This week’s drop is a very special ‘cult’ure series bonus convo with friend of the pod, David Gallegos-Roybal. David is a Mestizo Native of New Mexico who some loyal listeners of the pod (particularly former ‘Org’ members) may recognize. David’s husband, Mark Frossard, was features in Ep.60 & Ep.61 of the ‘cult’ure series when we did a deep-dive into his painful separation from ‘the Org’ back in 2018.
In this episode, David shares his own story of resilience, taking us back before the Org to share what it was like coming out queer in the intersectional Christian community he was raised in. David shares how a multi-cultural upbringing has shaped his understanding of the world and his place in it. He reveals what it was like growing up in the Pentecostal church and how he summoned the courage to risk belonging in order to live (and love) more authentically. David offers examples of how he stays connected to his community of origin, making room for religious/political divergence, while also remaining steadfast when it comes to staying true to himself and expressing healthy boundaries. His is a story of empathy and hope, of braving backlash and stripping down faith to its essence, of finding love, living authentically, and standing up for what we stand for.
David Gallegos-Roybal [bio] was born in Santa Fe and raised in Northern New Mexico. His Mother, Dorothy, is from the Pojoaque Valley/El Rancho and Father, John, from Española/Guachupange. He cherishes his upbringing by a resilient, strong and ever-loving family. He was strongly influenced by the Pentecostal-Charismatic Church including education from K-12 in the Christian parochial school. David graduated from the University of New Mexico and is now an environmental scientist. He is happily married to his husband Mark and they have a home in Santa Fe where they love to garden, cook/grill, play Mario Kart, and raise their 5 fur babies. They are huge outdoor enthusiasts who lead movement and dance outside and spend their free time camping in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.
If you’d like to contact David directly, you can reach him here.
