Podcasts by Latter Gay Stories
What is it like to be gay? Am I alone in this journey? How do I reconcile my faith and my sexuality? Is leaving my religion to find happiness even possible?
Welcome to Latter Gay Stories! We're a podcast featuring real people, real stories, and real talk! We discuss life inside and outside of the closet—and living your best and most authentic LGBTQ+ self. You are not alone. You are not broken. And your best days are ahead.
Most of our guests have a background in Mormonism and we discuss how a variety of religious traditions influence the queer journey.
Further podcasts by Latter Gay Stories
Podcast on the topic Religion und Spiritualität
All episodes
187: Carmina and Sabrina | Sister Missionaries Fall In Love from 2023-10-17T20:24
Carmina and Sabrina were called to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Mormon missionaries. What they didn't expect was that they would meet e...
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186: Dan and Sara Fisk | Being Prepared for Allyship from 2023-09-26T16:31
In 1998, the Fisk family faced what some might cal...
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185: Jacob Lambert | I Came Out by Inviting People In from 2023-08-09T17:33
Jacob Lambert's story is about finding support from those around you. Raised in an active Latter-Day Saint family, Jacob’s world view shifted when he began to figure out that he was gay at 16 ye...
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184: Cameron Call | Breaking Out of Mormon Expectation from 2023-07-19T16:15
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183: Richard and Josh | A Love Story from 2023-06-30T19:38
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182: Josh Castro-Mitchell | From the Philippines to Utah: Finding My Happiness from 2023-06-20T16:07
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 ma...
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181: Richard Mitchell | When A Mormon Bishop Comes Out from 2023-06-15T18:40
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....
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180: Brad Talbot | I Colored The BYU Campus in Rainbow from 2023-05-24T17:33
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179: Flo Montierth | My Husband is Gay, Now What? from 2023-05-11T19:15
My husband is gay, now what? In a topic not regula...
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178: Joel Jacks | I Tried to Do Everything Right from 2023-04-19T19:00
Joel was raised in an orthodox Mormon home, where ...
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177: Colby Majors | “Now Thank Him and Let Him Go” from 2023-03-29T18:45
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176: Lacey Bagley | Bisexual, Married, Polyamorous and Thriving from 2023-03-09T23:16
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 nav...
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175: Jake Shepherd | I Was Unprepared to Come Out from 2023-02-23T23:55
At age 10 Jake was mercilessly bullied, the kids c...
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174: Nate Gardner | Mission, BYU&(gay) Marriage from 2023-02-09T22:54
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...
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173: A Gay Mormon Rescue? Ben Schilaty and Charlie Bird: Panel Analysis from 2023-01-27T21:29
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 see...
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172: Brayden Singley | A Journey of Finding Myself from 2023-01-19T17:00
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 u...
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171: David Doyle | @NerdyGayMormon from 2022-12-28T15:30
David Doyle is a Latter-day Saint from Florida. He is humble, reliable, lovable, nerdy, and gay. He is an active Latter-day Saint with stake leadership callings—and it is through those callings ...
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170: The Naked Pastor | David Hayward from 2022-12-08T17:08
He’s known around the world as The Naked Pastor—and you’ve likely seen his cartoons on social media or in print—but who is David Hayward and why does his art speak so loudly for the LGBTQ+ commu...
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169: Carol Lynn Pearson | Loving My Gay Husband To Eternity from 2022-11-08T17:45
Carol Lynn Pearson is a Mormon icon. In the early 1960’s two monumental experiences happened in her life: she married Gerald, a gay man—and she published her first book.
From that first p...
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168: Laurie Lee Hall | From Temples to Transformation from 2022-10-26T14:58
At age five Laurie Lee Hall knew she was different, but she didn’t have words for what the “difference” was. For her, language—and better understanding wouldn’t come until many decades later. Listen
167: Weston Smith | Gay Mormon Missionary: Survivor from 2022-10-11T15:55
Weston Smith came out as gay while his dad was serving as a bishop in the Mormon church. His parents were understanding, but navigating life a gay Mormon teen, trying to better understand your s...
