BYU stunt out as gay valedictorian speech | AP News

Contents:

• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS PROUD 'GAY SON OF GOD' GRADUATN SPEECH
• THIS HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN WROTE ABOUT BEG GAY IN HIS GRADUATN SPEECH. SCHOOL ADMISTRATORS CANCELED IT.
• 1470: WHEN LDS APOSTLE JEFEY HOLLAND CALLS YOU OUT – GAY BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON OUT AS GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH
• AUDIENCE RPONSE TO BYU VALEDICTORIAN COMG OUT AS GAY DURG COMMENCEMENT SPEECH WAS 'HEARTENG TO SEE,' STUNT SAYS
• GAY BYU STUNT OUT VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN'S POWERFUL SPEECH GO VIRAL: "I AM PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD"
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT SPEECH, STUNNG SOME FAY. 'PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD'
• EXCLUSIVE: FULL TERVIEW WH BYU VALEDICTORIAN WHO ME OUT GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH
• ‘IT IS A VICTORY FOR ME’: B.Y.U. VALEDICTORIAN ANNOUNC HE IS GAY
• IN COMMENCEMENT SPEECH, BRIGHAM YOUNG GRADUATE ‘PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD’
• BYU STUNT OUT AS GAY VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN COM OUT AS GAY IN GRADUATN SPEECH
• GAY BYU VALEDICTORIAN FEARS LOSG 'ALL THAT I'VE WORKED FOR' AFTER VIRAL SPEECH

BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH

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. 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.

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

"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.

"Bee beg the gay stunt, I knew that if I didn’t distguish myself I would jt be a nobody and nobody would re about me.

That's bee he says he was thkg of g his remarks to e out as gay. "Werth hadn't totally mted to his public g-out ia and admted he expected to have to cut the l about beg gay. "I told them I’d be willg to take out, but they didn’t tst me, bee that’s when they found out I was gay, " he said.

THIS HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN WROTE ABOUT BEG GAY IN HIS GRADUATN SPEECH. SCHOOL ADMISTRATORS CANCELED IT.

"And bee they knew that I was gay, they chose not to let me give the speech. "In the rough draft of his valedictorian speech, Werth wrote about the stggl he faced g out as gay. “On my own journey to self-acceptance, I have trekked through the pths of prsn, found that God’s love is endls, and embraced the fact that I’m gay, ” Werth wrote.

1470: WHEN LDS APOSTLE JEFEY HOLLAND CALLS YOU OUT – GAY BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON

“Absolutely no one should have to go through what I have gone through simply to e to the ncln that homosexualy is not a s.

“I scerely believe that the next generatn of Christians will eradite homophobia the church and proclaim God’s love to the LGBT muny. In his sophomore year, they wouldn't let him jo the dance team, spe the ach though Sheboygan Lutheran High School receiv state fundg through Wisns's Private School Choice Programs, the state's Department of Public Instctn nnot "prohib a private school om discrimatg based on sexual orientatn, " a state spokperson told BuzzFeed News. In April of 2019 Brigham Young Universy valedictorian Matt Easton me out as a fahful gay Mormon durg his valedictorian addrs, which was pre-approved by the LDS Church.

I have a gay son who I have discsed so many thgs wh and Matt gave me even more sight to his plight. Everyone knows that “I am gay” announcements are a middle fger to the church, and I fd very disrpectful to them. If you are gog to be gay, be gay, but dont go to their terrory and be disrpectful to them.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON OUT AS GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH

Y, y I know they have done harm and people are pissed… but I still thk you dont need to announce you are gay a BYU 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.

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.

The honor do not prohib homosexual feelgs or attractn, so stunts n state their same-genr attractn, but homosexual behavr is "appropriate, " as stated on the universy's webse, and vlat the honor one BYU junr, who intifi as lbian and asked to rema anonymo for this story, Easton's speech was a movg moment not only bee of his admissn but also the dience's reactn. "As such, I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God, " Easton said. Holland's addrs at the Provo school on Easton, the gay valedictorian, was surprised and disappoted by Holland’s mentn of his actn.

AUDIENCE RPONSE TO BYU VALEDICTORIAN COMG OUT AS GAY DURG COMMENCEMENT SPEECH WAS 'HEARTENG TO SEE,' STUNT SAYS

“My hman ward 2008 was full of gays.

Like, I’m shocked even lookg back at the sheer number of gay men we had our ward, ” said Newman, who earned both bachelor’s and master’s gre at the school. Many of my clost iends viewed homophobia as anthetil to Mormon teachgs. ”What mak the stutn distct isn’t homophobia, transphobia or any other ‘ism, ’” Newman said.

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. One Latter-day Sat's powerful valedictorian speech has been gag tractn as reach headl across the his speech, polil science major Matthew Easton stated, "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

"While Easton shared wh the Washgton Post the gnive dissonance he feels as a gay Latter-day Sat, he ttified, "The more that I’ve unrstood my relatnship wh God, the more thentic I’ve been able to be and the more te to myself I’ve felt. Comg out as gay at a universy found by the Church of J Christ of Latter Day Sats, which until this sprg nsired same sex unns a reason to be kicked out of the church uld have been even more Matt Easton, 24, polil science valedictorian at Brigham Young Universy Provo, Utah said the timg was right to tell 10, 000 people he was gay. ""As such, I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God, " Easton fay members didn't knowEaston said he told close fay and iends, but even some immediate fay members didn't know he was of his sisters was rerdg his speech and the mera slipped and she whooped, jog a chos of cheers when Easton said this, acrdg to the Washgton Post:"I am not broken.

"READ MOREDwyane Wa supports son at Miami's pri para, stepmom Gabrielle Unn jos the funMom prais transgenr son's g out wh ultimate 'It's a boy' photo shootStrangers give $90K to send gay valedictorian to llege after parents reject himTerry Crews apologiz for llg kids of same-sex parents 'severely malnourished'. by Kyle Harvey, Adam FieMon, April 29th 2019, 3:45 AM UTC24VIEW ALL PHOTOSMatt Easton, BYU valedictorian who me out gay his graduatn speech, speaks about his cisn to KUTV. Valedictorian Announc He Is GaytranscripttranscriptDurg his mencement speech, Matt Easton, a Brigham Young Universy valedictorian, told the dience that he was “proud to be a gay son of God.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN'S POWERFUL SPEECH GO VIRAL: "I AM PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD"

” The universy’s honor prohibs “homosexual behavr.

As such, I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class today, to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God. AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAt a universy where s honor explicly prohibs “homosexual behavr, ” Matt Easton’s very public g out was not whout risk.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT SPEECH, STUNNG SOME FAY. 'PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD'

Valedictorian Announc He Is GayDurg his mencement speech, Matt Easton, a Brigham Young Universy valedictorian, told the dience that he was “proud to be a gay son of God.

EXCLUSIVE: FULL TERVIEW WH BYU VALEDICTORIAN WHO ME OUT GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH

It is a phenomenal feelg, and is a victory for me and of his mencement speech, Matt Easton, a Brigham Young Universy valedictorian, told the dience that he was “proud to be a gay son of God. Marisa TafoyaAt a universy that nsirs same-sex marriage a “ser transgrsn, ” and where s honor explicly prohibs “homosexual behavr, ” Matt Easton’s very public g out was not whout Mr. “I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God, ” he said last Friday a mencement speech before 10, 000 people si the Marrtt Center Provo, Utah.

Easton’s claratn — imbued wh relig votn and a ll for social equaly — me as the church and Brigham Young are wrtlg wh how to rencile gay members of the Mormon fah. As a stunt, he was a member of s Polil Science Honors Society and acts as the Republin state legate for his home precct Cottonwood Heights, an terview Monday, he said he had always known he was gay. While the universy stat that “same-genr attractn is not an Honor Co issue, ” the policy prohibs — and punish — vlatns like immost attire, premaral sexual activy and homosexual behavr.

“Homosexual behavr clus not only sexual relatns between members of the same sex, but all forms of physil timacy that give exprsn to homosexual feelgs, ” the honor reads. Easton said, was watchg the 37-year-old gay mayor’s speech this month to the Victory Fund, a group that supports gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr policians, which Mr. Buttigieg challenged Vice Print Mike Pence on his opposn to gay rights.

‘IT IS A VICTORY FOR ME’: B.Y.U. VALEDICTORIAN ANNOUNC HE IS GAY

“Pete was jt like me, Christian and gay. At a rally this month to prott the universy’s honor , atten observed five mut of silence for gay and transgenr stunts, a moment that cemented for Mr.

IN COMMENCEMENT SPEECH, BRIGHAM YOUNG GRADUATE ‘PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD’

More about Dan LevA versn of this article appears prt on, Sectn A, Page 17 of the New York edn wh the headle: Brigham Young Graduate ‘Proud to Be a Gay Son of God’. Jt two years ago, the church received much public praise for rcdg a 2015 policy, ntroversial among Mormons at the time, that clared the mor children of gay people uld not be baptized to or jo the church as members—at least not until they were 18 years old, and only then if they would nounce their parents’ marriage and nmn their sexualy. Given how ntent the qutn of gay rights has been among Mormons sce the church threw s whole weight behd California’s anti-gay-marriage Proposn 8 2008, the post-2019 perd has been one of wele relative quiet om the church.

C., Holland’s speech was the first time I tly worried that my future kids might attend public school wh peers who would be tght about the evils of beg gay, week and week out at church. ” But the proclamatn served a sendary legal role as the church planned s offensive agast gay rights. The church clud the proclamatn as evince of s doctral mment to a heterosexual fay s amic brief agast gay marriage Hawaii jt two years later.

BYU STUNT OUT AS GAY VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH

Sex, or “procreative powers, ” are only for married men and their wiv (no gay sex unr any circumstanc).

BYU VALEDICTORIAN COM OUT AS GAY IN GRADUATN SPEECH

Mormonism is now facg a world which not only the majory of outsirs, but also a signifint portn of their own membership—cludg s own universy’s faculty—seem to regnize that doctre for what is: a list of proposns phrased as irrefutable tths, issued by a group of men who grew up wh homophobia suffg every stutn their liv.

He sgled out one openly gay BYU alum particular, former valedictorian Matt Easton, who me out as gay his 2019 mencement speech. In simply intifyg himself as gay the urse of the speech, Holland alleged, Easton had “manered” the 2019 ceremony.

GAY BYU VALEDICTORIAN FEARS LOSG 'ALL THAT I'VE WORKED FOR' AFTER VIRAL SPEECH

The same day Holland issued his revanchist addrs to the faculty, BYU’s admistratn was openg and publicizg s new Office of Belongg, a long-sought-for refuge not only for BYU’s growg number of openly gay stunts, but also s relig and racial mori, who are reported to face wispread bias and prejudice on mp, acrdg to a report issued by an ternal Commtee on Race, Equy, and Belongg.

At BYU, some of the celt technologi have been ed to attempt to end the gay surge. Still, today, the church funnels members who nfs to feelg “same-sex attractn” to support groups that enurage members to enter heterosexual marriag, wh promis that the gay feelgs will be overe after sufficient fahfulns, or at least, ath. Matt Easton has ced the wily publicized 2016 ath by suici of one of his classmat at BYU, Harry Fisher, as part of the reason for his cisn to e out as gay his valedictorian speech.

Due to Mormon teachgs that there is no way to have romantic relatnships wh those of the same sex and be exalted the afterlife, gay Mormons face high rat of lonels, suicidaly, and prsn. Easton, A gay stunt who me out durg a valedictorian speech at Mormon-owned Brigham Young Universy is earng applse and admiratn om fellow stunts and figur like actrs Krist Chenoweth and the hband of gay Democratic printial ndidate Pete Buttigieg.