BYU valedictorian out as proud 'gay son of God' graduatn speech | Fox News

Contents:

• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS PROUD 'GAY SON OF GOD' GRADUATN SPEECH
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON OUT AS GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH
• GAY BYU STUNT OUT VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH
• SHOP THE BT OF 'THE RIGHT STUFF'!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHLIVGWHAT I’VE LEARNED SCE G OUT MY BYU MENCEMENT SPEECH LAST YEAR0:46BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT OUT DURG MENCEMENT BYMATT EASTONJUNE 22, 2020, 4:03 AMBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY GRADUATE MATT EASTON ME OUT DURG HIS MENCEMENT SPEECH APRIL 2019. THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF FAY, HOME, AND SOCIAL SCIENC AT BYU, WHO MAJORED POLIL SCIENCE, TOLD THE CROWD, "I STAND BEFORE MY FAY, IENDS AND GRADUATG CLASS TODAY TO SAY THAT I AM PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD." HIS SPEECH MA NATNAL NEWS AND HE RECEIVED AN OUTPOURG OF SUPPORT AND ATTENTN OM MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ MUNY. IN THIS PERSONAL SAY, EASTON, 25, REFLECTS ON HOW HIS LIFE HAS CHANGED SCE HE GAVE THAT NOW-FAMO SPEECH AND HOW THE WORLD REACTED TO LEARNG HE IS GAY.RECENTLY, THE TTONWOOD TRE HAVE BEGUN BLOOMG MY HOMETOWN OF COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UTAH. SMALL TUFTS OF TTON-LIKE SEEDS FLOAT THROUGH THE AIR, GIVG THE ILLN OF SNOW FALLG GENTLY TO THE GROUND.IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORE TIM. THE LTLE PUFFS HERALD THE G OF SUMMER AND THE CHANCE TO HAVE SOME OF MY GRANDMA'S HOMEMA MT ICE CREAM. THEY PUT NEIGHBORS FS OF SNEEZ THAT FILL THE TOWN WH OFFERGS OF "BLS YOU" EVERYWHERE YOU GO, LIKE LTLE GRAC TO RENNECT WH HUMANY.THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, THEY EVOKED A DIFFERENT REACTN ME -- I DISTCTLY REMEMBER THKG OF HOW MUCH I'VE CHANGED SCE I LAST SAW THE SEEDS DRIFTG BY.FOR STARTERS, I LOOK A B DIFFERENT -- I'VE FALLY HAD A CHANCE TO GROW OUT MY FACIAL HAIR -- AND I ALSO FEEL DIFFERENT. I'VE WORKED ON MY DREAM MPAIGN AS A STAFFER FOR FORMER PRINTIAL NDIDATE PETE BUTTIGIEG, FACED UNEMPLOYMENT THE MIDST OF A PANMIC AND EVEN WEATHERED MY FIRST EARTHQUAKE.ONE DIFFERENCE PARTICULAR, THOUGH, STANDS OUT: IT'S BEEN A YEAR SCE I ME OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY.LAST YEAR, I MA TERNATNAL NEWS WHEN I ME OUT DURG MY VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH AT MY LLEGE GRADUATN. THIS WAS PECIALLY SIGNIFINT BEE I ATTEND BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY, A NSERVATIVE MORMON-OWNED LLEGE KNOWN FOR S STRICT OF NDUCT THAT FORBIDS ANY FORM OF ROMANTIC HOMOSEXUAL EXPRSN.LS THAN A AGO, A STUNT ULDN'T EVEN BE OPENLY OUT AS LGBTQ+ AND REMA AT THE SCHOOL, AND DISCRIMATN AGAST NON-HETEROSEXUAL STUNTS REMAS TODAY.STILL, I WAS SURPRISED WHEN MY STORY STARTED GAG SUCH TRACTN. I QUICKLY WENT OM "THE KID WHO ALWAYS ORRS A LARGE POPRN FOR HIMSELF AT THE MOVI AND EATS THE WHOLE THG" TO "THE KID WHO WENT ON 'THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW!'"IT WAS EXHSTG TO HAVE MY CHARACTER AND MOTIVATNS PICKED APART BY CRICS MY MUNY, BUT WAS ALSO EXCG TO FEEL LIKE I HAD A VOICE AND AN DIENCE READY TO LISTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME.MY FAY WAS MOSTLY SUPPORTIVE, ALTHOUGH I FOUND OUT THROUGH THE GRAPEVE THAT MY UNCLE WAS ANGRY I HAD "SELFISHLY MA THE GRADUATN ALL ABOUT MYSELF." I RECEIVED THE SAME FEEDBACK OM MY MISSN PRINT, A SPIRUAL LEAR FOR YOUNG MORMON MEN AND WOMEN ON MISSNS.IT WAS DIFFICULT