I can't count how many times your stories brought me to tears. I was excommunicated for being gay on Easter Sunday 1976. I was attending BYU and was a former missionary to New Zealand. I attended my excommunication trial because I needed to educate the "brethren." When I bore my testimony to investigators while on my mission I told them, "I believe the LDS church is the true church. However, if I ever found out just one thing that was wrong - it would make it all wrong and I would leave the church!" Well I met the Tanners and found out all kinds of things that were wrong. I called my excommunication my "Resurrection Experience" since it took place on Easter. I just turned 70 years old and am as gay as I was way back then.
I have 2 gay sons. I have 2 more children. I am a widower. I am 62 yrs old. I was raised lds in the navy. I wish the church were true. Thanks for your story.
Thank you so much Britton and Mason. You have my whole heart in a basket after this interview. Thank you for letting us share in your story! Sending love and the very best wishes for a beautiful life!
Those are the sweetest boys. I hope nothing else in life crushes their spirits, and they have joy. My mother would say don’t let anyone steal your joy.
As a fellow youngest child, I 100% adore Mason's gasps when Britton talks about lying to the church. That is shock and also pride. That's younger sibling shorthand for, "I had no idea you had it in you, you rebel, I wish I'd known what a badass inspiration you are."
I can’t imagine how proud their parents are of these sons! So thoughtful and insightful. When Britton talked about trying to hold up your own emotional health and someone else’s. Wow… I’m 50 years old and he just put words to something that has been part of my entire life.
I was in the last area that Laing served, and now i can fully understand why he was that kind of sweet with all of us. Sorry man for our pressure , i really love you ❤
You two are amazing souls; thanks for sharing your story. I served with your dad on Maine, and thought I couldn’t respect him more. After listening to this, I definitely do. Thank you for sharing your stories ❤️
this channel continues to put out SUCH compelling videos, I cannot look away! These two hooked me right at the beginning. Much love to Carah, nice work
43:39 I love that question! "When did you know you were attracted to the opposite sex? When was your first realization you are straight?" Literally, that question is never asked.
This family is great. I'd love to hear from the other 2 siblings as well. One thing I find funny is how Kelly was the Naval Officer who didn't curse, but his sons swear like sailors! 😂
I am so glad to hear this family's story. When some our children came out as gay and/or trans it was difficult to find like minded parents who accepted and continued to love their children. It is wonderful to see the change people of the world are making.
You two were some of the sweetest down to earth youth I got to know in the church, and I am proud of you both for embracing all of what makes you who you are.
I love these 2 humans. I cannot believe I found this video 2yrs after it was posted. I am so sad they had to live through so much pain. I am so happy they have a supportive family. Everyone deserves that
Dear Britton and Mason, your statements here are profound. Thank you for your courage in telling your stories. May you continue to live your lives as your authentic selves - your true selves make the world a better place. Thank you!
Wow. Talk about PTSD. This hit me right in the gut and heart. My love goes out to these young men. I had an experience very similar to Britton as a closeted Mormon for a long time. Bless Mason for his strong identity and personality. Whether or not these men realize it, sharing their story will save lives.
Super important to note that many gay men and boys are not effeminate. Being effeminate it is not the definition of being gay. The effeminate gay stereotype is a deep point of trauma for a lot of gay men who either never come out or delay coming out because they are not effeminate. It’s important to note how individual gay men and boys are.
When Britton got so choked up he couldn't speak, the silence was deafening, ll. So tragic, so sad... I'm so happy made it through the forest thicket to the grassy meadow.
Thank you for this episode. ❤ I _so_ regret we weren't having conversations like this with young LGBT+ decades ago. I pushed away my best friend all because she came out. I wish so much I could apologize to her for being so obtuse, condescending and judgemental in her hour of vulnerability and need. But it is so wonderful we *ARE* having them now and I do thank Mormon Stories & John for the bravery to share them to help educate ExMos, NevMo's and Orthodox Mo's. Education and Conversations about experiences are so critical to humanity's progress.
