Lauren Drain

Lauren 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
Drain in 2010
Born (1985-12-31) December 31, 1985[1]
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Other namesLauren Kagan, Lauren Drain Kagan
EducationB.S., nursing (Washburn University, 2007)
Occupation(s)Fitness model, personal trainer, nurse, author
Spouse
David Kagan
​
(m. 2013)​
Children1
Websitewww.laurendrain.com

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 2007, when she was excommunicated for questioning church doctrine and unauthorized contact with a Connecticut man seeking to learn more about the church.[5][6] Following her excommunication, she briefly lived on her own in Topeka, but was haunted by reminders of her banishment from the church and her family, eventually deciding to move to Connecticut.[7] Her parents, two sisters, and brother remained members of the church and cut all ties with her.[8] However, sometime in 2020, her parents and two younger siblings were also excommunicated for unknown reasons.[9] Drain claimed in a YouTube video released in 2023 that she and her family had re-established their relationship.[10]

Drain graduated from Topeka West High School in Topeka, Kansas and earned a Wiseman Scholarship to Washburn University.[11]

Career

Drain graduated from Washburn University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.[12] She worked as a registered nurse for nine years before becoming a full-time personal trainer and fitness model.

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]

Personal life

Drain has been married to David Kagan since August 2013. As of 2013 she lives in Connecticut.[5][17] She identifies as a Christian.[18] In 2019, Drain and her husband announced that they were expecting a baby, and Drain gave birth to a child later that year.[19]

See also

References
  1. Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church
  2. "Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church by Lauren Drain – Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  3. Banished, first page in chapter 1 and another page: "Mom and Dad found us a house to rent in Bradenton"
  4. Sessions, David (March 5, 2013). "'Banished' Lauren Drain on Growing Up in the Westboro Baptist Church". The Daily Beast.
  5. Brydum, Sunnivie (March 14, 2013). "Escaping Westboro: Former Church Member Lauren Drain Reveals What Made Her Change". Advocate.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  6. "Lauren Drain". Lauren Drain. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  7. Drain, Lauren. Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church.
  8. Hayes, Liz. "Pure Hate". ninemsn. 60 Minutes. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  9. "STEVE DRAIN KICKED OUT OF THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH". YouTube. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  10. "Lauren Drain's Triggered Ep. 1 - How the Westboro Baptist Church changed my life". YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  11. "Washburn 2003–04 scholarship winners". Topeka Capital-Journal. March 12, 2003. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  12. "Class of 2007: Washburn University". Topeka Capital-Journal. May 21, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  13. Sieczkowski, Cavan (February 11, 2013). "Lauren Drain, Former Westboro Baptist Church Member, Poses For NOH8 Campaign". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  14. Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church eBook: Lauren Drain, Lisa Pulitzer: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store. Amazon.ca. March 5, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  15. Cowles, Gregory. "Best Sellers – The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  16. "Lauren Drain Kagan (@LaurenDrainFit) on Instagram". Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  17. Kraus, Susan (March 18, 2013). "Book review: Banished by Phelps". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  18. 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.
  19. "Lauren Drain Kagan on Instagram". Instagram. December 30, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
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