AT FIRST TO HEAR THIS OM PEOPLE I RED ABOUT, MOSTLY BEE I KNEW THEY HAD ENGAGED WH BIASED HEADL STEAD OF ACTUALLY LISTENG TO MY SPEECH OR APPROACHG WHAT I'D DONE WH AN OPEN MDSET, BUT MY DAD WAS THE ONE WHO LMED MY ANXIETI ABOUT ."IF PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WH WHAT YOU DID, 'S A PROBLEM WH THEM AND NOT A PROBLEM WH YOU," HE TOLD ME. "YOUR MOM AND I LOVE YOU, AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS."I'VE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT HE'S RIGHT; HAVG SUPPORTIVE PARENTS MA ALL THE DIFFERENCE WH LETTG GO OF THE NEGATIVE AND FOCG ON ALL THE GREAT OPPORTUNI THAT ME OM G OUT.EDOR’S PICKSVIRTUAL PRI EVENTS OFFER NEW WAY TO CELEBRATE LGBTQ HISTORY AND CULTURE JUNEJUN 30, 2020SUPREME COURT BANS LGBT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMATN JUN 15, 2020LEARS AT FOREONT OF HISTORIC LGBT SUPREME COURT LG SHARE THEIR STORIJUN 16, 2020WHILE THE FANFARE RECEIVED OM MY MENCEMENT SPEECH WAS FUN, DIDN'T LAST FOREVER. WHEN FAD, I WAS LEFT WH THE SAME QUTNS MOST QUEER PEOPLE WHO E OUT HAVE: HOW DO I NAVIGATE MY NEW INTY MOVG FORWARD? WILL MY FAY RELATNSHIPS CHANGE? WHAT'S THE BT WAY TO SUPPORT MY NEW MUNY?SOME PART OF ME THOUGHT THAT G OUT WOULD BE LIKE FDG A ONE-SIZE-FS-ALL ANSWER TO EVERY QUTN I WAS FACG. I'M STILL RELATIVELY NEW TO BEG OPENLY GAY, BUT I'VE FOUND THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE NUANCE VOLVED, LIKE A TTONWOOD SEED PRELUDG BOTH SUMMERTIME AND HAYFEVER SEASON.I THK THAT WHILE G OUT DON'T MAGILLY SOLVE EVERYTHG, FELY STILL HAS MAGIC .FOR EXAMPLE, I STILL STGGLE WH THE TERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA GRAED ME SCE BIRTH. IN THE PAST YEAR, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME, "I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE GAY!" THAT PHRASE STILL SENDS A P TO MY STOMACH, REMISCENT OF A TIME WHEN I SHAMED MYSELF TO HIDG PARTS OF MY INTY FOR FEAR THAT SOMEONE MIGHT DISVER MY SECRET.I'M STILL LEARNG TO REWIRE THAT THKG -- 'S OK PEOPLE THK I'M GAY, BEE I AM -- AND I'M OK THAT 'S GOG TO TAKE AWHILE TO WORK THROUGH THIS.NOT LONG AFTER G OUT, I RENNECTED WH ONE OF MY OLR S. HE MENTNED I WAS THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON HE'S EVER KNOWN. (I KNOW, HOW ULD THIS BE TE 2019?!) WHEN HIS CHILD HEARD ABOUT MY SPEECH THE NEWS, MY TOLD ME THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME HE STOPPED HIMSELF OM RECG A RELIG NMNATN AND STEAD SIMPLY TOLD HIS SON THAT "SOME PEOPLE LIKE BOYS AND SOME PEOPLE LIKE GIRLS, BUT THE IMPORTANT THG IS TO LOVE EVERYONE."IN THIS WAY, I THK THAT WHILE G OUT DON'T MAGILLY SOLVE EVERYTHG, FELY STILL HAS MAGIC .MORE: 5 WAYS TO KEEP THE SPIR OF PRI ALIVE 2020LAST SUMMER, I VISED STONEWALL INN, A BAR NEW YORK'S GREENWICH VILLAGE AND THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MORN LGBTQ+ RIGHTS MOVEMENT.FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED , I ULD REGNIZE WAS SACRED SPACE. I ULDN'T HELP BUT IMAGE THE BRAVE DIVIDUALS 50 YEARS PRR BUILDG UP THE URAGE AND FIGHTG FOR MY RIGHT TO BE OPENLY GAY. I FELT PROUD OF THE LEGACY MY QUEER FOREBEARERS FOUGHT FOR.MATT EASTON APPEARS THIS PHOTO OM JUNE 2019.MIRANDA HATCHI ALSO FEEL RPONSIBLE TO UPHOLD THAT LEGACY. I HOPE TO WORK THE POLIL ARENA, WHETHER THAT BE ELECTG MORE LGBTQ+ LEARS OR WORKG ALONGSI PUBLIC POLICY REARCHERS, ORR TO DO SO.I WAS ABLE TO PURSUE THIS DREAM WHILE WORKG FOR BUTTIGIEG OM JULY 2019 TO MARCH 2020. THE FIRST SER OPENLY GAY NTENR FOR PRINT, PETE'S EXAMPLE GAVE ME URAGE TO SPEAK MY TTH, AND WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME TO GET TO WORK ON HIS MPAIGN.BEG ON TEAM PETE