Watch Taraji P. Henson Comfort Gay Christian Ostracized by His Family

Academy-Award-winning actor Taraji P. Henson is having an open and honest conversation about sexuality and faith on her new Facebook Watch series Peace of Mind with Taraji.

In episode nine of the series, she talks with two young Black men about the challenges being gay and involved with the church can present. In a clip shared exclusively with PRIDE, Henson, alongside her best friend and co-host Tracie Jade, comfort Kyree after his family rejected him because of his sexuality. 

After coming out to his family at a young age, Kyree says he was ostracized and quickly fell into a life of "drugs and confusion."

Henson asks directly, "Did you question your religion?"

"At that time, my family members told me before I left, 'you know God don't love you no more.'" As Kyree bursts into tears, Hensen rushes over to embrace him. 

"That just made me go deeper and deeper," he says. That really tore me apart. I'm still today not the same person." 

Many LGBTQ+ people struggle to balance their sexuality with their faith, especially when organized religion can tell them they're going to hell for loving who they love. While being religious and LGBTQ+ are not mutually exclusive, it certainly presents its own set of challenges. 

The official description of the episode reads: 

"Black, Gay and Religious: Suppressing Sexuality for Faith? Church is known for being a safe haven for many people but being gay in the Black church can be extremely difficult. Two young men share their mental health struggles with embracing their faith and sexuality. Clinical Psychologist Shelly Collins unpacks some of the ways that religion and sexuality can clash, the impact that it can have on mental health and how to move forward."

The episode of Peace of Mind with Taraji premieres December 13 at 9am PT on Facebook Watch. Watch the clip below: