Lauren Drain
Lauren Drain | |
---|---|
| |
Born |
Lauren Danielle Drain December 31, 1985[1] Tampa, Florida, United States |
Residence | Los Angeles, California, United States of America |
Other names | Lauren Kagan |
Education | B.S., Nursing (Washburn University, 2007) |
Occupation | Fitness Model, Personal Trainer, Nurse, Author |
Spouse(s) | David Kagan (m. 2013) [2] |
Lauren Danielle Drain (born December 31, 1985) is a former member of the Westboro Baptist Church who wrote the 2013 book Banished, which chronicles her experiences and eventual banishment from the church.[3]
Early life
Drain was born in Tampa, Florida and lived in nearby Bradenton until age five, when she moved to Olathe, Kansas as her father, Steve, enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Kansas.[4]
Steve Drain first came into contact with Westboro while working on a documentary critical of the church. He eventually became a fervent convert, and his entire family followed him into the church.[5] Lauren Drain was a member from 2001 until 2008, when she was excommunicated for questioning church doctrine.[6][7] Her parents, two sisters, and brother are still members of the church, and have cut all ties with her.[8]
Drain graduated from Topeka West High School in Topeka, Kansas and earned a Wiseman Scholarship to Washburn University.[9]
Career
Drain graduated from Washburn University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.[10] Lauren worked as a Registered Nurse for nine years before becoming a full-time personal trainer and fitness model. Drain has been married to David Kagan since August 2013. She currently lives in Los Angeles.[6][11] She also identifies as a Christian.[12]
Drain participated in the NOH8 Campaign in 2013.[13]
Drain wrote the book titled Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church, co-authored by Lisa Pulitzer which describes her experiences in the Westboro Baptist Church and her ultimate expulsion from the church.[14] It has been on the New York Best Sellers list in the eBook category as of March 30, 2013.[15]
Drain is a fitness model, using her social media account such as Instagram and Facebook to showcase her fitness routines, strength and motivational content.[16]
See also
References
- ↑ Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church
- ↑ JERREAT, JESSICA (September 2, 2013). "'I never thought I'd see them again': The moment woman who escaped Westboro Baptist Church was walked down the aisle by fellow escapees after her own family refused to attend wedding". DailyMail Online. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- ↑ "Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church by Lauren Drain - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- ↑ Banished, first page in chapter 1 and another page: "Mom and Dad found us a house to rent in Bradenton"
- ↑ Sessions, David (March 5, 2013). "'Banished' Lauren Drain on Growing Up in the Westboro Baptist Church". The Daily Beast.
- 1 2 Brydum, Sunnivie (March 14, 2013). "Escaping Westboro: Former Church Member Lauren Drain Reveals What Made Her Change". Advocate.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Lauren Drain". Lauren Drain. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- ↑ Hayes, Liz. "Pure Hate". ninemsn. 60 Minutes. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Washburn 2003-04 scholarship winners". Topeka Capital-Journal. March 12, 2003. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Class of 2007: Washburn University". Topeka Capital-Journal. May 21, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ↑ Kraus, Susan (March 18, 2013). "Book review: Banished by Phelps". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ↑ Turits, Meredith (February 26, 2013). "Banished: Former Westboro Baptist Church Member Lauren Drain Looks Back on Her Days In the Church, and Apologizes". Glamour. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
I do still hold my Christian beliefs, I don't condemn people like that anymore.
- ↑ Sieczkowski, Cavan (February 11, 2013). "Lauren Drain, Former Westboro Baptist Church Member, Poses For NOH8 Campaign". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ↑ "Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church eBook: Lauren Drain, Lisa Pulitzer: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store". Amazon.ca. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- ↑ Cowles, Gregory. "Best Sellers - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Lauren Drain Kagan (@LaurenDrainFit) on Instagram". Retrieved February 3, 2016.
External links