He has been writing about, and conducting research with LGBTQI people of faith since 1995. He is an out gay man whose own personal spiritual journey has recently returned him to his childhood religion where he is currently an active member of his local Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregation – Trinity Lutheran Church of Astoria/LIC in New York City. In September 2012, Dr Rodriguez began a three-year training process to become a Deacon in his church and this past December 2012, he became engaged to Dr David Shmerler – his co-author and long-term partner of over twelve years.