Thank you for sharing this, all of you ❤ I came out in a mostly nonreligious family and I still had a lot of these fears of telling people in my family. As wonderful as my family is now, their reactions were not always the kindest, a lot of shock and not communicating well with me. Thank you for your story, it's healing for people outside of the church too ❤
It is great to hear the voices of people whose voices go completely unheard in the church. I frankly had never thought this much could be happenning and that so many people go through that much pain in the church. I was a bishop and observing how the church has no solution for homossexual people was a big shelf-breaker. But I had no idea the pain was so intense and how much damage the church causes by trying to force people into a box. I am sorry for all the pain the lgbtq+ community go through in the church.
You two are incredible and super amazing for telling your story. As someone whose in a strict religious family, it’s super hard to speak your values and opinions that don’t correlate with God, and its suffocating. I’m so happy you two have such an amazing family!
This was one of my fave interviews to find in the archives bc these young brothers had such interesting personalities! Mason was HILARIOUS...natural comedian (ex: 29:30, 34:07) and Britton at several points was so good at being able to distill a situation or feeling into a cohesive explanation (ex: 15:04).
Fucking bomb moment, hard stop, 1:43:50 Britton comes through with such new resounding knowledge and no bull shit attitude of confidence, “I DESERVE BETTER!” So fucking powerful and I’m crying and cussing like Mason. 😆💖. Xoxo so much love for you both. Powerful examples needed for our precious youth. ♥️🥰 I’m so grateful
What a sweet, loving family. The love from dad to mom, mom/dad to kids and sibling to sibling...I commend each of them and quite honestly am sorry we didn't get to hear from Quinton & Ashley. They too must be just as great as these 4. Nice job Mom & dad :)
I am a 75 year old grandma and I would be proud to have you two handsome smart young men as my grandsons. I was brought up Unitarian, it’s not perfect but always recognized that being homosexual was no different than being heterosexual.
Oh gosh as a newly ex-member of the Annapolis Maryland Stake (Glen Burnie ward) my heart breaks for you that this was your experience here. I can totally see how that happened. You two are amazing, beautiful souls. Thank you for sharing such hard things and how you each have come through to the other side of the great & abominable church. Much love. ❤️ And- If you can’t love yourself how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?? Can I get an amen up in here?!
@@pdailey1950 go listen to the first episode again, love. Kelly sounds like a man trying to do best by the people that relied on his leadership. Don't put the actions of a system on one man's shoulder.
@@pdailey1950 it sounds like you came into this conversation with a bias. All this family did was tell their story, and it wasn't all glamorous or heroic.
This family is amazing, lots of love there, I’m only hoping for happy, peaceful and successful lives for all of them and I’m pretty sure that’s what’s going to happen
Two wonderful human beings...and have done such a great thing here to share their story. So sad you had to go through the totally unnecessary tough parts....but so THANKFUL you shared. Please always remember what you yourselves said ...YOU ARE GREAT AND ENOUGH...JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!!!!
I cannot thank you all enough for being so brave. The love, vulnerability, and authenticity that you all have demonstrated has challenged me to reflect on ways that I can have more of all that in my home.
In trauma therapy I felt uncomfortable "blaming" my dad. My therapist said it's not about blame, it's about feeling *your* emotions. Regardless of his intention, I was hurt. And it's ok for me to acknowledge that pain. And it's important to offer myself the comfort and care I really needed as a child. Even talk to myself and say, "it's ok. You're ok. It makes sense you feel this way" and stuff like that.
I love how powerful these men are...and Britton is such a sweet older brother! Their relationship really makes me wish that I had siblings...I wonder if navigating all this bullshit may have been easier? Maybe especially if I had a gay sibling?
These 2 men are the best!!! I share their humor and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! 🥰 Mom and Dad be very proud…. I wish I could spend a Christmas at your home!!! I’ll bet it’s GREAT!!! Funny cool family. 🥰
So delightful. I’m still laughing. Your parents and you both should be very proud of your self security. Brilliant to see such healthy gay young men. Kudos to you all. So glad I experienced this. Thank you to all.
Britton and Mason what wonderful young men you are! I hope you will find lasting love in your lives! I’m a 71 yr old mother (of four grown daughters) and 8 grandchildren. One of my daughters is LBGT+ and is in a relationship that is perfect for her. I grew up with a grand aunt who was lesbian and her best friend was a gay man who was in a life long relationship with a man. Now that was back in the 1880’s thru the mid 1970’s, when it was against the law especially for men to have sexual relations. By the way I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and remember when the incident happened in Manhattan that was the catalyst that brought changes in the law.
I’m watching this after seeing Carah’s video from a few days ago, and oh my goodness. These brothers are such great guys and a great interview to watch. My heart breaks for how they internalized some of those messages from the church and how damaging it was to their mental health and self worth. My son is 2 and plays with the same toys as his older sister. He plays with the toy kitchen and the Wonder Woman figurines and the ponies and the baby dolls. He also loves trucks and trains and dinosaurs. He’s practicing imaginative play and emotional skills. Is he gay? I don’t know yet and it doesn’t matter to me at all. I want him to be first and foremost a kind and loving person and it seems these young men also had that instilled in them, they seem like wonderful people.
This makes me so sad and sooooo angry. It is the church that is totally broken. Church and Christ should lead with love, when they do not, they are not of God. Protect the children from these horrible leaders. Sending love and hugs to Britton and Mason. Glad to hear your parents are with and support you. ❤️🙏🏼❤️
I’m so proud of these young men to humbly share their experiences of coming out. I’m also so impressed with the love and concern their parents had during this turbulent period. They are a testy ant to the parents who raised and love them.
Britton and Mason are amazing and so talented and cool! I have two lesbian sisters and am so happy that my parents rallied and I see that your folks have as well. You are totally worthy just the way you are!
So emotional, my nephew, cousin, and sister in law are lgbt. I'm proud of my sister leaving before her son's reached these ages and being taught these toxic things. She saved her boys.
Showing my age... I can remember as a kid, when the daytime TV talk shows, like Danahue, Sally Jesse Raphael, Oprah .. began talking about homosexuality and how it's not a choice etc.. I went to my mom and told her about what I had learned, she said that well, if that's true , then , if ' They' love Jeh../ God enough they will deny those feelings and live according to Gods commands and learn to overcome it. ( I'm not Mormon I was raised JW) Her answer didn't make sense to me because even as a young kid, I knew that you can't change or deny who you were born to be. These churches are and will forever hold on to these old ideas and teachings that harm their members. They will continue to hold on until there is nothing left. I honestly believe that ALL these Religions will fall due to their own ignorance and misuse of their self appointed authority. & Yes Rita's italian ice is really really good! ( I'm from NY . We had Rita's in my home town ) I currently live in NC. & I totally understand the whole southern thing & their religion . I can just imagine how dificult it must have been for Mason. It's crazy too , because this isn't that long ago.. Ive been living in the south over 4 years now, and I am still amazed how much the Religions play a part in people's lives here. And how unaccepting they can be of those who live and or believe differently than them. When I express my thoughts and disbelief in Religion in general I have been verbally attacked more than once.
This shows me how critical it is to communicate the most important truths to my kids and really, to all humans- that every human is a precious child of God, adored when we err and adored when we do right. But, ADORED!! Bravo to your dad for drawing the boundary of what questions your bishop was not allowed to ask or talk about. If I, a stranger, flawed and mortal, can see these young men and just adore them and ache for them, then how much MORE does the Creator adore us!! Through thick and thin, as a loving parent.
Still watching but I had to comment how much I feel what Britton said about being the people pleaser in the family, being the good kid, seeing your parents fight with older siblings and wanting to make their lives easier… Never Mormon here but so many of the things people speak about on these podcasts are universal and relatable.
Thank you for your stories and for the blessing parents that you have. I am an ex-Mormon that came out at 57; currently married to a man and happy to be who I am and still feel that I am a Son of God.
I get Jonathan Van Ness vibes from Mason and I love it! JVN is one of the most adorable people ever! Thank you for sharing your stories, guys! I am so sorry for the pain you have experienced because of the church. So glad you have escaped and have your whole life left to live!
i am so blessed to have found my way out of the church before i turn 18. It brings up challenges to live in a family of believing mormons as a non believer, but i don’t have to face all of the challenges that others have due to my sexuality. I discovered myself around the same time i started to lose faith. I love being able to relate to these stories and find a comfort in having similarities
Grew up in Blackfoot and grad high school in 89 I am gay and many high school friends are too but we all didn't know about each other until class reunion.... I wish we all could have been more aware younger like you guys
My dad is retired army and I feel like I had a very similar childhood and relationship with him. Obviously circumstances are unique and some may disagree, but I just don’t believe that parents have a right to their children’s love but need to develop healthy relationships with their children in order to earn that love. It sounds like this father definitely worked hard to build relationships with his kids and his kids love him very much.