GAVE ME THE UNIQUE CHANCE TO PURSUE MY PASSN FOR POLICS WHILE WORKG WH STAFF WHO NOT ONLY BELIEVED PETE, BUT ME AS WELL.TO ME, PART OF BEG THIS MUNY MEANS REGNIZG AND UNRSTANDG THE DISCRIMATN OTHERS FACE AND WORKG TOWARD EQUALY FOR ALL. I N'T FULLY CELEBRATE PRI MONTH WHEN I KNOW THE BLACK MUNY IS HURTG, AND SO I HONOR MY PRI BY FIGHTG FOR BLACK LIV MATTER, DONATG AND PROTTG AND TG MYSELF ON HOW I N MAKE THIS UNTRY A BETTER PLACE.MORE THAN ANYTHG, I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE IS POWER RAISG OUR VOIC AND SPEAKG TOGETHER.MATT EASTON APPEARS THIS PHOTO OM JANUARY 2020.MATT EASTONNOT LONG AFTER I GRADUATED, MY CLASSMATE EMMA GEE ME OUT AS BYU'S FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ+ STUNT ATHLETE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, NATHAN IVIE, ONE OF UTAH UNTY'S MISSNERS, BEME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY REPUBLIN ELECTED OFFICIAL UTAH'S HISTORY. EVEN POPULAR TIKTOK PERSONALY AND BYU STUNT DANIEL SPENCER ED HIS PLATFORM TO SHARE HIS STORY OF ACCEPTG HIS SEXUALY.MOMENT BY MOMENT, MORE LGBTQ+ PEOPLE ARE SHARG THEIR VOICE AND PROVG THAT WE ARE NO LONGER WILLG TO STAY SILENT. IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS SOMETHG BIGGER THAN ANY ONE OF ROLLG FORWARD, BRGG FORTH A MORE DIVERSE AND MEANGFUL MUNY THAN EVER BEFORE.HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.EARLIER THIS YEAR, BYU REMOVED THE CLSE S HONOR BANNG ALL FORMS OF HOMOSEXUAL EXPRSN, ONLY TO THEN TELL QUEER STUNTS THAT THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO ABI BY THIS (NOW UNWRTEN) LE."SAME-SEX ROMANTIC BEHAVR NNOT LEAD TO ETERNAL MARRIAGE AND IS THEREFORE NOT PATIBLE WH THE PRCIPL CLUD THE HONOR ," PL V. JOHNSON, MISSNER OF THE CHURCH TN SYSTEM, WROTE A LETTER TO STUNTS.IT WAS TRATG TO HEAR ABOUT THIS, EVEN THOUGH I'M NO LONGER A STUNT AT BYU. ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK, THEY SAY.EVEN MORE SO, LEAV AT-RISK LGBTQ+ STUNTS LEFT TO FEEL THE BNT OF BEG PULLED BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE A IEND ON MP WHO FALLY FELT SAFE TO E OUT AFTER THE CLSE WAS REMOVED, ONLY TO BE LEFT VULNERABLE AND EXPOSED WHEN THE UNIVERSY FALLY CLARIFIED THE MEANG AFTER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL LIKE OUR HUMANY IS OFTEN FOTTEN.THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR STUNTS AT BYU, BUT THERE ARE BRILLIANT STUNTS AND FACULTY WORKG HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DAY WILL E. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL.IN THE MEANTIME, I'M OK WH WATCHG THE TTONWOOD SEEDS FLOAT AROUND AND THKG OF HOW I'LL CHANGE BY THE NEXT TIME I SEE THEM.SURE, I MAY NOT GET TO GO ON "THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW" AGA, BUT I KNOW NOW THAT MY STORY ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO BEG OVER. I HAVE A LIFE FULL OF RICH EXPERIENC AHEAD OF ME, AND IF G OUT HAS TGHT ME ANYTHG, 'S THAT I'M FALLY READY TO LIVE .EDOR'S NOTE: THIS WAS ORIGALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 22, 2020.EDOR’S PICKSVIRTUAL PRI EVENTS OFFER NEW WAY TO CELEBRATE LGBTQ HISTORY AND CULTURE JUNEJUN 30, 2020SUPREME COURT BANS LGBT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMATN JUN 15, 2020LEARS AT FOREONT OF HISTORIC LGBT SUPREME COURT LG SHARE THEIR STORIJUN 16, 2020UP NEXT LIVG—HOW WBOYS, NSTCTN CREWS AND A NOE CLUB KEPT OTHER MI FIR OM BEG 'ANOTHER LAHAA'AUGT 25, 2023PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—HOW WBOYS, NSTCTN CREWS AND A NOE CLUB KEPT OTHER MI FIR OM BEG 'ANOTHER LAHAA'AUGT 25, 2023PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023

BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS PROUD 'GAY SON OF GOD' GRADUATN SPEECH

A Brigham Young Universy stunt quoted the Book of Mormon before he me out as a "gay son of God" durg his mencement dience cheered on Matt Easton, a polil science valedictorian, on Friday as he ma the announcement publicly for the first time at the school owned by The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats. "As such, I stand before the Lord, my fay, my graduatg class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God. "Easton, who terned for Utah Senator Mt Romney's 2018 mpaign, had reportedly told close fay and iends but never announced publicly that he was gay.

While I don’t speak for everyone -- my own experience is all I n vouch for -- I hope that people know that we ARE here at BYU, and we’re not gog anywhere anytime soon, ” Easton wrote a Twter 'S GRADUATION SPEECH PULLED OVER CHRISTIAN CONTENTBYU officials approved his speech ahead of time and, acrdg to the school’s webse, BYU’s Honor Co don’t ban gay stunts, but prohibs “homosexual behavr, ” cludg all forms of physil timacy that “give exprsn to homosexual feelgs. BYU graduate Matt Easton me out as gay his nvotn speech on April 26, sayg he was “proud to be a gay son of God.

” The dience cheered after Easton said he stood before his fay, iends and graduatg class “proud to be a gay son of God. The day of his speech, Easton tweeted that was the first time he had publicly clared he is gay, though he had been slowly g out to close iends and fay members.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH

Provo, Utah -- Brigham Young Universy valedictorian Matt Easton me out as gay while liverg his graduatn speech Friday, reports CBS Salt Lake Cy affiliate 's speech, which he gave to BYU's College of Fay, Home, and Social Scienc as the polil science valedictorian, was met wh applse and cheers om thoands that speech, Easton said, "I stand before my fay, iends, and graduatg class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God. Easton said he'd told close fay members and iends he is gay but had never said so publicly.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON OUT AS GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH

As such, I stand before the Lord, my fay, my graduatg class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God.

