Unashamed Love Collective is a membership-based community of LGBTQ+ people, allies, parents, family members, and affirming faith leaders. Our goal is to help people heal from religious trauma, love who they are, and find a safe place of belonging. Members gain access to a private online community, virtual monthly hangouts, monthly gatherings where we highlight and discuss a variety of progressive and affirming topics, weekly discussion questions, and discounted tickets to other ULC events.
THE UNASHAMED LOVE COLLECTIVE
is a beautifully diverse group of people that have stolen my heart. This space creates opportunities for people to doubt or question their beliefs (perhaps for the very first time!) and build authentic community in ways that are deeply healing, regardless of who we are or how we identify. Members have found this community to be their safe haven and main source of support in the midst of hard life transitions. They truly know how to show up for one another. I hope you will join us for this amazing and enriching adventure and become a part of the Unashamed Love Collective!
AMBER CANTORNA-WYLDE, FOUNDER AND HOST
LEADERSHIP
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AMBER CANTORNA-WYLDE (she/her)
Founder and Host
A storyteller and shepherd at heart, Amber loves to gather the spiritual nomads, the wanderers, the doubters, the seekers, and especially those who have been pushed to the margins of society and/or church and bring them into a place that feels like home. A national speaker, coach, and educator supporting LGBTQ+ people and working to reduce religious trauma, Amber is passionate about educating others on the importance of full inclusion.
She's the author of three books, including Unashamed - the first coming-out guide for LGBTQ+ people of faith. Her new book, Out of Focus: My Story of Sexuality, Shame, and Toxic Evangelicalism is now available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats. As the founder of the Unashamed Love Collective, creating this beautifully diverse and inclusive online community for LGBTQ+ people, parents, and allies has become one of her greatest joys.
Amber's experience with loss and love propelled her into a world of social justice and her heart is to help others foster self-acceptance and reconcile their faith with their sexuality so that they can live and thrive in the world without shame. You can learn more about her work at: AmberCantornaWylde.com.
Favorite ULC Book So Far: Just slotting a book for ULC means it's already one of Amber's favorites that she believes deserves to be shared and discussed, but one that has really resonated with her personally is Post Traumatic Church Syndrome by Reba Riley.
What Amber Loves Most About ULC: Seeing this space become a safe haven for marginalized people and watching them find a place to belong. Having a space to share the hard pieces of life and find nothing but complete love and support in response is one of life's greatest gifts.
TIFF THOMPSON (they/them)
Volunteer
A southern born-and-raised transplant to Northwest Ohio, Tiff is a self-proclaimed nerd and "Jack of all trades, master of none." After coming out as a lesbian at age 27, they dove head-first into social justice spaces for LGBTQ+ people. They are now the president of Pride: the Employee Resource Group for LGBTQ+ employees at the national healthcare company where they work. Outside of their day job, they host the mid-month Zoom hang out for ULC
and does their graphic and web design. Tiff enjoys spending time with their wife Liz, dog Rosie, and cat Imogen.
Favorite ULC Book So Far: The answer to this depends on what day you ask, but right now it is Undivided by Vicky Beeching.
What Tiff Loves Most About ULC: Meeting new friends they can talk to about anything and everything, and live author interviews!
ALICE SUDLOW (she/her)
Volunteer
By day, Alice Sudlow is a book editor with a passion for young adult literature. By night, she's a knitter, a baker, and a reader with a whole lot of questions for God. She brings those questions to the ULC community, where she writes prompts to spark conversation with both readers and guest authors. You can find her online at AliceSudlow.com.
Favorite ULC Book So Far: It's tough for Alice to pick one top book from a fantastic lineup, but After Evangelicalism by David Gushee is one of her favorites.
What Alice Loves Most About ULC: Wrestling with God through questions of faith, doubt, gender, and sexuality can so easily feel lonely and isolating, and Alice loves ULC for creating a supportive space where all questions are safe among friends.