Latter Gay Stories

For many it’s a familiar story: active Latter-day Saint, hiding the feelings of same-sex attraction, and doing the things society requires of you to remain “normal”. But what happens when you can no longer do it all? Laura Root shares her story of hope, love, pain and progress. Hers is a story of finding a path that is her own and at the same time staying close to her faith and her personal revelation. Laura came out while serving as a Relief Society President in her ward. The sisters in her ward threw her a bridal shower, soon after the wedding, her new bishop excommunicated her. But she found happiness in the journey.  We invite you to share an hour and better understand Laura’s story. Watch the video on our Facebook or YouTube channel or catch the audio podcast version everywhere you find your favorite podcasts (just search LatterGayStories and click the subscribe button). #ComingOut #FaithAndSexuality #LatterDaySaint #GayMormon    

So, you've heard of the 4 OPTION SURVEY, but do you know what it is? We've got you covered! Tyler is an assistant professor of psychology at Rhodes College studying LGBTQ topics specific to Mormonism, his research aims to understand the mental health implications of gender, sexuality, faith, and their various intersections. As a self-identified queer Mormon, he is passionate about creating space for voices of all orientations and life paths to peacefully coexist. Want to take the survey? Click here:  www.4optionssurvey.com

A convert to the Church from Alabama, Keindrick did everything exactly "Mormon". While serving a mission to New York he also identified his sexuality. This story is Keindrick's journey coming out, attending BYU, dealing with bigotry and finding joy in his journey. "The pain of living closeted was greater than the pain of coming out." Keindrick shares his advice to members and Church leaders, and gives insight into his (multiple) experiences being turned into the BYU honor code office. Please comment, like or share this episode to help us expand our reach. We also encourage you to rate this podcast episode and subscribe to this channel. 

How many years does it take to realize that you’re not as straight as the church wanted you to be? For Debi and Aimee, it took almost ten. Even after living together, working together and spending all their time together, it took nearly a decade for them to realize (and accept) that they were lesbian. “I knew what the Church teaches about people like us … it just is not true. I couldn’t be happier. What we have is so good—and all good comes from God.” Listen to Debi and Aimee share their story of hope, love and happiness. The video version of this podcast is available on the Latter Gay Stories Facebook page, our YouTube channel or online at LatterGayStories.org. You can listen to the audio version wherever you catch your favorite podcasts. Please help us by liking, sharing and commenting on this (and our hundreds of other) podcast episodes.

Kyle Ashworth and Justin Utley join the Logan, Utah LIFEPLUS group to share their stories, some music and a few laughs. In this episode Justin sings songs from his newly released album, SCARS. Kyle discusses the topic of “belonging” and shares his personal story of coming out and thriving. Justin and Kyle open the discussion to an audience Q&A—and the inquiries from the audience are powerful! Pay attention to the questions from mothers and fathers of LGBT children, church leaders, LGBT people and allies, and the responses they received from the speakers. “This discussion was powerful and changed my whole perspective” -attendee

Skyler Wixom, a BYU graduate and adjunct professor, shares his story of coming out and finding his path of authenticity and honesty. Skyler gives kind and sympathetic advice to Latter-Day Saints and Church leaders regarding his sexuality. He shares his story coming out for the first time to his mission president and the loving advice his mission president gave him. Skyler discusses where is at today, including the transition of his faith and what led him from life as an active Mormon to exploring his sexuality. (Oh, and he’s single…hint, hint...guys!) You will learn and you will better understand by listening to Skyler’s experience. Share this invite with anyone who might be interested! The video version of this episode is available on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel and online at www.LatterGayStories.org. The audio version is available everywhere you catch your favorite podcasts.

Sunny Smart is gay. Her family knows, her friends know, her husband knows, and she knows. In this podcast episode, Sunny shares her story of coming out, remaining in a mixed orientation marriage, a transition of faith, and how proceeding forward in authenticity has changed her life. She and Joe, share their experience navigating this journey together, as a family. And their decision to come out—and support the LGBT family has impacted their experience. Their missionary son, Adam was recently denied a temple recommend and was asked to leave his mission for supporting the LGBT community and people like his own mother. The Smart’s share their feelings about this tragic turn of events for their son, and what must be done to honor the journey of all people—in or out of the LDS church. Watch this episode on the Latter Gay Stories Facebook page, online at LatterGayStories.org, on our LatterGayStories YouTube channel, or listen to the audio version wherever you catch your favorite audio podcasts. To make a donation

Millions and millions of people know Daniel Spencer from his hilarious Mormon themed memes, stand-up comedy and his role on Provo's Most Eligible (a straight dating show). However, few people knew the secret that Daniel was hiding. He is gay. Daniel recently came out to his fans and to the world. This is his story about what its like to be gay, closeted and a Latter-day Saint. Daniel talks about serving a mission, coming out to his mission president and family. Making mistakes, learning about empathy, depression, suicide, and finally finding a path of authenticity and honesty. The video version of the episode is available online at LatterGayStories.org, on our YouTube channel or find it (along with real-time comments) on our LatterGayStories Facebook page.  Please like, comment, subscribe and share this episode wherever you catch LatterGayStories. 