John I'm so glad you clarify the difference between gender identity and sexuality. I was very hard for me to understand my sexuality when I was young and accept it when I was older because of the binary gender narrative and how a certain sexual orientation should act a certain way. The gender revolution is definitely playing out right now and I am so glad to be born in this generation with all the vocabularies to describe gender as oppose to earlier generations.
One of the best examples I've heard when someone says sexual orientation is a choice. Ask the question "When did you decide to be heterosexual? What age?" That usually hits home to people. I think the leaders that think masturbation leads to homosexuality are probably gay.
A note to John: The section "The ties between LGBTQ suicide and Mormon teachings" at 1:37:09 started extremely rough for me. Britton just finished explaining the lowest point in his life. I understand the motivation behind the request you made of them to address the apologists. I know you're all about informed consent, so I hope that off camera you do the necessary counseling to help them through these revisits of past trauma (trauma that can't be more than a few years old at this point). It was a hard 90 degree turn for me to go from simply recounting the experience to immediately requesting a statement on the experience be made and generalize the root causes of the experience. I know that the Laing family wants to tell this story and I know they know what that entailed. I'm extremely glad they shared this, I just worry sometimes about the way you direct the conversation. It was very hard to watch in this instance.
Matt - See my comment above, I had some reservations myself with John’s request, but it worked and I saw the empowerment that Britton was able to slam dunk and own right after/through sharing so vulnerably. 🥰 Shows how empowering both vulnerability and authenticity is.
I’m from Bremerton, I haven’t heard Kelly’s story yet, I’m assuming he was stationed at PSNS. My grandpa worked there, stepdad and my twin sister currently works there. I lived there for 27 years before coming to SLC, my gay brother served a mission for the church before he came out to my family. This story hits my heart ❤❤
I can't count how many times your stories brought me to tears. I was excommunicated for being gay on Easter Sunday 1976. I was attending BYU and was a former missionary to New Zealand. I attended my excommunication trial because I needed to educate the "brethren." When I bore my testimony to investigators while on my mission I told them, "I believe the LDS church is the true church. However, if I ever found out just one thing that was wrong - it would make it all wrong and I would leave the church!" Well I met the Tanners and found out all kinds of things that were wrong. I called my excommunication my "Resurrection Experience" since it took place on Easter. I just turned 70 years old and am as gay as I was way back then.
Gay men!
Bless you! I am so happy you survived.
I’m so sorry
I love how Mason and Britton can express the full range of emotions. And how supportive they are to each other ❤
Britton. I’m so glad you survived.
I needed to hear your story.
Britton and Mason's relationships as brothers is so sweet, when Mason was tearing up over Britton's scrupulosity and they hugged.
I have 2 gay sons.
I have 2 more children.
I am a widower.
I am 62 yrs old.
I was raised lds in the navy.
I wish the church were true.
Thanks for your story.
Thank you so much Britton and Mason. You have my whole heart in a basket after this interview. Thank you for letting us share in your story! Sending love and the very best wishes for a beautiful life!
1:40:52 Britton standing up for themselves "not waiting for the second resurrection". SO POWERFUL! ❤️🌈
Those are the sweetest boys. I hope nothing else in life crushes their spirits, and they have joy. My mother would say don’t let anyone steal your joy.
As a fellow youngest child, I 100% adore Mason's gasps when Britton talks about lying to the church. That is shock and also pride. That's younger sibling shorthand for, "I had no idea you had it in you, you rebel, I wish I'd known what a badass inspiration you are."
"I'm not broken. I'm not waiting for some resurrection to fix me." is so powerful.
Absolutely
I can’t imagine how proud their parents are of these sons! So thoughtful and insightful. When Britton talked about trying to hold up your own emotional health and someone else’s. Wow… I’m 50 years old and he just put words to something that has been part of my entire life.
