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BANNED
Memoir
Weston Brown
BANNED is a raw and deeply personal memoir that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and reclaiming identity. Raised in a devout fundamentalist evangelical family steeped in the controversial teachings of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, the author’s upbringing was a labyrinth of unyielding rules, ever-changing theology, and a mission to build a “Christian Army.”
Friendships with the Duggar family and encounters with other IBLP devotees further reinforced a culture of patriarchal control and spiritual perfectionism. Even after escaping one cult-like group, the author found himself ensnared by the promises of a sprawling megachurch, only to discover a world rife with scandal, hypocrisy, and broken trust.
Against this backdrop of conformity, the author grappled with the weight of faith, shame, and suffocating expectations in a world where access to diverse perspectives was restricted, and censorship was a tool for maintaining control.
The stakes became even higher when he came out, triggering a devastating rejection by his parents and a painful disconnection from his younger siblings. Through the ache of separation and the bittersweet revelations of love, loss, and healing, BANNED explores the tension between loyalty to family and the pursuit of personal freedom. It is a bold statement on the courage it takes to not only claim your identity but also to stand against efforts to erase or silence stories that challenge the status quo.
The narrative is a tapestry of quiet courage, heartbreak, and hard-won resilience, painting a portrait of what it means to leave behind the only life you’ve ever known to embrace the one you were meant to live. With honesty and flashes of humor, the author shares his journey of deconstructing faith, defying expectations, and rediscovering belonging.
For readers of Educated by Tara Westover, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, and All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, BANNED offers a compelling and evocative story of hope, identity, and the courage it takes to reclaim your narrative - and to fight for the stories that deserve to be told.