Berend McKenzie is still thriving after an abusive adoptive family, drug addiction, and HIV at 16

The Authentic Gay Man Podcast

My guest, Berend McKenzie, grew up in a home with adoptive parents that taught him to lie at an early age, in order to make the family look good. When his lies didn't measure up, he was physically abused. Berend experienced his life as so painful that he made his first unsuccessful suicide attempt, while in the third grade. He set the house on fire with the intention of jumping into the fire. Later, to numb himself from the pain, he started using alcohol at age 13 and it progressed to heavy drug addiction that resulted in him losing all of his teeth at age 21. He was diagnosed with HIV at age 16 and told he would die. In spite of all this, Berend had an awakening and miraculously begin to turn his life around. His story of healing and redemption will truly inspire you.
Berend is a writer, actor, and producer.
Berend's Profile

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