I’m not Mormon, but I was raised in a very devout Southern Baptist military family, and it’s striking how similar my growing up was to this.
Watching Mason's face as his brother describes his experience/pain, is heart wrenching.
I was in the last area that Laing served, and now i can fully understand why he was that kind of sweet with all of us. Sorry man for our pressure , i really love you ❤
You two are amazing souls; thanks for sharing your story. I served with your dad on Maine, and thought I couldn’t respect him more. After listening to this, I definitely do.
Thank you for sharing your stories ❤️
Who else think Britton and Mason are adorable!
Practically nothing from Heather. She is allowed to speak, right?
Me
this channel continues to put out SUCH compelling videos, I cannot look away! These two hooked me right at the beginning. Much love to Carah, nice work
Aren’t they the greatest?
Fabulous young men! I adored the sweet tears from Mason in empathy for Brittin. Just beautiful! Hugs you wonderful people!
43:39 I love that question! "When did you know you were attracted to the opposite sex? When was your first realization you are straight?" Literally, that question is never asked.
Well, how can anyone NOT love these two brothers? Take strength!!!
John has balls of steel. I love how he can ask these questions. The boys are so honest too. Wow. This is amazing!
This family is great. I'd love to hear from the other 2 siblings as well. One thing I find funny is how Kelly was the Naval Officer who didn't curse, but his sons swear like sailors! 😂
Ya LOL 😂
I am so glad to hear this family's story. When some our children came out as gay and/or trans it was difficult to find like minded parents who accepted and continued to love their children. It is wonderful to see the change people of the world are making.
You two were some of the sweetest down to earth youth I got to know in the church, and I am proud of you both for embracing all of what makes you who you are.
Thank you for sharing with us Mason and Britton. Your stories broke my heart, I am sending you all of my love.
I love these 2 humans. I cannot believe I found this video 2yrs after it was posted. I am so sad they had to live through so much pain. I am so happy they have a supportive family. Everyone deserves that
Dear Britton and Mason, your statements here are profound. Thank you for your courage in telling your stories. May you continue to live your lives as your authentic selves - your true selves make the world a better place. Thank you!
Omg! I love these kids! They are a true gift to their parents!!!!
Wow. Talk about PTSD. This hit me right in the gut and heart. My love goes out to these young men. I had an experience very similar to Britton as a closeted Mormon for a long time. Bless Mason for his strong identity and personality. Whether or not these men realize it, sharing their story will save lives.
❤❤❤
Super important to note that many gay men and boys are not effeminate. Being effeminate it is not the definition of being gay. The effeminate gay stereotype is a deep point of trauma for a lot of gay men who either never come out or delay coming out because they are not effeminate. It’s important to note how individual gay men and boys are.
When Britton got so choked up he couldn't speak, the silence was deafening, ll. So tragic, so sad... I'm so happy made it through the forest thicket to the grassy meadow.
Thank you for this episode. ❤ I _so_ regret we weren't having conversations like this with young LGBT+ decades ago. I pushed away my best friend all because she came out. I wish so much I could apologize to her for being so obtuse, condescending and judgemental in her hour of vulnerability and need. But it is so wonderful we *ARE* having them now and I do thank Mormon Stories & John for the bravery to share them to help educate ExMos, NevMo's and Orthodox Mo's. Education and Conversations about experiences are so critical to humanity's progress.
I relate to a lot of Britton mission mental health story. I'm so glad you've survived. ♡
Thank you for sharing this, all of you ❤ I came out in a mostly nonreligious family and I still had a lot of these fears of telling people in my family.
As wonderful as my family is now, their reactions were not always the kindest, a lot of shock and not communicating well with me.
Thank you for your story, it's healing for people outside of the church too ❤
It is great to hear the voices of people whose voices go completely unheard in the church. I frankly had never thought this much could be happenning and that so many people go through that much pain in the church. I was a bishop and observing how the church has no solution for homossexual people was a big shelf-breaker. But I had no idea the pain was so intense and how much damage the church causes by trying to force people into a box. I am sorry for all the pain the lgbtq+ community go through in the church.
Good to hear.