"The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats teach that beg attracted to members of the same sex isn't a s but actg on those feelgs, cludg beg a gay relatnship, is Easton live the life he wants as a gay member of The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats? 0 gra pot 's Honor Co don't ban gay stunts om the school but says stunts would be vlatn of the if they engage what the school f as "homosexual behavr, " which not only clus havg sexual relatns wh members of the same sex but all forms of physil timacy that "give exprsn to homosexual feelgs. Matt Easton, the 24-year-old polil science major and valedictorian of the Brigham Young Universy class of 2019, me out as gay his graduatn Easton on April 29, 2019, Cottonwood Heights, Bowmer / APApril 29, 2019, 7:03 PM UTCSALT LAKE CITY — A gay stunt who me out durg a valedictorian speech at Mormon-owned Brigham Young Universy is earng applse and admiratn om stunts and notable figur like actrs Krist Easton said Monday he hop the speech helps ease lonels felt by other LGBTQ stunts at the stutn where an honor forbids datg between members of the same speech was preapproved by the 24-year-old polil science major says only a few people knew about his sexualy before Friday, when he spoke the words "I am proud to be a gay son of God.

The valedictorian for the College of Fay, Home, and Social Scienc at BYU, who majored polil science, told the crowd, "I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God.

GAY BYU STUNT OUT VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH

In this personal say, Easton, 25, reflects on how his life has changed sce he gave that now-famo speech and how the world reacted to learng he is gay. This was pecially signifint bee I attend Brigham Young Universy, a nservative Mormon-owned llege known for s strict of nduct that forbids any form of romantic homosexual than a ago, a stunt uldn't even be openly out as LGBTQ+ and rema at the school, and discrimatn agast non-heterosexual stunts remas, I was surprised when my story started gag such tractn. I'm still relatively new to beg openly gay, but I've found that there is much more nuance volved, like a ttonwood seed preludg both summertime and hayfever season.