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166: Evan Smith | From Stake Presidency to LGBTQ+ Ally and Beyond from 2022-10-04T17:33
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 diff...
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165: Paul Bird | Finding My Balance As a Gay Mormon from 2022-09-20T16:09:30
For orthodox Christians, especially Latter-day Saints, Paul Bird’s life doesn’t fit the mold. He admittedly loves the Word of Wisdom, but loathes the Law of Chastity. And that is where is story ...
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164: Josh Morris | An Honest Conversation About Being Gay from 2022-09-02T00:33:11
Josh Morris was raised in a very small, rural Utah community. Living as a closeted gay teen, in a predominately Mormon town leaves a lot to be desired. The community isn't rich with diversity or...
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163: Melinda Hannah | Painting The Faces of Love from 2022-08-16T16:00:35
Melinda Hannah is no stranger to pain or trauma. She battled her own traumas while simultaneously watching other’s experience their own.
Melinda is an artist. She used her talent and brus...
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162: Colter Wild | Finding My Inner Peace from 2022-07-19T16:24:18
Latter-day leaders have often warned that happiness, truth, and spiritual experiences are only found within the framework of Mormonism—Colter's story defies that narrative.
Shortly after ...
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161: sExcommunication: The Mormon LGBTQ+ Dilemma from 2022-07-13T13:38:08
160: The Black Menaces | Televising the Mormon Revolution from 2022-05-11T19:45:01
In less than one year, five students at Brigham Young University have amassed a social media following of nearly 1,000,000 people. The group, calling themselves the Black Menaces, create videos onl...
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159: Kris and Kay Packer | Loving, Learning, and Living from 2022-04-07T17:27:22
For the Packer’s, love and connection brought them together—and it was honesty and authenticity that helped their love and connection flourish. In this fascinating story of love and transformation,...
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158: Kris Packer | From Wife to Husband: A Story of My Journey from 2022-03-30T17:20:13
157: Kay Packer | My Lesbian Mormon Love Story from 2022-03-24T16:00:14
Kaylene Packer was a very normal Mormon girl. She went to church, she prayed, and she tried to hide an important part of her identity...she was really, really into girls. Growing up Latter-day S...
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156: Ashley Ryan | My Story of Transition and Hope from 2022-03-08T19:01:27
Ashley was born male into a Lutheran home in Texas. At a young age, Ashley knew she was different. Not having language for what that "difference” was, she navigated her journey the best she could. ...
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155: Kray Casper| BYU Changed My Life: My Gay Coming Out from 2022-02-24T18:30:45
Kray was a remarkably normal Mormon. He knew he was gay, but did everything in his power to deny and hide it. If you bury it, it doesn’t exist, right? He gave everything to the church, served a ...
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154: BYU ADMINS to BYU HEALTH CLINIC: Terminate Health Services to Transgender Patients from 2022-02-10T16:25:43
In a surprising move, BYU-Provo administrators dismissed three transgender clients from the BYU Clinic on 2/7/2022, and informed their student/faculty clinicians that transgender patients needed to...
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153: Duane Jennings | Balancing Science and Spirituality from 2022-01-27T20:10:30
From an early age, Duane felt drawn to better understanding life from two perspectives: science and spirituality. His desire for knowledge and the human understanding led him to better understand e...
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152: Page Petrucka | Happiness Exists In Authenticity from 2021-12-21T21:30
Page knew she was different, but Mormonism has a way of convincing you to keep those “different” feelings buried deep inside. Those feelings and natural connections can only stay hidden for so long...
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151: Cole and Kent | Our Real-Life Gay Mormon Love Story from 2021-11-10T18:00
150: Mormon Parents of a Gay Child: When Dogma Collides with Ignorance from 2021-09-22T16:00
There isn’t a manual or Sunday school lesson that teaches us how to prepare for our child’s coming out experience. For parents (especially Mormon ones,) you often feel wholly unprepared for the ...