You two are incredible and super amazing for telling your story. As someone whose in a strict religious family, it’s super hard to speak your values and opinions that don’t correlate with God, and its suffocating. I’m so happy you two have such an amazing family!
These wonderful young men are just wanting to BE who they are, like the rest of us. Love that they feel free to express themselves here!
This was one of my fave interviews to find in the archives bc these young brothers had such interesting personalities! Mason was HILARIOUS...natural comedian (ex: 29:30, 34:07) and Britton at several points was so good at being able to distill a situation or feeling into a cohesive explanation (ex: 15:04).
never apologise for crying its a natural response to difficult emotions
Fucking bomb moment, hard stop, 1:43:50
Britton comes through with such new resounding knowledge and no bull shit attitude of confidence, “I DESERVE BETTER!” So fucking powerful and I’m crying and cussing like Mason. 😆💖.
Xoxo so much love for you both. Powerful examples needed for our precious youth. ♥️🥰 I’m so grateful
What a sweet, loving family. The love from dad to mom, mom/dad to kids and sibling to sibling...I commend each of them and quite honestly am sorry we didn't get to hear from Quinton & Ashley. They too must be just as great as these 4. Nice job Mom & dad :)
What wonderful parents these young people have. The world is better with you here, so thankful you both made it through that hard time.
I am a 75 year old grandma and I would be proud to have you two handsome smart young men as my grandsons.
I was brought up Unitarian, it’s not perfect but always recognized that being homosexual was no different than being heterosexual.
Thank you for sharing.. you guys are the best! you guys are speical and brave.. thanks again:)
Oh gosh as a newly ex-member of the Annapolis Maryland Stake (Glen Burnie ward) my heart breaks for you that this was your experience here. I can totally see how that happened. You two are amazing, beautiful souls. Thank you for sharing such hard things and how you each have come through to the other side of the great & abominable church. Much love. ❤️ And- If you can’t love yourself how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?? Can I get an amen up in here?!
AMEN
@@masonlaing850 🙌🏻
Amen!
@@brittonlaing1119 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Amen my friend!
This family is so charming and there is so much love between all of them. This was such a beautiful episode.
@@pdailey1950 go listen to the first episode again, love.
Kelly sounds like a man trying to do best by the people that relied on his leadership. Don't put the actions of a system on one man's shoulder.
@@pdailey1950 it sounds like you came into this conversation with a bias.
All this family did was tell their story, and it wasn't all glamorous or heroic.
love to both you boys all the way from NZ
This family is amazing, lots of love there, I’m only hoping for happy, peaceful and successful lives for all of them and I’m pretty sure that’s what’s going to happen
Two wonderful human beings...and have done such a great thing here to share their story. So sad you had to go through the totally unnecessary tough parts....but so THANKFUL you shared. Please always remember what you yourselves said ...YOU ARE GREAT AND ENOUGH...JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!!!!
This is breaking my heart. It makes me so angry against all religious teachings that alienate people for such unimportant reasons.
Wait I did that. Growing up in a military family and finding out I am gay. Uggghhh Dad was obsessed with turning me into the perfect mormon boy.
I cannot thank you all enough for being so brave. The love, vulnerability, and authenticity that you all have demonstrated has challenged me to reflect on ways that I can have more of all that in my home.
In trauma therapy I felt uncomfortable "blaming" my dad. My therapist said it's not about blame, it's about feeling *your* emotions. Regardless of his intention, I was hurt. And it's ok for me to acknowledge that pain. And it's important to offer myself the comfort and care I really needed as a child. Even talk to myself and say, "it's ok. You're ok. It makes sense you feel this way" and stuff like that.
I love how powerful these men are...and Britton is such a sweet older brother! Their relationship really makes me wish that I had siblings...I wonder if navigating all this bullshit may have been easier? Maybe especially if I had a gay sibling?
Thanks so much to all of you.
53:51 - I'm in tears, sobbing for and with these two gorgeous young men.
These 2 men are the best!!! I share their humor and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! 🥰
Mom and Dad be very proud…. I wish I could spend a Christmas at your home!!! I’ll bet it’s GREAT!!! Funny cool family. 🥰
I had a lot of the same religious OCDs that Britton had. Thanks for sharing!