SHOP THE BT OF 'THE RIGHT STUFF'!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHLIVGWHAT I’VE LEARNED SCE G OUT MY BYU MENCEMENT SPEECH LAST YEAR0:46BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT OUT DURG MENCEMENT BYMATT EASTONJUNE 22, 2020, 4:03 AMBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY GRADUATE MATT EASTON ME OUT DURG HIS MENCEMENT SPEECH APRIL 2019. THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF FAY, HOME, AND SOCIAL SCIENC AT BYU, WHO MAJORED POLIL SCIENCE, TOLD THE CROWD, "I STAND BEFORE MY FAY, IENDS AND GRADUATG CLASS TODAY TO SAY THAT I AM PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD." HIS SPEECH MA NATNAL NEWS AND HE RECEIVED AN OUTPOURG OF SUPPORT AND ATTENTN OM MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ MUNY. IN THIS PERSONAL SAY, EASTON, 25, REFLECTS ON HOW HIS LIFE HAS CHANGED SCE HE GAVE THAT NOW-FAMO SPEECH AND HOW THE WORLD REACTED TO LEARNG HE IS GAY.RECENTLY, THE TTONWOOD TRE HAVE BEGUN BLOOMG MY HOMETOWN OF COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UTAH. SMALL TUFTS OF TTON-LIKE SEEDS FLOAT THROUGH THE AIR, GIVG THE ILLN OF SNOW FALLG GENTLY TO THE GROUND.IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORE TIM. THE LTLE PUFFS HERALD THE G OF SUMMER AND THE CHANCE TO HAVE SOME OF MY GRANDMA'S HOMEMA MT ICE CREAM. THEY PUT NEIGHBORS FS OF SNEEZ THAT FILL THE TOWN WH OFFERGS OF "BLS YOU" EVERYWHERE YOU GO, LIKE LTLE GRAC TO RENNECT WH HUMANY.THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, THEY EVOKED A DIFFERENT REACTN ME -- I DISTCTLY REMEMBER THKG OF HOW MUCH I'VE CHANGED SCE I LAST SAW THE SEEDS DRIFTG BY.FOR STARTERS, I LOOK A B DIFFERENT -- I'VE FALLY HAD A CHANCE TO GROW OUT MY FACIAL HAIR -- AND I ALSO FEEL DIFFERENT. I'VE WORKED ON MY DREAM MPAIGN AS A STAFFER FOR FORMER PRINTIAL NDIDATE PETE BUTTIGIEG, FACED UNEMPLOYMENT THE MIDST OF A PANMIC AND EVEN WEATHERED MY FIRST EARTHQUAKE.ONE DIFFERENCE PARTICULAR, THOUGH, STANDS OUT: IT'S BEEN A YEAR SCE I ME OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY.LAST YEAR, I MA TERNATNAL NEWS WHEN I ME OUT DURG MY VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH AT MY LLEGE GRADUATN. THIS WAS PECIALLY SIGNIFINT BEE I ATTEND BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY, A NSERVATIVE MORMON-OWNED LLEGE KNOWN FOR S STRICT OF NDUCT THAT FORBIDS ANY FORM OF ROMANTIC HOMOSEXUAL EXPRSN.LS THAN A AGO, A STUNT ULDN'T EVEN BE OPENLY OUT AS LGBTQ+ AND REMA AT THE SCHOOL, AND DISCRIMATN AGAST NON-HETEROSEXUAL STUNTS REMAS TODAY.STILL, I WAS SURPRISED WHEN MY STORY STARTED GAG SUCH TRACTN. I QUICKLY WENT OM "THE KID WHO ALWAYS ORRS A LARGE POPRN FOR HIMSELF AT THE MOVI AND EATS THE WHOLE THG" TO "THE KID WHO WENT ON 'THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW!'"IT WAS EXHSTG TO HAVE MY CHARACTER AND MOTIVATNS PICKED APART BY CRICS MY MUNY, BUT WAS ALSO EXCG TO FEEL LIKE I HAD A VOICE AND AN DIENCE READY TO LISTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME.MY FAY WAS MOSTLY SUPPORTIVE, ALTHOUGH I FOUND OUT THROUGH THE GRAPEVE THAT MY UNCLE WAS ANGRY I HAD "SELFISHLY MA THE GRADUATN ALL ABOUT MYSELF." I RECEIVED THE SAME FEEDBACK OM MY MISSN PRINT, A SPIRUAL LEAR FOR YOUNG MORMON MEN AND WOMEN ON MISSNS.IT WAS DIFFICULT AT FIRST TO HEAR THIS OM PEOPLE I RED ABOUT, MOSTLY BEE I KNEW THEY HAD ENGAGED WH BIASED HEADL STEAD OF ACTUALLY LISTENG TO MY SPEECH OR APPROACHG WHAT I'D DONE WH AN OPEN MDSET, BUT MY DAD WAS THE ONE WHO LMED MY ANXIETI ABOUT ."IF PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WH WHAT YOU DID, 'S A PROBLEM WH THEM AND NOT A PROBLEM WH YOU," HE TOLD ME. "YOUR MOM AND I LOVE YOU, AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS."I'VE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT HE'S RIGHT; HAVG SUPPORTIVE PARENTS MA ALL THE DIFFERENCE WH LETTG GO OF THE NEGATIVE AND FOCG ON ALL THE GREAT