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149: James Kent | Aloha to Authenticity and Love from 2021-09-08T16:30
In this special outdoor episode, we sit down with James Kent in the beautiful Iao Valley on the island of Maui, Hawaii. James shares a stunning history of Hawai'i including the native Hawai'ian’...
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148: Tommy Francesco | The Kiss That Kicked Me Out of BYU from 2021-08-27T16:30
As a convert to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tommy Francesco wanted to do what was right. He studied with the missionaries, joined the church, obeyed the word of wisdom, serv...
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147: Brandon Spevak | Rearranging Everything That Was Comfortable in My Life from 2021-08-11T16:00
Brandon Spevak's life was familiar to many Latter-day Saints. He served in leadership callings, he married his wife in the temple, and together they started to raise their young family.
I...
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146: Tate and Kara: Mixed Orientation Marriage from 2021-07-28T16:00
Over the last six decades, Latter-day Saint leaders encouraged mixed orientation marriages as the only best option available to gay Mormo...
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145: Cole Rasmussen | Reconciling My Faith By Accepting My Sexuality from 2021-07-08T16:45
In an office at the Church Office Building—overlooking the angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake Temple, Cole received a blessing from Elder Cook. In that blessing Cole was promised that he would be a...
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144: Randy and Jeremy | Excommunicated For Falling in Love from 2021-06-24T20:00
143: Love: From Our Perspective | Fathers of Gay Sons from 2021-06-21T21:30
Let's face it, no parent expects (or can adequately prepare) for their child to come out. With few social and religious resources available to help parents navigate this journey, where do you tu...
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142: Kent Carollo | Fulfilling The Measure of My Creation from 2021-06-07T03:00
“I never missed general conference, I held leadership positions, I served a mission, I studied at a church school, I got married—you reach a point where you do all the things you believe are bes...
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141: Natasha Helfer | A Special Episode Interviewing Kyle from 2021-05-23T17:01:28
140: Tanner Jones | Life After Coming Out, Divorce and Leaving Mormonism from 2021-05-20T18:39:07
Uprooting your life and making a course correction is never an easy experience. In this episode, Tanner Jones shares his experience coming out to himself, his family and his young family. He des...
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139: Our Gay Kids: A Mother's Perspective from 2021-04-29T19:32
Where do parent's turn for education, guidance, wisdom and direction when their child comes out? How does religion and society impact the well-being of our youth? What did you wish you had known...
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138: Jessyca and Savana | From MormonAndGay to our Wedding Day from 2021-03-10T20:30
137: Craig Call | My Grandpa was an Apostle: This is My Story from 2021-02-18T21:00
136: Miles and Jim | Giving Ourselves the Permission to Thrive from 2020-09-03T23:15
Miles Hunsaker and Jim White sit down with the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share their individual stories of coming out, finding inner peace and thriving as a couple.
Both Jim and Miles...
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135: Jennifer and Shaunie | Stepping Across Lines To Embrace Our Happiness from 2020-07-15T23:45
Shaunie Schow was a small-town Idaho woman who served as a Relief Society President and in the Stake Relief Society presidency.
Jennifer Saunders was the complete opposite.
134: David Staker and Rob Schopke: Finding Ourselves and Finding Each Other from 2020-06-11T00:00
“We were not only gay. We were not only married. But we were also attending Church—with our children, and the Church didn’t know how to handle all of that. It took a couple of General Authoritie...
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133: Tiana Matson | How Coming Out to my Mission President Changed My Life from 2020-05-21T00:00
Tiana story is similar to many others in her shoes. She knew from a very early age that she was different. What did that difference mean? And how do you explain something that you can’t define?<...