So delightful. I’m still laughing. Your parents and you both should be very proud of your self security. Brilliant to see such healthy gay young men. Kudos to you all. So glad I experienced this. Thank you to all.
Britton and Mason what wonderful young men you are! I hope you will find lasting love in your lives! I’m a 71 yr old mother (of four grown daughters) and 8 grandchildren. One of my daughters is LBGT+ and is in a relationship that is perfect for her. I grew up with a grand aunt who was lesbian and her best friend was a gay man who was in a life long relationship with a man. Now that was back in the 1880’s thru the mid 1970’s, when it was against the law especially for men to have sexual relations. By the way I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and remember when the incident happened in Manhattan that was the catalyst that brought changes in the law.
I’m watching this after seeing Carah’s video from a few days ago, and oh my goodness. These brothers are such great guys and a great interview to watch. My heart breaks for how they internalized some of those messages from the church and how damaging it was to their mental health and self worth. My son is 2 and plays with the same toys as his older sister. He plays with the toy kitchen and the Wonder Woman figurines and the ponies and the baby dolls. He also loves trucks and trains and dinosaurs. He’s practicing imaginative play and emotional skills. Is he gay? I don’t know yet and it doesn’t matter to me at all. I want him to be first and foremost a kind and loving person and it seems these young men also had that instilled in them, they seem like wonderful people.
Both the LGBTQ+ community and the non-LGBTQ community love you both.💖💖💖
This makes me so sad and sooooo angry. It is the church that is totally broken. Church and Christ should lead with love, when they do not, they are not of God. Protect the children from these horrible leaders. Sending love and hugs to Britton and Mason. Glad to hear your parents are with and support you. ❤️🙏🏼❤️
What amazing loving parents. His father....WOW! What an amazing father!
Amazing Britton and Mason. Thank you so much for sharing your stories. Just this video will help so many.
Thank you for sharing! It resonated with me so much!
These young men are so wise. Love it!
The best best best thing I have ever watched. I learned so much.
I’m so proud of these young men to humbly share their experiences of coming out. I’m also so impressed with the love and concern their parents had during this turbulent period. They are a testy ant to the parents who raised and love them.
Britton and Mason are amazing and so talented and cool! I have two lesbian sisters and am so happy that my parents rallied and I see that your folks have as well. You are totally worthy just the way you are!
what amazing people! i just love you all!
If could put the links to all the episodes in a series I think it would be really helpful. It would help a lot of back and forth.
Thanks Britton and Mason, this Interview helped me So much!!!
So emotional, my nephew, cousin, and sister in law are lgbt. I'm proud of my sister leaving before her son's reached these ages and being taught these toxic things. She saved her boys.
Showing my age... I can remember as a kid, when the daytime TV talk shows, like Danahue, Sally Jesse Raphael, Oprah .. began talking about homosexuality and how it's not a choice etc.. I went to my mom and told her about what I had learned, she said that well, if that's true , then , if ' They' love Jeh../ God enough they will deny those feelings and live according to Gods commands and learn to overcome it.
( I'm not Mormon I was raised JW)
Her answer didn't make sense to me because even as a young kid, I knew that you can't change or deny who you were born to be.
These churches are and will forever hold on to these old ideas and teachings that harm their members. They will continue to hold on until there is nothing left. I honestly believe that ALL these Religions will fall due to their own ignorance and misuse of their self appointed authority.
& Yes Rita's italian ice is really really good! ( I'm from NY . We had Rita's in my home town )
I currently live in NC. & I totally understand the whole southern thing & their religion . I can just imagine how dificult it must have been for Mason.
It's crazy too , because this isn't that long ago.. Ive been living in the south over 4 years now, and I am still amazed how much the Religions play a part in people's lives here. And how unaccepting they can be of those who live and or believe differently than them. When I express my thoughts and disbelief in Religion in general I have been verbally attacked more than once.
This is so relatable. Honestly, never related so hard with a story before.
This shows me how critical it is to communicate the most important truths to my kids and really, to all humans- that every human is a precious child of God, adored when we err and adored when we do right. But, ADORED!! Bravo to your dad for drawing the boundary of what questions your bishop was not allowed to ask or talk about. If I, a stranger, flawed and mortal, can see these young men and just adore them and ache for them, then how much MORE does the Creator adore us!! Through thick and thin, as a loving parent.
