What did Jesus ever say about homosexuality?
Waking Up
Book & TV Series
Waking Up blends humor with thought-provoking narratives to explore religion, spirituality, mental health, and LGBTQ+ experiences.
This engaging series aims to challenge and enlighten viewers, fostering dialogue and understanding.
The Inspiration for Waking Up
My name is Christina McGraw. I am a mental health therapist, spouse, mom, grandma, dog lover, Jesus lover, as well as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
For many years I have wanted to write something that combines my knowledge of mental health along with my questions regarding Christians who shame those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’ve written this piece to celebrate our differences, including differences of sex and sexuality prominent among the LGBTQ+ community.”
Story and Plot
Set in a vibrant city where diverse cultures and beliefs converge, Waking Up explores the complexities of life through humor, respect, and deep introspection. The series centers around four main characters, each on a personal journey that challenges their beliefs, identities, and relationships, intersecting at pivotal moments to offer insights into life's profound questions.
Waking Up is for a diverse and forward-thinking audience that seeks depth and authenticity in storytelling.
Addressing Complex Themes
"Waking Up" intertwines the lives of its characters to address modern spirituality, mental health, and LGBTQ+ experiences with a blend of humor and seriousness:
Humor as a Bridge: Humor connects the audience to the serious underlying themes, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of the characters' journeys.
Foundation of Respect: Each episode is built on respect, ensuring that complex topics are handled with dignity, making profound conversations accessible and engaging.
Characters
Follows individuals like a traditional therapist and a young adult on their transformative journeys, addressing themes of identity, belief, and acceptance.
Shelly: A therapist and the mom of adult son Dave. She puts on her false face when away from home and acts how she believes people “should.” She has a rigid box of what is expected of people and is quick to judge those who do not live within this box.
James: A cis gay man in his late 20’s, James is fairly well-adjusted and confident in his identity. He grew up in a supportive environment, however at some level he felt a piece of his history was missing due to knowing very little about his biological parents.
Ginger: A vibrant cis gay woman at a spiritual retreat, Ginger uses her wit and intelligence to challenge norms and provoke dialogue.
Dave/Eva: Introduced as Dave, Shelly’s adult child struggles with depression and acceptance before coming out as transgender; she embarks on a transformative journey towards authentic living. Eva will become an advocate for fighting anti-transgender laws.
The Cast
Let’s draw key cast members from the LGBTQ+ community and our allies!!
My dream cast will be diverse. In keeping with a commitment to authenticity in casting, actors from the LGBTQ+ community will be cast for corresponding roles to provide genuine perspective to their characters:
Notable Talent Attached
MATTHEW McKENNA (as James)
Matthew McKenna, a cis gay male, and member of the Screen Actors Guild, will be cast as James. He is a seasoned comedic actor with extensive improv experience, specifically the Groundlings technique. (I told him years ago that we should pitch an idea where he is Rainn Wilson’s child.so here we are.)
JAYE McBRIDE
Jaye McBride is a charismatic and proud transgender female comedian who has kindly offered to help with this project. Having transitioned in 2007, Jaye is uniquely qualified to discuss transgender struggles, as well as self-acceptance. Jaye is an award-winning writer for their work on "Inside Amy Schumer." They are also the first openly transgender comedian to perform at Madison Square Garden.
Dream Casting
BRE-Z
BRE-Z loves the idea of this story. She stands in the forefront of representation of the LGBTQ+ community and believes that stories need to be told properly and with authenticity.
RAINN WILSON (as Jimmy)
Rainn Wilson is the ideal actor to portray the character, Jimmy, based on his understanding of addiction, his concept of life and suffering, his ideas about the differences between religion and spirituality, and his concepts for a spiritual revolution. I have tried a few ways to grab his attention…no luck yet. If you know him, please let him know how amazing this story is!
Be part of Waking Up!
Waking Up is more than a Book or a TV show; it's a vehicle for change, a platform for voices that yearn to be heard, and a testament to the power of media to foster empathy and understanding.
We are eager to engage in meaningful conversations and explore the potential pathways for Waking Up together.