Alexandra Bautista: Shunned for Love, Silenced for Truth

I was born into the Jehovah's Witness organization in 1979. I was baptized at age 15.

I was reproved multiple times and disfellowshipped at the age of 23 for premarital sex. Even though I was repentant, a judicial committee of 3 elders expelled me. I was shunned by everyone, including my JW mother. I was suicidal and extremely depressed. I got reinstated 18 months later. 

Fast forward to 2017, I started researching the religion. A friend died by suicide as a result of being shunned in 2016. I was expelled again in 2019 for apostasy. I was asking too many questions about the changes in doctrine and child sex abuse cases. I am currently shunned by all JWs I knew.

JWs absolutely mandate shunning.