OPPORTUNI THAT ME OM G OUT.EDOR’S PICKSVIRTUAL PRI EVENTS OFFER NEW WAY TO CELEBRATE LGBTQ HISTORY AND CULTURE JUNEJUN 30, 2020SUPREME COURT BANS LGBT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMATN JUN 15, 2020LEARS AT FOREONT OF HISTORIC LGBT SUPREME COURT LG SHARE THEIR STORIJUN 16, 2020WHILE THE FANFARE RECEIVED OM MY MENCEMENT SPEECH WAS FUN, DIDN'T LAST FOREVER. WHEN FAD, I WAS LEFT WH THE SAME QUTNS MOST QUEER PEOPLE WHO E OUT HAVE: HOW DO I NAVIGATE MY NEW INTY MOVG FORWARD? WILL MY FAY RELATNSHIPS CHANGE? WHAT'S THE BT WAY TO SUPPORT MY NEW MUNY?SOME PART OF ME THOUGHT THAT G OUT WOULD BE LIKE FDG A ONE-SIZE-FS-ALL ANSWER TO EVERY QUTN I WAS FACG. I'M STILL RELATIVELY NEW TO BEG OPENLY GAY, BUT I'VE FOUND THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE NUANCE VOLVED, LIKE A TTONWOOD SEED PRELUDG BOTH SUMMERTIME AND HAYFEVER SEASON.I THK THAT WHILE G OUT DON'T MAGILLY SOLVE EVERYTHG, FELY STILL HAS MAGIC .FOR EXAMPLE, I STILL STGGLE WH THE TERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA GRAED ME SCE BIRTH. IN THE PAST YEAR, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME, "I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE GAY!" THAT PHRASE STILL SENDS A P TO MY STOMACH, REMISCENT OF A TIME WHEN I SHAMED MYSELF TO HIDG PARTS OF MY INTY FOR FEAR THAT SOMEONE MIGHT DISVER MY SECRET.I'M STILL LEARNG TO REWIRE THAT THKG -- 'S OK PEOPLE THK I'M GAY, BEE I AM -- AND I'M OK THAT 'S GOG TO TAKE AWHILE TO WORK THROUGH THIS.NOT LONG AFTER G OUT, I RENNECTED WH ONE OF MY OLR S. HE MENTNED I WAS THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON HE'S EVER KNOWN. (I KNOW, HOW ULD THIS BE TE 2019?!) WHEN HIS CHILD HEARD ABOUT MY SPEECH THE NEWS, MY TOLD ME THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME HE STOPPED HIMSELF OM RECG A RELIG NMNATN AND STEAD SIMPLY TOLD HIS SON THAT "SOME PEOPLE LIKE BOYS AND SOME PEOPLE LIKE GIRLS, BUT THE IMPORTANT THG IS TO LOVE EVERYONE."IN THIS WAY, I THK THAT WHILE G OUT DON'T MAGILLY SOLVE EVERYTHG, FELY STILL HAS MAGIC .MORE: 5 WAYS TO KEEP THE SPIR OF PRI ALIVE 2020LAST SUMMER, I VISED STONEWALL INN, A BAR NEW YORK'S GREENWICH VILLAGE AND THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MORN LGBTQ+ RIGHTS MOVEMENT.FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED , I ULD REGNIZE WAS SACRED SPACE. I ULDN'T HELP BUT IMAGE THE BRAVE DIVIDUALS 50 YEARS PRR BUILDG UP THE URAGE AND FIGHTG FOR MY RIGHT TO BE OPENLY GAY. I FELT PROUD OF THE LEGACY MY QUEER FOREBEARERS FOUGHT FOR.MATT EASTON APPEARS THIS PHOTO OM JUNE 2019.MIRANDA HATCHI ALSO FEEL RPONSIBLE TO UPHOLD THAT LEGACY. I HOPE TO WORK THE POLIL ARENA, WHETHER THAT BE ELECTG MORE LGBTQ+ LEARS OR WORKG ALONGSI PUBLIC POLICY REARCHERS, ORR TO DO SO.I WAS ABLE TO PURSUE THIS DREAM WHILE WORKG FOR BUTTIGIEG OM JULY 2019 TO MARCH 2020. THE FIRST SER OPENLY GAY NTENR FOR PRINT, PETE'S EXAMPLE GAVE ME URAGE TO SPEAK MY TTH, AND WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME TO GET TO WORK ON HIS MPAIGN.BEG ON TEAM PETE GAVE ME THE UNIQUE CHANCE TO PURSUE MY PASSN FOR POLICS WHILE WORKG WH STAFF WHO NOT ONLY BELIEVED PETE, BUT ME AS WELL.TO ME, PART OF BEG THIS MUNY MEANS REGNIZG AND UNRSTANDG THE DISCRIMATN OTHERS FACE AND WORKG TOWARD EQUALY FOR ALL. I N'T FULLY CELEBRATE PRI MONTH WHEN I KNOW THE BLACK MUNY IS HURTG, AND SO I HONOR MY PRI BY FIGHTG FOR BLACK LIV MATTER, DONATG AND PROTTG AND TG MYSELF ON HOW I N MAKE THIS UNTRY A BETTER PLACE.MORE THAN ANYTHG, I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE IS POWER RAISG OUR VOIC AND SPEAKG TOGETHER.MATT EASTON APPEARS THIS PHOTO OM JANUARY 2020.MATT EASTONNOT LONG AFTER I GRADUATED, MY CLASSMATE EMMA GEE ME OUT AS BYU'S FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ+ STUNT ATHLETE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, NATHAN IVIE, ONE OF UTAH UNTY'S