road has? The journey of life is about facing struggles and challenges, and finding ways to overcome them. In college, I was forced into a conversion therapy program to seek to heal me of my sexuality and threatened with expulsion for not aligning with our schools theology on sexuality. I was publicly outed in TIME Magazine in 2015 as gay and received national condemnation from evangelical leaders- both privately and publicly. I continue to face opposition, harsh bullying, and people who really believe that my existence is a threat to our faith. But each one of these hurdles have also provided me an ever expanding chosen family of likeminded faith leaders, activists, artists, and friends who are fighting alongside me to bring about reform and renewal These experiences have forced me to be clear about who I am, what I stand for, and what I believe, and have helped me move past my egoic desires and ensure that my heart is in the right place for doing this work. It hasn’t been and often still isn’t easy to stand as a queer Christian leader, but it is incredibly rewarding to see people find healing, hope, and acceptance- and that’s why I do this work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a pastor, activist, and scholar deeply engaged in reimagining the Bible and Christian faith through a queer, inclusive lens. My work centers on challenging toxic religious beliefs and practices while promoting a vision of faith that embraces all people. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of working with governments and world leaders to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, oppose conversion therapy, and foster meaningful dialogue on faith and justice.

As an author and contributor to over 20 books on progressive and inclusive theology, I’ve also become known as the “TikTok Pastor,” a title Rolling Stone Magazine gave me for my efforts to combat harmful religious narratives and promote a faith of radical love on social media platforms like TikTok.

In addition to my advocacy and digital ministry, I serve as the pastor of an inclusive, welcoming community in New York City, where we strive to embody faith in action. Currently, I’m completing my PhD in Biblical Studies at Drew University, which allows me to deepen my scholarship and further explore how scripture can be a tool for liberation.

What sets me apart is my ability to weave together scholarship, activism, and pastoral care into a vision of faith that resonates with a wide range of people—especially those who’ve been marginalized or hurt by religion. One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is helping to create spaces where people feel truly seen, loved, and empowered to reclaim their faith and identity.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are several ways people can work with, collaborate with, or support me and the work I do:

Inviting Me to Speak or Teach: I’m always honored to be invited to speak at conferences, churches, universities, and events. Whether it’s sharing my story, teaching about queer theology, or leading workshops on building inclusive communities, I love engaging with people face-to-face or virtually.
Collaborative Projects: I’m open to partnering on projects related to progressive theology, LGBTQ+ inclusion, justice advocacy, and rethinking faith for modern times. If you’re working on a book, podcast, documentary, or initiative aligned with these values, I’d love to explore how we can collaborate.
Supporting My Book and Advocacy Work: My forthcoming book, Queer and Christian, is a major way I’m spreading the message of inclusion and hope. Pre-ordering, sharing the book with your networks, or attending book tour events is an incredible way to support my work. I’m also raising funds for a nationwide book tour to reach communities in need of affirming voices.
Engaging Online: Following and sharing my content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Substack helps amplify the work of inclusive faith and progressive theology. Your support online allows this message to reach even more people.
Joining My Patreon Community: Becoming a Patreon supporter is one of the most direct ways to help sustain my work. Patrons gain access to exclusive content, behind-the-scenes updates, and opportunities to connect with me more personally.
Inviting Me to Collaborate on Advocacy: If you’re part of an organization, church, or advocacy group working on LGBTQ+ inclusion, banning conversion therapy, or other justice-focused initiatives, let’s connect to see how I can contribute to your efforts.
Donating to DevOUT Foundation: My new nonprofit, DevOUT Foundation, focuses on long-term efforts to reconcile queer identity with Christian faith. Donations help sustain this vital work and expand its impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: brandanrobertson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandanrobertson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandanjrobertson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandanrobertson/
• Twitter: https://x.com/brandanjr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@revbrandanrobertson
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@revbrandanrobertson