Mormon gay rights: A shockg speech by Jefey Holland at BYU sparks a new LGBT fight.

Contents:

• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS PROUD 'GAY SON OF GOD' GRADUATN SPEECH
• BYU STUNT MENCEMENT SPEAKER OUT AS GAY DURG SPEECH
• AUDIENCE RPONSE TO BYU VALEDICTORIAN COMG OUT AS GAY DURG COMMENCEMENT SPEECH WAS 'HEARTENG TO SEE,' STUNT SAYS
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH
• THOANDS OPPOSE AN LDS CHURCH APOSTLE’S MENCEMENT SPEECH AT SUU BEE OF HIS ANTI-GAY STATEMENTS
• GAY BYU GRADUATE TELLS ELLEN DEGENER HE FEARED THE SCHOOL’S HONOR CO
• IN COMMENCEMENT SPEECH, BRIGHAM YOUNG GRADUATE ‘PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD’
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON OUT AS GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH
• BYU GAVE ADVANCED APPROVAL OF MENCEMENT SPEECH WHERE SPEAKER ME OUT AS GAY
• THE RIGHT STUFF: SHOP THE WARDROBE SAVERS!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.SEARCHLIVGBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT OUT DURG MENCEMENT SPEECH0:46BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT OUT DURG MENCEMENT BYHAYLEY FZPATRICKAPRIL 29, 2019, 10:32 PMBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT MATT EASTON GAVE A SPEECH TO REMEMBER AT HIS LLEGE'S GRADUATN CEREMONY WHEN HE ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT HE IS GAY.IN HIS SPEECH FRIDAY, EASTON, THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF FAY, HOME, AND SOCIAL SCIENC AT BYU, SCRIBED THAT HE WAS CELEBRATG "A FEW OF MY OWN PERSONAL VICTORI" DURG HIS TIME AT THE UNIVERSY.(MORE: ALABAMA ACH, YOUTH CLUB FOUNR HONORED FOR HER SPIRG WORK ON AND OFF THE URT)THE 24-YEAR-OLD POLIL SCIENCE MAJOR CLUD FUNNY MEMORI LIKE GETTG H BY A ER WHILE WALKG TO CLASS HIS HMAN YEAR AND MORE SER MOMENTS LIKE FDG OUT HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WH TERMAL NCER -- AND HOW LED HIM TO REALIZE "HOW TO CHERISH AND WHO TO CHERISH."HE THEN SCRIBED MOMENTS WHERE HE STGGLED WH HIS OWN INTY BEFORE ANNOUNCG TO 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.”EASTON SHARED EXCERPTS OM HIS SPEECH ON TWTER, THANKG THOSE WHO SUPPORTED HIM AND ADDG, "I FEEL SO SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE SOME OF MY STORY WH SO MANY PEOPLE."EDOR’S PICKSIMAGE DRAGONS' DAN REYNOLDS SENDS A MSAGE OF LOVE TO LGBTQ YOUTHJUN 04, 2018TAYLOR SWIFT DONAT $113,000 TO PRO-LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP TENNSEEAPR 09, 2019LGBTQ CHARACTERS AT ALL-TIME HIGH ON TV, NEW STUDY SAYSOCT 25, 2018EASTON TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" THAT HE HAD BEEN THKG ABOUT THE MSAGE HE WOULD LIVER HIS SPEECH FOR WEEKS BEFORE THE EVENT."OVER THE URSE OF MY TIME AT BYU, I’VE SLOWLY E TO TERMS WH MY SEXUALY," HE SAID. "I STARTED ADDRSG AND SAYG 'OKAY THIS IS A PART OF ME, HOW AM I GOG TO AL WH THIS – WHAT DO I WANT MY INTY TO BE?' SO WHEN I WAS WRG MY SPEECH ABOUT THE HALLMARKS OF MY TIME AT BYU, I ULD THK OF NOTHG MORE FTG THAN MY EXPERIENCE G TO TERMS WH WHO I AM."AFTER REARCHG OTHER NVOTN AND MENCEMENT SPEECH, HE SAID, "THE ON THAT REALLY SPIRED ME THE MOST AND STUCK WH ME MY MD WERE PEOPLE WHO SHARED THEIR THENTIC SELV.""THEY DIDN’T FOC ON THEIR ACLAS OR ON THE AMAZG THGS THAT THEY DID BUT ON THE PERSON THAT THEY WERE BEG," HE ADD. "AND I THOUGHT -- THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO. THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO SHARE."MATT EASTON IS SEEN HERE.MATT EASTONHE REVEALED THAT DURG HIS TIME AT THE SCHOOL, HE DIDN'T FOC ON SOME FACTORS OF HIS LIFE AS MUCH AS OTHERS."BYU HAS A VERY STRICT HONOR , A LOT OF L ABOUT HOMOSEXUALY AND BEG GAY, SO DURG MY TIME AT BYU MY FOC WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY ON MY STUDI," HE SHARED. "I’M LIKE, 'I WANT TO DO WELL SCHOOL, I WANT TO FOC ON MY REER AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, I’LL WORK ON OTHER ASPECTS OF MYSELF.'"HE FELT HIS SPEECH WAS AN OPPORTUNY FOR HIM TO "FOC ON BEG MORE THENTIC.""I THOUGHT I HAVE THIS PLATFORM, I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNY, AND FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO -- I WANT TO FISH MY TIME AND START THIS NEW CHAPTER BEG AS TE TO MYSELF AS I ULD," HE SAID.(MORE: IMAGE DRAGONS' ONTMAN SHEDS LIGHT ON PLIGHT OF LGBTQ YOUTH RAISED MORMON)EASTON ALSO REALIZED THE IMPACT HIS SPEECH ULD HAVE ON YOUNG MORMON MEN AND WOMEN STGGLG WH THEIR SEXUALY."I FELT LIKE GIVEN THIS PLATFORM, I ULD REALLY E MY VOICE FOR GOOD. I THOUGHT 'COULD I JT BE ANOTHER VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH? OR SOMETHG THAT WILL IMPACT AND MAKE REAL CHANGE?'" HE SAID."I HOPE THAT LGBTQ MORMONS AND QUEER STUNTS AND PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE ALONE AND AAID, JT AS I FELT ALONE AND AAID, ULD HEAR MY SPEECH AND ULD FEEL A LTLE MORE SEEN AND A LTLE MORE LOVED AND A LTLE MORE VALUED BEE THEY ARE," HE ADD.BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT MATT EASTON ME OUT AS GAY DURG HIS NVOTN SPEECH ON APRIL 26, 2019.MARISA TAFOYA MEDIAHE WAS IALLY SKEPTIL ON WHETHER OR NOT THE SCHOOL'S ADMISTRATN WOULD ALLOW THE SPEECH BUT RECEIVED A MSAGE OF ENURAGEMENT OM THE ADMISTRATOR WHO REVIEWED HIS SPEECH, TELLG HIM WAS GREAT AND TO "GO FOR .""THAT’S WHEN STARTED TO GET REAL, WHERE I WAS LIKE, IS THIS REALLY THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME?" HE SAID. "I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS DOG NOT FOR OTHER PEOPLE, NOT TO APPEASE SOMETHG OR MAKE SOME BIG POLIL STATEMENT, BUT FOR MYSELF AND KNOWG WAS THE NEXT STEP MY STORY AND MY PROGRSN AS WHO I WANT TO BE."MATT EASTON POS FOR A PHOTOGRAPH AS HE SS A PARK, APRIL 29, 2019, COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UTAH.RICK BOWMER/APTHE SCHOOL'S HONOR HAS E UNR A MICROSPE RECENT MONTHS AFTER STUNTS PROTTED S STRICT POLICI ON EVERYTHG OM PREMARAL SEX TO NO ALHOL NSUMPTN. IN THE SCHOOL'S , HOMOSEXUALY IS ALSO ADDRSED. THE FOLLOWG EXCERPT IS CLUD THE :"ONE'S STATED SAME-GENR ATTRACTN IS NOT AN HONOR CO ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE HONOR CO REQUIR ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSY MUNY TO MANIFT A STRICT MMENT TO THE LAW OF CHASTY. HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVR IS APPROPRIATE AND VLAT THE HONOR CO. 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."EASTON SAYS HE HAS ALWAYS FELT SUPPORTED BY HIS IENDS, TORS AND PEERS AT BYU -- BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IS NOT THE SE FOR ALL."I KNOW THAT ME MIGHT BE A LTLE B OF AN ANOMALY AND I REGNIZE THAT," HE SHARED ON HIS EXPERIENCE AT THE SCHOOL. "I N REALLY ONLY SPEAK TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I WILL SAY THAT HASN’T BEEN WHOUT FEARS.""IT IS A LTLE SRY TO THK THAT THIS IS MAYBE WORKG AGAST ME, OR I HEAR STORI ABOUT OTHER GAY STUNTS WHO WERE UNFAIRLY TARGETED OR MANIPULATED G THE HONOR , SO OF URSE ’S VERY FEARFUL FOR ME," HE ADD. "I WISH THAT I ULD FEEL SAFER THERE DURG MY TIME AS A STUNT AND I HOPE THAT FUTURE STUNTS WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL MORE SAFE."MATT EASTON, FAR RIGHT, POS WH IENDS AT HIS 2019 GRADUATN CEREMONY.MATT EASTONHOWEVER, HE BELIEV THE UNIVERSY IS MOVG THE RIGHT DIRECTN, AS THEY OPENED AN CLN OFFICE THIS YEAR WH TWO FULL TIME STAFFERS FOCED ON HELPG LGBTQ STUNTS."I HOPE THAT MY NARRATIVE AND THE NARRATIVE OF SO MANY OTHER GAY MORMON PEOPLE WORKG TO MAKE THE CHANG, THAT THEY WILL HELP CE SOME POSIVE DISCSN ON MP AND MY MUNY MORE GENERALLY," HE SAID.HE'S RECEIVED A TREMENDO OUTPOURG OF SUPPORT SCE LIVERG THE SPEECH, SCRIBG THE RPONSE AS OVERWHELMG " THE BT WAY POSSIBLE.""SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME -- PEOPLE THAT I HAD NO IA WERE ALLI OR WOULD FEEL THIS WAY. PEOPLE THAT I DON’T EVEN KNOW," HE SAID. "I’M JT SO OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN ME AND THIS ENTIRE WORK THAT I NEVER KNEW EVEN EXISTED, SO I’VE BEEN REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT."EDOR’S PICKSIMAGE DRAGONS' DAN REYNOLDS SENDS A MSAGE OF LOVE TO LGBTQ YOUTHJUN 04, 2018TAYLOR SWIFT DONAT $113,000 TO PRO-LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP TENNSEEAPR 09, 2019LGBTQ CHARACTERS AT ALL-TIME HIGH ON TV, NEW STUDY SAYSOCT 25, 2018UP NEXT LIVG—FIRE PARTMENT ADOPTS PUPPY WHO WAS RCUED OM LOCKED, HOT RAUGT 31, 2023FROM THE NICU TO HBCUS: BALTIMORE TRIPLETS START LLEGE ATLANTAAUGT 30, 2023BRI SHAR MOM'S HILAR WEDDG PHOTO BOOK FAILAUGT 29, 2023LOOK UP! AUGT'S 'BLUE SUPERMOON' WON'T BE SEEN AGA UNTIL 2037AUGT 29, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—FIRE PARTMENT ADOPTS PUPPY WHO WAS RCUED OM LOCKED, HOT RAUGT 31, 2023FROM THE NICU TO HBCUS: BALTIMORE TRIPLETS START LLEGE ATLANTAAUGT 30, 2023BRI SHAR MOM'S HILAR WEDDG PHOTO BOOK FAILAUGT 29, 2023LOOK UP! AUGT'S 'BLUE SUPERMOON' WON'T BE SEEN AGA UNTIL 2037AUGT 29, 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.

A speaker at Brigham Young Universy’s (BYU) mencement ceremony on Friday me out as gay midway through the speech, acrdg to The Salt Lake Tribune.

BYU STUNT MENCEMENT SPEAKER OUT AS GAY DURG SPEECH

Polil science valedictorian Matt Easton, layg out his personal achievements and experienc leadg up to the graduatn, said that he is “proud to be a gay son of God.

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

“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. The speech me the same month that The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats, which owns the universy, reversed s policy emg married gay upl “apostat” and barrg their children om baptism most s. 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. 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.

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 you everyone for your love and support today ❤️ I feel so so lucky to have had a chance to share some of my story wh so many people. 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.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH

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.

THOANDS OPPOSE AN LDS CHURCH APOSTLE’S MENCEMENT SPEECH AT SUU BEE OF HIS ANTI-GAY STATEMENTS

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.

GAY BYU GRADUATE TELLS ELLEN DEGENER HE FEARED THE SCHOOL’S HONOR CO

Shortly thereafter, Nathan Ivie, one of Utah unty's missners, beme the first openly gay Republin elected official Utah's history. 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. When was read aloud that one stunt will be gettg “gay married” later this year, the crowd epted cheers and gave each stunt a purple and whe rd to wear wh their graduatn gown and p, and wrapped some of them a hug.

“I no longer want to be like ‘palatable queer, ’ or what BYU fds as like ‘You n be gay, but not that type of gay, ’” Seo said.

“For me, once I graduate, ’s like ‘Oh, I’m gog to be that type of gay. 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.

IN COMMENCEMENT SPEECH, BRIGHAM YOUNG GRADUATE ‘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. Clegg, Gayle (1). Sorenson, Gayla M.

Strathearn, Gaye (1). ” He also cricized the mencement speech by BYU’s 2019 valedictorian, who clared himself a “gay son of God.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN MATT EASTON OUT AS GAY DURG GRADUATN SPEECH

She said this helped her pe the “relig trma” some of her peers have experienced, but growg up queer Utah was still difficult, she said, as many didn’t accept her bee of the church’s teachgs on homosexualy. Opponents of the move ced published works om her which she suggted “homosexual activi” hurt the stutn of marriage and labeled gay relatnships as “distortn and perversn. ) Gay BYU graduate Matthew Easton is terviewed by Ellen DeGener on her natnally syndited talk gay Brigham Young Universy graduate who me out at mencement last month appears on Monday’s episo of “The Ellen DeGener Show, ” and his ments draw further attentn to the Provo school’s Honor Co — ntradictg the narrative BYU is phg.

”Easton explas BYU’s “very strict” Honor Co — s prohibns on alhol, tobac and gay relatnships.

“It's pretty tough there sometim, ” he says, “pecially if you're gay. )“It's really sry as a gay stunt” at BYU, Easton tells a natnal TV dience.

BYU GAVE ADVANCED APPROVAL OF MENCEMENT SPEECH WHERE SPEAKER ME OUT AS GAY

The mencement speaker who me out as gay at Brigham Young Universy’s graduatn ceremony said he was spired to do so after a fellow classmate who also me out mted suici after beg bullied. Valedictorian Matt Easton said that he is “proud to be a gay son of God” durg his mencement speech late last month. The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats, which owns BYU, teach that attractn to someone of the same sex is not a s, but actg upon those feelgs, cludg beg a gay relatnship, is sful.

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAt a universy where s honor explicly prohibs “homosexual behavr, ” Matt Easton’s very public g out was not whout risk. 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.

” 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. 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.

THE RIGHT STUFF: SHOP THE WARDROBE SAVERS!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.SEARCHLIVGBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT OUT DURG MENCEMENT SPEECH0:46BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT OUT DURG MENCEMENT BYHAYLEY FZPATRICKAPRIL 29, 2019, 10:32 PMBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT MATT EASTON GAVE A SPEECH TO REMEMBER AT HIS LLEGE'S GRADUATN CEREMONY WHEN HE ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT HE IS GAY.IN HIS SPEECH FRIDAY, EASTON, THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF FAY, HOME, AND SOCIAL SCIENC AT BYU, SCRIBED THAT HE WAS CELEBRATG "A FEW OF MY OWN PERSONAL VICTORI" DURG HIS TIME AT THE UNIVERSY.(MORE: ALABAMA ACH, YOUTH CLUB FOUNR HONORED FOR HER SPIRG WORK ON AND OFF THE URT)THE 24-YEAR-OLD POLIL SCIENCE MAJOR CLUD FUNNY MEMORI LIKE GETTG H BY A ER WHILE WALKG TO CLASS HIS HMAN YEAR AND MORE SER MOMENTS LIKE FDG OUT HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WH TERMAL NCER -- AND HOW LED HIM TO REALIZE "HOW TO CHERISH AND WHO TO CHERISH."HE THEN SCRIBED MOMENTS WHERE HE STGGLED WH HIS OWN INTY BEFORE ANNOUNCG TO 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.”EASTON SHARED EXCERPTS OM HIS SPEECH ON TWTER, THANKG THOSE WHO SUPPORTED HIM AND ADDG, "I FEEL SO SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE SOME OF MY STORY WH SO MANY PEOPLE."EDOR’S PICKSIMAGE DRAGONS' DAN REYNOLDS SENDS A MSAGE OF LOVE TO LGBTQ YOUTHJUN 04, 2018TAYLOR SWIFT DONAT $113,000 TO PRO-LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP TENNSEEAPR 09, 2019LGBTQ CHARACTERS AT ALL-TIME HIGH ON TV, NEW STUDY SAYSOCT 25, 2018EASTON TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" THAT HE HAD BEEN THKG ABOUT THE MSAGE HE WOULD LIVER HIS SPEECH FOR WEEKS BEFORE THE EVENT."OVER THE URSE OF MY TIME AT BYU, I’VE SLOWLY E TO TERMS WH MY SEXUALY," HE SAID. "I STARTED ADDRSG AND SAYG 'OKAY THIS IS A PART OF ME, HOW AM I GOG TO AL WH THIS – WHAT DO I WANT MY INTY TO BE?' SO WHEN I WAS WRG MY SPEECH ABOUT THE HALLMARKS OF MY TIME AT BYU, I ULD THK OF NOTHG MORE FTG THAN MY EXPERIENCE G TO TERMS WH WHO I AM."AFTER REARCHG OTHER NVOTN AND MENCEMENT SPEECH, HE SAID, "THE ON THAT REALLY SPIRED ME THE MOST AND STUCK WH ME MY MD WERE PEOPLE WHO SHARED THEIR THENTIC SELV.""THEY DIDN’T FOC ON THEIR ACLAS OR ON THE AMAZG THGS THAT THEY DID BUT ON THE PERSON THAT THEY WERE BEG," HE ADD. "AND I THOUGHT -- THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO. THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO SHARE."MATT EASTON IS SEEN HERE.MATT EASTONHE REVEALED THAT DURG HIS TIME AT THE SCHOOL, HE DIDN'T FOC ON SOME FACTORS OF HIS LIFE AS MUCH AS OTHERS."BYU HAS A VERY STRICT HONOR , A LOT OF L ABOUT HOMOSEXUALY AND BEG GAY, SO DURG MY TIME AT BYU MY FOC WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY ON MY STUDI," HE SHARED. "I’M LIKE, 'I WANT TO DO WELL SCHOOL, I WANT TO FOC ON MY REER AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, I’LL WORK ON OTHER ASPECTS OF MYSELF.'"HE FELT HIS SPEECH WAS AN OPPORTUNY FOR HIM TO "FOC ON BEG MORE THENTIC.""I THOUGHT I HAVE THIS PLATFORM, I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNY, AND FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO -- I WANT TO FISH MY TIME AND START THIS NEW CHAPTER BEG AS TE TO MYSELF AS I ULD," HE SAID.(MORE: IMAGE DRAGONS' ONTMAN SHEDS LIGHT ON PLIGHT OF LGBTQ YOUTH RAISED MORMON)EASTON ALSO REALIZED THE IMPACT HIS SPEECH ULD HAVE ON YOUNG MORMON MEN AND WOMEN STGGLG WH THEIR SEXUALY."I FELT LIKE GIVEN THIS PLATFORM, I ULD REALLY E MY VOICE FOR GOOD. I THOUGHT 'COULD I JT BE ANOTHER VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH? OR SOMETHG THAT WILL IMPACT AND MAKE REAL CHANGE?'" HE SAID."I HOPE THAT LGBTQ MORMONS AND QUEER STUNTS AND PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE ALONE AND AAID, JT AS I FELT ALONE AND AAID, ULD HEAR MY SPEECH AND ULD FEEL A LTLE MORE SEEN AND A LTLE MORE LOVED AND A LTLE MORE VALUED BEE THEY ARE," HE ADD.BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSY STUNT MATT EASTON ME OUT AS GAY DURG HIS NVOTN SPEECH ON APRIL 26, 2019.MARISA TAFOYA MEDIAHE WAS IALLY SKEPTIL ON WHETHER OR NOT THE SCHOOL'S ADMISTRATN WOULD ALLOW THE SPEECH BUT RECEIVED A MSAGE OF ENURAGEMENT OM THE ADMISTRATOR WHO REVIEWED HIS SPEECH, TELLG HIM WAS GREAT AND TO "GO FOR .""THAT’S WHEN STARTED TO GET REAL, WHERE I WAS LIKE, IS THIS REALLY THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME?" HE SAID. "I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS DOG NOT FOR OTHER PEOPLE, NOT TO APPEASE SOMETHG OR MAKE SOME BIG POLIL STATEMENT, BUT FOR MYSELF AND KNOWG WAS THE NEXT STEP MY STORY AND MY PROGRSN AS WHO I WANT TO BE."MATT EASTON POS FOR A PHOTOGRAPH AS HE SS A PARK, APRIL 29, 2019, COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UTAH.RICK BOWMER/APTHE SCHOOL'S HONOR HAS E UNR A MICROSPE RECENT MONTHS AFTER STUNTS PROTTED S STRICT POLICI ON EVERYTHG OM PREMARAL SEX TO NO ALHOL NSUMPTN. IN THE SCHOOL'S , HOMOSEXUALY IS ALSO ADDRSED. THE FOLLOWG EXCERPT IS CLUD THE :"ONE'S STATED SAME-GENR ATTRACTN IS NOT AN HONOR CO ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE HONOR CO REQUIR ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSY MUNY TO MANIFT A STRICT MMENT TO THE LAW OF CHASTY. HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVR IS APPROPRIATE AND VLAT THE HONOR CO. 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."EASTON SAYS HE HAS ALWAYS FELT SUPPORTED BY HIS IENDS, TORS AND PEERS AT BYU -- BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IS NOT THE SE FOR ALL."I KNOW THAT ME MIGHT BE A LTLE B OF AN ANOMALY AND I REGNIZE THAT," HE SHARED ON HIS EXPERIENCE AT THE SCHOOL. "I N REALLY ONLY SPEAK TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I WILL SAY THAT HASN’T BEEN WHOUT FEARS.""IT IS A LTLE SRY TO THK THAT THIS IS MAYBE WORKG AGAST ME, OR I HEAR STORI ABOUT OTHER GAY STUNTS WHO WERE UNFAIRLY TARGETED OR MANIPULATED G THE HONOR , SO OF URSE ’S VERY FEARFUL FOR ME," HE ADD. "I WISH THAT I ULD FEEL SAFER THERE DURG MY TIME AS A STUNT AND I HOPE THAT FUTURE STUNTS WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL MORE SAFE."MATT EASTON, FAR RIGHT, POS WH IENDS AT HIS 2019 GRADUATN CEREMONY.MATT EASTONHOWEVER, HE BELIEV THE UNIVERSY IS MOVG THE RIGHT DIRECTN, AS THEY OPENED AN CLN OFFICE THIS YEAR WH TWO FULL TIME STAFFERS FOCED ON HELPG LGBTQ STUNTS."I HOPE THAT MY NARRATIVE AND THE NARRATIVE OF SO MANY OTHER GAY MORMON PEOPLE WORKG TO MAKE THE CHANG, THAT THEY WILL HELP CE SOME POSIVE DISCSN ON MP AND MY MUNY MORE GENERALLY," HE SAID.HE'S RECEIVED A TREMENDO OUTPOURG OF SUPPORT SCE LIVERG THE SPEECH, SCRIBG THE RPONSE AS OVERWHELMG " THE BT WAY POSSIBLE.""SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME -- PEOPLE THAT I HAD NO IA WERE ALLI OR WOULD FEEL THIS WAY. PEOPLE THAT I DON’T EVEN KNOW," HE SAID. "I’M JT SO OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN ME AND THIS ENTIRE WORK THAT I NEVER KNEW EVEN EXISTED, SO I’VE BEEN REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT."EDOR’S PICKSIMAGE DRAGONS' DAN REYNOLDS SENDS A MSAGE OF LOVE TO LGBTQ YOUTHJUN 04, 2018TAYLOR SWIFT DONAT $113,000 TO PRO-LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP TENNSEEAPR 09, 2019LGBTQ CHARACTERS AT ALL-TIME HIGH ON TV, NEW STUDY SAYSOCT 25, 2018UP NEXT LIVG—FIRE PARTMENT ADOPTS PUPPY WHO WAS RCUED OM LOCKED, HOT RAUGT 31, 2023FROM THE NICU TO HBCUS: BALTIMORE TRIPLETS START LLEGE ATLANTAAUGT 30, 2023BRI SHAR MOM'S HILAR WEDDG PHOTO BOOK FAILAUGT 29, 2023LOOK UP! AUGT'S 'BLUE SUPERMOON' WON'T BE SEEN AGA UNTIL 2037AUGT 29, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—FIRE PARTMENT ADOPTS PUPPY WHO WAS RCUED OM LOCKED, HOT RAUGT 31, 2023FROM THE NICU TO HBCUS: BALTIMORE TRIPLETS START LLEGE ATLANTAAUGT 30, 2023BRI SHAR MOM'S HILAR WEDDG PHOTO BOOK FAILAUGT 29, 2023LOOK UP! AUGT'S 'BLUE SUPERMOON' WON'T BE SEEN AGA UNTIL 2037AUGT 29, 2023

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.