Latter Gay Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

Laurie Lee Hall was the Chief Architect for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Designing and overseeing some of Mormonism's most sacred spaces, this former Stake President and bishop made one of the most profound decisions of her life: authenticity.

Laurie sits down with Latter Gay Stories in a follow up to her last interview (episode 168) and she shares with us her just published memoir, "Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman."

In this interview, Laurie pulls back the curtain to share a "behind the scene" look at how the First Presidency and other top church leaders govern the affairs of the church. She discusses her transition, excommunication, and restrictions placed on her because of her power to live her "eternal identity."

Through the power of lived experience, this interview affirms the reality of gender identity and the strength and joy of self-acceptance.

Pick up Laurie Lee's book on Amazon or directly through Signature Books.

#LatterGayStories #LaurieLeeHall #DictatesOfConscience

Chosen Path, a memoir by D. Michael Quinn is a story of self-denial and inner struggle, while Michael strove to follow through on his personal commitments faithfully. The memoir, published by Signature Books is an intimate look into the life of one of Mormonism's most prolific historians of church governance and LGBTQ intersections. Moshe Quinn, son of Michael Quinn and Barbara Jones Brown sit down to share a story of truth, struggle, excommunication, and honor.

The book is available at your local bookstore, or available online through Signature Books and Amazon.

Moshe is the youngest son of Mormon historian, D Michael Quinn. In some ways intersecting between them, Moshe has pursued the humanities and the arts through his life, with more emphasis than his father on the arts. He lives in the Bay Area where he teaches photography, digital art and filmmaking with high school students.

Barbara Jones Brown is a historian and the director of Signature Books Publishing. She is excited that Signature has just published D. Michael Quinn's memoir, Chosen Path, and will be also be publishing the memoir of Laurie Lee Hall, a leader in the transgender community. In May 2024, Signature will also publish The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, an anthology of personal stories from across the LGBTQ spectrum.

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

At age 10 Jake was mercilessly bullied, the kids called him "gay" a word he didn't understand. Using the family's dial-up internet connection Jake turned to Google to better understand the word. A path of pain ensued.

It would take Jake nearly seven years to finally say " I am gay" out loud.  In the wake of that coming out experience came shame, personal reflection, and a sexual assault. These factors convinced him to retreat back into the closet and further into Mormonism's seemingly safe protection. 

Jake's story is one of healing, rising above the pain, setting religion aside, and finding strength and hope in the path ahead.

#LatterGayStories #Mormonism #ComingOut #Healing

Born and raised in Utah, Nate Gardner did everything he was supposed to do to be a good Mormon boy. After serving a mission and going to BYU Nate came out of the closet—fearing he would lose his family. 

Because of love, respect, communication and boundaries, Nate is closer to his family now as an openly gay man than he ever was when he was in the church. And he has his husband to support him. 

You don't want to miss the story of Nate's Christmas miracle, and what happened inside a Latter-day Saint chapel in Utah county. 

#LatterGayStories #Love #Family #CultureVersusLove 

Throughout Mormonism's history there have been a series of "rescues" where grassroots members, teamed with local church authorities, band together to rescue Saints in despair. 

Are we seeing an LGBTQ+ rescue in Mormonism? We're digging in...and talking about it. 

Inspired by Elder M. Russell Ballard's charge to "better understand the LGBTQ community," Ben Schilaty and Charlie Bird, gay Latter-day Saints, have been training ward and stake leaders/members on LGBTQ inclusion and love.

Through these efforts, Ben and Charlie aim to change the tradition and culture surrounding queer experiences in Mormonism and creating a space of better understanding regarding sexuality in the church (not much is being said about gender identity). 

In this special episode hosted by Latter Gay Stories and Mormon Stories, a panel of queer voices, moderated by John Dehlin, tackles this topic by analyzing a recently recorded fireside in a Surrey British Columbia Stake.

Is this new method of training effective? Does it move the needle?

#LatterGayStories #BenSchilaty #CharlieBird #GayMormonRescue #LGBTQMormonism 

Viral Tik-Tok creator Brayden Singley sits down with the Latter Gay Stories podcast to spill the tea on life as gay man with Mormon roots. Brayden was born and raised in Northern Utah. He grew up a member of the LDS Church, served a 2-year mission in the state of Washington and attended BYU.

In this episode Brayden candidly shares his story of shame, guilt, pornography, sexual experiences, rising above societal judgement—and ultimately finding his footing as a gay man in a seemingly unforgiving world. It's a wonderful episode about hope, and about following your heart.

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#ComingOut #HookUps #SexualExperience #GayMormon #GayStories