96: A Mormon Mom's Coming Out Journey with Elena Joy Thurston

Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive content and discussions surrounding suicide. It may be distressing or triggering for some individuals. Reader/Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or needs immediate help, please contact Lifeline, a 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at 988 or visit their website at https://988lifeline.org. Your mental health and well-being matter.

One thought helped Elena gain clarity: it was better for her children to have a gay mom than a dead mom. Slowly, she began rebuilding her life and family and rewriting her mot(her) code. 

Today, she gives back to the LGBTQ+ community through the Pride and Joy Foundation, which aims to prevent suicides and homelessness in gay communities. She is a corporate consultant, leading companies to take actionable measures to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is also a sought-after speaker; her TEDx talk went viral, gaining thousands of views online. 

She is giving hope to LGBTQ+ mothers worldwide through her brave story. 

Find out more about how you can work with Elena Joy Thurston here. 

Show highlights

• The pandemic’s effects on LGBTQ+ communities and the birth of the Pride and Joy Foundation, which aims to prevent suicides and homelessness in the LGBTQ+ community
• Elena’s journey into religion and the Mormon Church, with its inevitable conflict with her sexual orientation 
• Her marriage and her biological mothering journey 
• Her life is  chaotic when she comes out of the closet and finds a “therapist” that promises to convert her. 50 percent of participants become suicidal, and that’s where she found herself
• The fear of doing things “right” and “wrong” in mothering

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24