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132: Bernie Jessop | From Mormonism to Polygamy: How A Gay Man Found His Path from 2020-04-30T00:00
He was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in a turn of events Bernie was excommunicated. His excommunication didn’t come because he is gay—that would come later—but be...
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131: Laura Root | My Story of Happiness and Joy from 2020-04-16T19:20
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...
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130: Tyler Lefevor | Four Option Survey: LGBTQ/LDS Research from 2020-04-15T19:28:16
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 C...
129: Keindrick Willis | My Personal, Mental and Spiritual Tug-of-War from 2020-03-12T18:02:21
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 co...
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128: Debi and Aimee | Breaking Down The Barriers from 2020-02-20T22:20
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 spendi...
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127: Kyle Ashworth and Justin Utley | LifePlus Logan, Utah Event from 2020-01-28T01:00
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. K...
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126: Skyler Wixom | My Faith. My Sexuality. My Path Forward. from 2020-01-14T21:40
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...
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125: Sunny and Joe Smart | Our Story of Family and Marriage from 2019-12-19T20:30
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...
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Daniel Spencer | Millions Know My Social Media Humor But Few Knew Me from 2019-11-21T21:45
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 kn...
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123: Chris Richards | What Life Taught Me About Authenticity from 2019-11-08T19:45
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 ...
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122: Judith Mehr | I painted some of Mormonism’s most iconic art—and I was closeted. from 2019-10-24T18:50
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 th...
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121: Yaeger Chivers | Coming Out, conversion therapy and finding my way forward. from 2019-10-10T19:00
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 ther...
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120: Justin Utley | Coming out, conversion therapy, and using music to advocate from 2019-09-10T18:45
119: Brock Messinger | Raw. Candid. And a little messy. from 2019-08-21T19:00
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 depressi...
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118: Picnic In The Park | Latter Gay Stories, Let's Love Better&Peculiar from 2019-08-11T19:45:03
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 ...
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117: A. Todd Jones | Navigating My Marriage, Coming Out, And Helping Others from 2019-07-25T19:00
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...
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116: Valerie Green | Finding My Identity and the Path of Authenticity and Happiness from 2019-07-18T18:30
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 ...
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115: Bryce Cook | Understanding the History: Homosexuality and the LDS Church from 2019-07-10T14:54:34
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 thi...
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114: Sarah and Madi | We Found Ourselves: This Is Our Story. from 2019-06-27T13:53:46
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...
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113: LGT Panel Discussion | Church Leader Session: Affirmation Conference from 2019-06-27T04:50:22
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 th...
112: Tom Christofferson | Church Leader Session: Affirmation Conference from 2019-06-27T04:29:19
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 ...
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111: Jena Peterson | Church Leader Session: Affirmation Conference from 2019-06-27T04:11:23
Jena Peterson is an active Latter-day Saint who identifies as gay and remains married to her husband of 14 years, Todd, in a mixed orientation marriage.
In this episode, Jena discusses he...
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110: President Michael Mayfield | Church Leader Session: 2019 Affirmation Conference from 2019-06-27T03:53:45
President Michael Mayfield currently serves as a counselor in the Stake Presidency. He is a former bishop and is the father of a gay child. For President Mayfield, when his daughter came out, he...
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109: Josh and Lolly Weed | The Beginning. The Middle. The Future. from 2019-06-13T19:00
Seven years ago (while celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas), Josh and Lolly Weed made a quiet blog post announcing to their friends and family that Josh was gay, and together...
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108: Ryanna Woods | Drag Queen, Survivor, Gay Man from 2019-06-06T20:30
Imagine life as a gay man growing up in an ultra-conservative Mormon family—who’s weekend family activities included delivering flyers and hosting events aimed at shaming homosexuals. That was t...
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107: Cher McCoy | A Mother’s Love: My Journey as an LGBT ally, friend and mom. from 2019-05-30T18:36:58
On Mother’s Day, Cher’s son came out to her. From that day forward she fought to protect him and the community he belongs to.
In this episode Cher discusses her journey as an LGBT ally an...