Chris Richards sits down with Kyle Ashworth to share his Latter-Gay story.  In this episode Chris talks about the mission, growing up “different,” getting married to a woman and navigating life in a mixed orientation marriage. He is honest. He is raw. He holds nothing back in this interview. We invite you to listen. Chris shares the story of how his wife introduced him to Grindr, leaving the LDS Church, navigating boundaries within a non-traditional mixed-orientation marriage and so much more. Watch the interview on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel (YouTube.com/LatterGayStories) on the LatterGayStories.org website, or listen to the audio version of this episode wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Judith Mehr is arguably one of the most well-known artists continually commissioned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has painted prophets, apostles, murals, and some of the most iconic gospel art used within the LDS Church. Behind that talent and her paintbrushes lived a secret. Judith was gay—and feared coming out. This is her story. Judy shares her experience growing up closeted, college life at BYU (where she was tasked to spy on women in her dorm to determine if they were lesbians), finding (and hiding) a partner, coming out and finding her authentic self. The video version of this podcast is available on our website at LatterGayStories.org, our Facebook page and YouTube.com/LatterGayStories. We invite you to like our Facebook page where we publish content weekly and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest video episodes of this podcast.

Yaeger Chivers sits down with the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share his story coming out in a small, Utah town, navigating his sexuality within the Church, his experiences with conversion therapy programs, and trying to please his family—while repressing his identity. He touches upon the difficulties of trying to meet the expectations of society and family, and what it took for him to live his best life, despite what others thought of him. This episode is provided in both video and audio versions on our Facebook page, YouTube channel or listen wherever you find your favorite podcast episodes.

Justin Utley, singer, songwriter and LGBTQ advocate sits down with Latter Gay Stories for an epic, in-depth interview. Justin shares the painful details of his coming out experience, conversion therapy, the deaths of people close to him and what he’s doing to make a difference in the lives of the LGBTQ family.   Using music and his vocal talent, Justin has performed worldwide sharing a story of hope to the LGBTQ community. He continues to fight on a local, state, national and international level for a complete ban of conversion therapy.   Find Justin's latest album SCARS, available for download on his website at www.JustinUtley.com

Sometimes we need to hear the raw and candid journey—unfiltered and real. This is Brock’s story. This is a no-holds barred interview where Brock shares his complete journey. It includes depression, leaving his mission early, suicidal thoughts, Grindr, hook-ups and ultimately finding love in the most unsuspecting places. Brock shares his feelings about growing up LDS and trying to tow the line to look, act and be a good Mormon. He served a mission which ultimately led his Mission President to out him to his parents. For the next hour we invite you to listen to Brock’s story of survival and eventual thriving as a husband and father. The video version of this podcast episode is available at LatterGayStories.org, YouTube and on our Facebook page. We invite you to share, like and subscribe to LatterGayStories!

Let's Love Better: Susie Augenstein, Peculiar: George Deussen and the Latter Gay Stories Podcast teamed up for a Picnic In The Park to help the LGBTQ+ community, their friends, and allies share an evening of food, fun and friendship. For those allies, church and community members who are looking for ideas to better understand the LGBTQ+ experience, events like this are monumental. We become better people when we understand and involve ourselves into unfamilar situations. This short podcast/video is the program portion of the event. A special thanks to the more than 300 people who supported the picnic and to Esera J. Mose who rocked the night with his voice!

In this interview we sit down with A. Todd Jones as he shares his story of living in a mixed-orientation marriage, dating, coming out, finding authenticity and what he’s doing in his life now to help the LGBTQ community. A. Todd Jones dives deep into his coming out story—a story very relatable to the many who struggle to understand who and what they are. The video version of the podcast and others are available on our Facebook and YouTube channels, online at LatterGayStories.org and the audio podcast is available wherever you find your favorite podcasts! SUBSCRIBE to our channel now!

She was married to a woman and found solace secretly cross-dressing to help her find her inner beauty. While navigating this journey to best understand her gender identity, Valerie Nicole Green took the crucial steps to live a life of authenticity and honesty. Valerie shares her story of her youth, holding stake and bishopric callings, coming out to her family and friends, life within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the death of her wife, and where her journey has taken her today. Together, we can better understand the journey our trans brothers and sisters navigate. #Transgender #TransMormon

If you’re a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and navigating a journey to understand the intersection of religion and sexual orientation, we invite you to join us for this Latter Gay Stories episode. Bryce Cook is an active Latter-day Saint, father of two gay sons and the author of “What Do We Know of God’s Will For His LGBT Children? An Examination of the LDS Church’s Position on Homosexuality.” In this episode, Bryce Cook and Kyle Ashworth fairly and candidly breakdown the history of LGBT discussion within the Church, changes within the policies and doctrines, social impacts and what the future might look like for the LDS and LGBT communities. We invite all Latter-day Saints to listen to this interview, regardless of how you personally feel regarding these topics. We invite you to follow the counsel of Elder M. Russell Ballard who invites the Saints “… to listen to and understand what our LGBT brothers and sisters are feeling and experiencing. Certainly, we must do better than we hav

Sarah Cunha and Madison McConkie sit down with the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share their story. Sarah is a BYU graduate and remained closeted growing up in the Church. In this episode she opens up about her experience coming out, sharing the news with her family and navigating life as a gay woman at BYU. Madison shares her experience as a closeted youth, LDS missionary and student of Dixie State University. Sarah and Madison have found each other and continue their journey of authenticity and honesty, on their terms.

This episode features discussion from Ben Schilaty, a gay Latter-day Saint, Jodie Palmer, a lesbian Latter-day Saint, and Ann Pack, a transgender Latter-day Saint. Each person in this panel discussion offer their personal experiences being queer and LDS. They offer tips, suggestions and glimpses into their experience, in an effort to help others better understand their path. As Elder Ballard admonished, "...we need to listen to and understand what our LGBT brothers and sisters are feeling and experiencing. Certainly we must do better than we have done in the past so that all members feel they have a spiritual home where their brothers and sisters love them and where they have a place to worship and serve the Lord."

Tom Christofferson is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he’s gay and the author of “That They May Be One,” a book detailing his life is a member of the Church and how he navigates his sexuality.  In this episode Tom shares his experiences and offers advice to church leaders and to the LGBTQ community from the 2019 Affirmation International Conference.