Ex-Christianity, Health & Wellbeing, LGBTQ+, Religion

Confronting Sexual Purity Culture (Part 2)

Three and a half years on from Confronting Sexual Purity Culture part one - where do I sit? How is my relationship to my sexuality, and how have I continued to confront sexual purity culture. Where am I at now? Nowadays, I'm fairly free of the guilt, anxiety and fear that was once a crippling… Continue reading Confronting Sexual Purity Culture (Part 2)

autism, Health & Wellbeing, LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity

Open Letter to Tweenage Me

Hey, tweenage Abby. How's it going? What's new? Just kidding - everything that is new for you right now is Very Old For Me. I'm double your age now, isn't that whack? We're nothing like you imagined we would be. Except for our mahi, maybe. We definitely saw that coming - even if the context… Continue reading Open Letter to Tweenage Me

Music, Reviews, Technology

International Music Artists for Your Rotation

We're widening the scope now to an international selection. Here goes y'all: Angèle - Belgium This Belgian songstress is goals, and her music helps me learn les nouveaux mots and enjoy feminist beats at the same time. She is feisty, and she is extremely hawt and she is also a badass. Her song Balance Ton… Continue reading International Music Artists for Your Rotation

Education, Ex-Christianity, Favourites, Health & Wellbeing, Music, philosophy, Politics, Religion

Hillsong Music, Twelvie Me and Decolonising God (Part Two)

So I'm now saving my discussion of teenhood with Jesus and leading kids to Christ for part three, just because it makes more linear sense - and there is a colossal amount to unpack. Philosophising at Twelve I begin with an excerpt from my 2016 blog post, The Beauty of Religion. "The unraveling of my… Continue reading Hillsong Music, Twelvie Me and Decolonising God (Part Two)

entertainment, Music, Reviews, Web Series

The Covid19 Diaries: Five Queer Friendly Web Series to Binge On

Given the current Covid19 sitch we all find ourselves in, why not take the time to binge watch some quality rainbow-friendly web series to while away the hours? Once again, carefully curated for your viewing pleasure: we have here a mix of Kiwi and international series, ranging from comedy, to drama, to musical, to everywhere… Continue reading The Covid19 Diaries: Five Queer Friendly Web Series to Binge On

Favourites, Health & Wellbeing, Religion

Confronting Sexual Purity Culture

Purity culture within religion is problematic. Reflecting on my time as a Christian, this is one of the fundamental parts of it that still makes me angry, and its ghost still lingers. Today, I consider myself empowered, liberated and sex positive - yet I know I'm still affected by what I was taught by the… Continue reading Confronting Sexual Purity Culture

Education, LGBTQ+, Politics, Religion

Addressing My Internalised Homophobia

Unlike most Christians (and ex-Christians), I grew up in a secular household. I now thank Ranginui, Māori god of the sky, that this was the case. In my opinion, what drew me to the Christian faith in the first place (for eight years) was my innate need for spiritual exploration, influence via Christian extended family members,… Continue reading Addressing My Internalised Homophobia