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106: Gregory Prince | A Complicated History: Mormonism and the LGBTQ Community from 2019-05-24T01:30
Dr. Gregory Prince sits down with Latter Gay Stories for a unique one-on-one discussion about the actions and unintended consequences of the LDS Church's history with LGBT people and their allie...
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105: Chad Merrell and Matt Weber | Asexuality and our journey from 2019-05-15T19:30
So often the we hear stories about the first four letters of the L-G-B-T community, but rarely do we have the opportunity to hear stories from those who identify with the other letters, like A a...
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104: Debra Asper | Finding Strength From Within from 2019-05-08T23:56:12
Deb Asper is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in LGBT therapy and more particularly, LGBT trauma. And to say that she’s a gem—and an asset to the community is an understa...
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103: An Evening With Affirmation | Nathan Kitchen and Laurie Lee Hall from 2019-05-07T15:00:24
103 | The Latter Gay Stories Podcast rebroadcasts An Evening With Affirmation, featuring speakers Nathan Kitchen and Laurie Lee Hall.
Nathan Kitchen is the current President of Affi...
102: Greg Barnett | The vital role of love, inclusion and understanding the journey each of us navigate. from 2019-04-24T20:00
102: Greg Barnett | The vital role of love, inclusion and understanding the journey each of us navigate.
Greg Barnett sits down with the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share his experience...
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101: Jody Hansen | Suicide Prevention and Education, November 2015 Policy Update from 2019-04-05T20:00
Jody Hansen is a suicide prevention educator sharing the QPR program to wards, stakes, and community groups throughout the state of Utah and beyond.
In this episode, the Latter Gay Stori...
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100: Drew and Tyler Armstrong | Our Journey As A Trans Family from 2019-04-03T19:00
“All of you think I am weird, and I don’t even know why. I don’t even know why I feel this way, or why this is uncomfortable for me.” - Tyler Armstrong
At age three, Tyler knew h...
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099: Aaron and Marie Jones | A discussion about our gay daughter, the church, and love. from 2019-03-23T16:30
What happens when you hear the words, “mom and dad, I’m gay”? How do you react, what do you say, and what does the path forward look like?
Aaron and Marie Jones, the parents of a lesbian ...
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098: Kyle and Reece Jacobsen | Life, Dating, Marriage and Love from 2019-03-13T21:15
Kyle and Reece Jacobson join the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share their journey and story! The married couple share their experiences as growing up closeted, serving missions, exploring thei...
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097: Devin Bourne | I'm gay, I'm active in the Church and I am finding my own path from 2019-03-06T21:00
Just when you think it is impossible to be gay and an active LDS, you find a person like Devin. His story is a fascinating journey in finding a path that works for him—on his own terms. He’s gay...
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96: 10-Minute QuickCast | Perspective from 2019-02-28T20:05:17
From time to time, I like to produce a quick 10 minute or so podcast that shares a few thoughts I have had during the week, or a lesson I picked up as I have interviewed guests who are featured ...
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095: Kelsey and Mekael | Coming out, divorcing and finding happiness together. from 2019-02-26T22:00
In this touching and inspiring episode of Latter Gay Stories, Kelsey Jones and Mekael Simmons share their journey as lesbian women. Both were married to men, came out to their husbands and follo...
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094: Paul and Susie Augenstein | Our Journey Into LGBTQ+ Allyship from 2019-02-20T04:50:15
In January of 2018, Paul Augenstein, bishop of a Riverton Utah LDS ward, and his wife, Susie opened their chapel doors one Sunday to welcome a message of hope, inclusion and love.
Their 5...
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093: The introduction of Latter Gay Stories | Season 8 from 2019-02-13T05:36:57
Welcome to season 8 of the Latter Gay Stories podcast, formerly the Gay Mormon Stories podcast! In this episode we welcome our new host, Kyle Ashworth and get a glimpse into his personal life, ...
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