Still watching but I had to comment how much I feel what Britton said about being the people pleaser in the family, being the good kid, seeing your parents fight with older siblings and wanting to make their lives easier… Never Mormon here but so many of the things people speak about on these podcasts are universal and relatable.
Thank you for your stories and for the blessing parents that you have. I am an ex-Mormon that came out at 57; currently married to a man and happy to be who I am and still feel that I am a Son of God.
I get Jonathan Van Ness vibes from Mason and I love it! JVN is one of the most adorable people ever! Thank you for sharing your stories, guys! I am so sorry for the pain you have experienced because of the church. So glad you have escaped and have your whole life left to live!
i am so blessed to have found my way out of the church before i turn 18. It brings up challenges to live in a family of believing mormons as a non believer, but i don’t have to face all of the challenges that others have due to my sexuality. I discovered myself around the same time i started to lose faith. I love being able to relate to these stories and find a comfort in having similarities
I love you
I love these two and you both are a perfect person and son. I’m so sorry you have had to go through this. You are just a bright light
When your church makes you want to hurt yourself, it's a bad place!
Grew up in Blackfoot and grad high school in 89 I am gay and many high school friends are too but we all didn't know about each other until class reunion.... I wish we all could have been more aware younger like you guys
Imagine religion crashing these brilliant kids dreams. They're so vibrant and cute, I am glad they're out.
Before going home they made this man go through a two hour temple session first in order to accept that no means no. No means no church!
Amazing family. Great interview
Jesus gave us only two commandments, love God and love our neighbors and we are all neighbors ❤
❤❤❤ love these two❤️❤️❤️
My dad is retired army and I feel like I had a very similar childhood and relationship with him. Obviously circumstances are unique and some may disagree, but I just don’t believe that parents have a right to their children’s love but need to develop healthy relationships with their children in order to earn that love. It sounds like this father definitely worked hard to build relationships with his kids and his kids love him very much.
John I'm so glad you clarify the difference between gender identity and sexuality. I was very hard for me to understand my sexuality when I was young and accept it when I was older because of the binary gender narrative and how a certain sexual orientation should act a certain way. The gender revolution is definitely playing out right now and I am so glad to be born in this generation with all the vocabularies to describe gender as oppose to earlier generations.
It’s heartbreaking to see the pain the church causes our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.
Love love love their stories! This was so incredibly healing to listen to. 🥰
One of the best examples I've heard when someone says sexual orientation is a choice. Ask the question "When did you decide to be heterosexual? What age?" That usually hits home to people. I think the leaders that think masturbation leads to homosexuality are probably gay.
It does seem like Mormon siblings are very respectful of each other.
I love these 2!
I just want to reach through the screen and hug these young men. The mental torture is so brutal!!! What a beautiful family!
This had me crying so much. I saw so much of my own story in theirs. Thank you for sharing this. Just heartbreaking.
A note to John: The section "The ties between LGBTQ suicide and Mormon teachings" at 1:37:09 started extremely rough for me. Britton just finished explaining the lowest point in his life. I understand the motivation behind the request you made of them to address the apologists. I know you're all about informed consent, so I hope that off camera you do the necessary counseling to help them through these revisits of past trauma (trauma that can't be more than a few years old at this point). It was a hard 90 degree turn for me to go from simply recounting the experience to immediately requesting a statement on the experience be made and generalize the root causes of the experience. I know that the Laing family wants to tell this story and I know they know what that entailed. I'm extremely glad they shared this, I just worry sometimes about the way you direct the conversation. It was very hard to watch in this instance.
Matt - See my comment above, I had some reservations myself with John’s request, but it worked and I saw the empowerment that Britton was able to slam dunk and own right after/through sharing so vulnerably. 🥰 Shows how empowering both vulnerability and authenticity is.
I’m from Bremerton, I haven’t heard Kelly’s story yet, I’m assuming he was stationed at PSNS. My grandpa worked there, stepdad and my twin sister currently works there. I lived there for 27 years before coming to SLC, my gay brother served a mission for the church before he came out to my family. This story hits my heart ❤❤