Lauren Drain
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.[2]
Lauren Drain | |
---|---|
Born | Lauren Danielle Drain December 31, 1985[1] Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
Other names | Lauren Kagan, Lauren Drain Kagan |
Education | B.S., Nursing (Washburn University, 2007) |
Occupation | Fitness model, personal trainer, nurse, author |
Spouse(s) | David Kagan (m. 2013) |
Children | 1 |
Early life
Drain was born in Tampa, Florida and lived in nearby Bradenton until age five, when she moved to Olathe, Kansas, with her father, Steve, who enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Kansas.[3]
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.[4] Lauren Drain was a member from 2001 until 2008, when she was excommunicated for questioning church doctrine.[5][6] Her parents, two sisters, and brother are still members of the church, and have cut all ties with her.[7]
Drain graduated from Topeka West High School in Topeka, Kansas and earned a Wiseman Scholarship to Washburn University.[8]
Career
Drain graduated from Washburn University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.[9] She 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 Las Vegas.[5][10] She also identifies as a Christian.[11]
Drain participated in the NOH8 Campaign in 2013.[12]
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.[13] It has been on the New York Best Sellers list in the eBook category as of March 30, 2013.[14]
Drain is a fitness model, using her social media account such as Instagram and Facebook to showcase her fitness routines, strength and motivational content.[15]
Personal life
Drain and her husband, David, announced on July 25, 2019 that they were expecting a baby. Drain gave birth to a daughter, Aria Skye, on December 28, 2019.[16]
See also
References
- Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church
- "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.
- 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.
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B6rVPzgFWTF/