Latter Gay Stories – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Pynakker, the creator behind Mormon Book Reviews. Steve has never joined Mormon church, but he's deeply passionate about exploring the many different branches of the Mormon Restoration movement. On his YouTube channel, he dives into the history, beliefs, and practices of these various groups, offering a fascinating look at a tradition that many people don't fully understand.

Steve also opens up about his personal journey as a gay man and an evangelist, and how those experiences shape the way he approaches his own faith and the Mormon Restoration. We talk about how he navigates the intersection of identity and belief, and why he's so committed to making space for honest, open conversations about religion—especially in such a complex, often misunderstood movement.

This episode is a mix of history, personal stories, and some honest reflections on what it means to find your place in a world of evolving beliefs. 

Trevon Cutler chose the Church for himself as a teenager and gave it everything—priesthood, leadership, a mission, and years of trying to become the person he believed he was supposed to be. But underneath it all, he was quietly fighting the truth about being gay, hoping faith and obedience would somehow change it.

They didn't. The pressure built into anxiety, depression, and a mental health crisis that pushed him further than he ever expected to go.

When Trevon finally came out, it wasn't a single moment—it was a risk. One message to a friend. One message to his mom. And instead of losing everything, he found the support that helped pull him through one of the darkest nights of his life.

This conversation is honest about what it costs to hide, what it takes to face yourself, and how life can begin to open up on the other side of that truth—even while the struggle is still real.

In the final episode of our three-part story, Josh and Richard share the couch as a couple! They talk about dating, separating religion from their reality, family, navigating a vulnerable part of their lives, and MARRIAGE!

They reflect on what they have learned through this journey, how their lives have changed, and what they hope for the future.

Catch episodes 181 and 182 to hear Josh and Richard's individual stories.

Josh was thriving as a young, out, gay teen in the Philippines, but Mormon missionaries knocked on his door and he and his family ended up joining the Church. Soon after, his mother married a man from Utah, and Josh found himself living in a small religious town in Northern Utah.

His life went from being openly gay and accepted to hiding his sexuality and being an ethnic minority in a community of opinionated Mormon farmers. Utah forced him to hide inside a "shell" because he found it impossible to live who he really was. In this interview Josh shares what he experienced as a convert from Catholicism to Mormonism, how he navigated homophobia in a small Utah town, and where he's at today—including his intergenerational, interracial, same sex marriage.

This is part two of a three-part series beginning with episode 181.

#Philippines #Mormon #Thrive #ComingOut #Marriage

What happens when a former Mormon bishop can no longer stay closeted and hidden? He grabs the door-handle, walks through that door and into a world he's avoided his whole life.

Richard Mitchell was a very active, stalwart Latter-day Saint. He married a woman, had children, served in the church (including as Bishop) and tried to use the promises of Mormonism to "change" his sexual orientation. But was the "Mormon Message" sustainable for him?

In this three-episode series, Richard shares a candid look into his journey through church leadership, marriage and divorce, navigating life outside of social and religious expectations, and so much more!

Part Two of the series is Richard's husband Josh and Part Three will be the couple sharing their stories as married men (including some juicy details about their wedding!)

#LatterGayStories #MormonBishop #ComingOut  

What started as a dream to paint the Brigham Young University campus in rainbow paint ended up encouraging Bradley Talbot to start a movement that changed the face of BYU and literally lit it up with color. Brad took on Goliath—the Mormon Church and he organized a group of people to light the iconic Y in rainbow colors…not once, but three times.

But how did we get here? Who is Bradley Talbot? Why color the campus? And why did he feel compelled to advocate for the LGBTQ community and one of the nation's most orthodox universities? 

He is going to tell all. 

My husband is gay, now what? In a topic not regularly discussed, Flo Montierth shares her story of dating, marrying and then divorcing a gay Mormon husband. As a lifelong lover of learning and teaching, Flo is an advocate for special needs and the LGBTQIA community.

Navigating Mormon life in a mixed-orientation marriage was challenging, but leaning into those challenges opened new opportunities and new insights into Flo's personal journey—and expanded opportunities for her family. Through this journey, it wasn't just Flo's husband that will come out! 

#LatterGayStories #MixedOrientationMarriage #ComingOut #Mormon

Joel was raised in an orthodox Mormon home, where rules were king—he never met a rule he didn't follow. His upbringing was one of "exact obedience". PBS and KBYU were the only TV shows they were allowed to watch. He knew he was different, but didn't have words to describe what that difference was.

Family life for Joel was tenuous, to put it kindly. While serving a mission he was released early to come back to Utah for conversion therapy. His parents refused to pick him up at the airport.

Joel shares his story navigating his religion and his sexuality. He was a former member and employee of the Mormon church, held stake callings and served as an early morning seminary teacher. After doing all the "Mormon" things, like serving a mission, getting married in the temple, having kids, and serving the church, he still couldn't reconcile an intrinsic part of who he is.

This is his story.

#LatterGayStories #LasVegas #Mormon #Missionary #ConversionTherapy

Colby is a convert to the church, having joined at 17 years old. One year later, he left his family to serve a mission in Venezuela. He returned home from his mission after 10 months due to anxiety-depression. The root cause of this depression…he had been withholding a secret: "same-sex" attraction. 

Not long after coming home from his mission, Colby met a woman who would eventually become his wife, and he remained closeted in an effort to allow God to "heal" him through his righteousness.

After 15 years of marriage, and no longer believing that he needed to be "fixed," Colby came out to his wife and they separated shortly after.

What remains is Colby's story of authenticity, of learning to love himself, letting go of the person the world expected him to be, and best of all: finding true love. 

#Mormon #MixedOrientationMarriage #Family #ComingOut #RuralUtah

Dr. Lacey Bagley is a queer Mormon and the owner of Celebrate Therapy. She has been married for 14 years to her husband Evan and together they have 2 young children. She's polyamorous and is navigating, with happiness, this chapter of her life. 

What does the intersection of Mormonism and sexuality look like for Lacey? After devoting your whole life to religion, how can you reconcile its doctrine and policies against people like you? What advice do you have for others? 

In this episode, Lacey takes us through a very candid discussion of the difficult and beautiful parts of her story. 

It's honest. It's hopeful. It's a necessary discussion. 

#LatterGayStories #Bisexual #Polyamory #Mormonism #MarriedAndMingling #CelebrateTherapy #BYU