Church Leader Archives

166: Evan Smith | From Stake Presidency to LGBTQ+ Ally and Beyond

Posted 2 years ago Tagged Church Leader coming out Evan Smith Gay LDS Crossroads LDS Gay

Evan Smith met the intersection of sexuality and religion while serving as an LDS Bishop and eventually in a Stake Presidency. It didn’t take long before Evan began to better understand the difficult and impossible restraints the Church’s policies and … Read the rest here

Latter Gay Stories

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Latter Gay Stories

1 day ago

The holidays can be incredibly difficult for many of us. I vividly remember, not long after my divorce, curling up on the living room floor, overcome with sadness. The house that once echoed with the giggles of my children—the perfect Mormon family—felt hollow, and my anguish seemed to be the only decorations on the walls.

That Christmas, I was alone.

My journey to discover my authentic self had brought me to this moment of isolation, full of questions and fears:

Did I do the right thing?
Am I being selfish?
Did I not try hard enough?
Will I be alone forever?

I know many of you have felt these questions too. They are real, and they’re often part of the LGBTQ+ journey.

This Christmas, some of us will gather with family, friends, or chosen family, while others will spend the day alone. Some will find themselves surrounded by love and affirmation, while others will feel the sting of rejection.

Christmas, at its heart, is a celebration of hope, of new beginnings, and divine miracles. The holiday offers the thought that we, too, are part of something sacred. Honoring your true self is a miracle of its own, and like the Christmas story, it takes time.

Perhaps that’s the quiet meaning of Christmas: time.

Even in the traditional Christmas story, the shepherds, the wise men, and the stars needed time to gather, to prepare, to arrive.

We all need some time to heal, time to grow, time to connect.

You need time.

You are needed.

Those who truly see you—those who treasure you, will find their way to you. They will come bearing love, and joy, and blessings. Some are walking to you—others are running. But they are on their way.

They. Will. Come.

In the cold of winter, our branches often feel burdened with snow and ice. Those burdens will fade. As the seasons change, the things that feel heavy melt—and they eventually find their way to our roots providing nutrients for growth.

To the seekers and believers, the religious and the questioning, the loved and the lonely, we celebrate with you. You are not alone. You are not broken. And your best days are still ahead.

There are so many gifts yet to open.

❤️
Kyle ... See MoreSee Less

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Latter Gay Stories

4 days ago

The LGBTQ+ community isn’t about indoctrination—it’s about acceptance, love, and being free to live authentically. Teaching kids to respect diversity isn’t indoctrination; it’s preparation for the real world.

Meanwhile, many churches actively shape beliefs, behaviors, and worldviews from a very young age. If we’re discussing indoctrination, it’s worth considering where unquestioning conformity is actually encouraged.

Acceptance isn’t a threat—fear and intolerance are.

#LatterGayStories #PrayPayAndObey ... See MoreSee Less

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Latter Gay Stories

5 days ago

Clay Aiken, the American Idol alum, publicly came out as gay in 2008 on the cover of People Magazine. The revelation came shortly after the birth of his son, Parker. At the time, Aiken described his decision to come out as deeply tied to fatherhood.

"It was the first decision I made as a father," he shared. "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that."

In a recent interview with People, the 46 year old reflected on how speculation about his sexuality shaped his public persona and how coming out brought both clarity and challenges. "Back then, it was a big deal," Aiken explained, noting the professional and personal costs of being gay—and a celebrity.

Weeks before coming out, Aiken was at a career high, starring in Broadway’s Spamalot and riding the fame of American Idol—but the fallout was swift. "I lost maybe 50% of the fan base," he revealed. "The first four months that I was in the Spamalot it was selling out—standing room only. The show ended up closing early a few months after I came out."

Looking at today’s landscape, Aiken acknowledged the progress society has made. "We are living in a very different time," he said. "A lot of people who come out now end up having boosts in popularity because of it... That’s mind-blowing to me because it’s the opposite of what happened when I came out. But it means there’s progress, and it means that as a country, we’re headed in the right direction."

After more than a decade away from music, Aiken is making his return with a new holiday album, Christmas Bells Are Ringing, embracing the season of joy and renewal. ... See MoreSee Less

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166: Evan Smith | From Stake Presidency to LGBTQ+ Ally and Beyond

Latter Gay Stories

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