MISSNERS, BEME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY REPUBLIN ELECTED OFFICIAL UTAH'S HISTORY. EVEN POPULAR TIKTOK PERSONALY AND BYU STUNT DANIEL SPENCER ED HIS PLATFORM TO SHARE HIS STORY OF ACCEPTG HIS SEXUALY.MOMENT BY MOMENT, MORE LGBTQ+ PEOPLE ARE SHARG THEIR VOICE AND PROVG THAT WE ARE NO LONGER WILLG TO STAY SILENT. IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS SOMETHG BIGGER THAN ANY ONE OF ROLLG FORWARD, BRGG FORTH A MORE DIVERSE AND MEANGFUL MUNY THAN EVER BEFORE.HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.EARLIER THIS YEAR, BYU REMOVED THE CLSE S HONOR BANNG ALL FORMS OF HOMOSEXUAL EXPRSN, ONLY TO THEN TELL QUEER STUNTS THAT THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO ABI BY THIS (NOW UNWRTEN) LE."SAME-SEX ROMANTIC BEHAVR NNOT LEAD TO ETERNAL MARRIAGE AND IS THEREFORE NOT PATIBLE WH THE PRCIPL CLUD THE HONOR ," PL V. JOHNSON, MISSNER OF THE CHURCH TN SYSTEM, WROTE A LETTER TO STUNTS.IT WAS TRATG TO HEAR ABOUT THIS, EVEN THOUGH I'M NO LONGER A STUNT AT BYU. ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK, THEY SAY.EVEN MORE SO, LEAV AT-RISK LGBTQ+ STUNTS LEFT TO FEEL THE BNT OF BEG PULLED BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE A IEND ON MP WHO FALLY FELT SAFE TO E OUT AFTER THE CLSE WAS REMOVED, ONLY TO BE LEFT VULNERABLE AND EXPOSED WHEN THE UNIVERSY FALLY CLARIFIED THE MEANG AFTER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL LIKE OUR HUMANY IS OFTEN FOTTEN.THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR STUNTS AT BYU, BUT THERE ARE BRILLIANT STUNTS AND FACULTY WORKG HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DAY WILL E. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL.IN THE MEANTIME, I'M OK WH WATCHG THE TTONWOOD SEEDS FLOAT AROUND AND THKG OF HOW I'LL CHANGE BY THE NEXT TIME I SEE THEM.SURE, I MAY NOT GET TO GO ON "THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW" AGA, BUT I KNOW NOW THAT MY STORY ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO BEG OVER. I HAVE A LIFE FULL OF RICH EXPERIENC AHEAD OF ME, AND IF G OUT HAS TGHT ME ANYTHG, 'S THAT I'M FALLY READY TO LIVE .EDOR'S NOTE: THIS WAS ORIGALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 22, 2020.EDOR’S PICKSVIRTUAL PRI EVENTS OFFER NEW WAY TO CELEBRATE LGBTQ HISTORY AND CULTURE JUNEJUN 30, 2020SUPREME COURT BANS LGBT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMATN JUN 15, 2020LEARS AT FOREONT OF HISTORIC LGBT SUPREME COURT LG SHARE THEIR STORIJUN 16, 2020UP NEXT LIVG—HOW WBOYS, NSTCTN CREWS AND A NOE CLUB KEPT OTHER MI FIR OM BEG 'ANOTHER LAHAA'AUGT 25, 2023PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—HOW WBOYS, NSTCTN CREWS AND A NOE CLUB KEPT OTHER MI FIR OM BEG 'ANOTHER LAHAA'AUGT 25, 2023PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023

I thk that while g out don't magilly solve everythg, fely still has magic example, I still stggle wh the ternalized homophobia graed me sce birth. In the past year, so many people have told me, "I always knew you were gay! I'm still learng to rewire that thkg -- 's OK people thk I'm gay, bee I am -- and I'm OK that 's gog to take awhile to work through long after g out, I rennected wh one of my olr s.

He mentned I was the first openly gay person he's ever known. I uldn't help but image the brave dividuals 50 years prr buildg up the urage and fightg for my right to be openly gay.

The first ser openly gay ntenr for print, Pete's example gave me urage to speak my tth, and was the experience of a lifetime to get to work on his on Team Pete gave me the unique chance to pursue my passn for polics while workg wh staff who not only believed Pete, but me as me, part of beg this muny means regnizg and unrstandg the discrimatn others face and workg toward equaly for all. Shortly thereafter, Nathan Ivie, one of Utah unty's missners, beme the first openly gay Republin elected official Utah's history.