The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church,condemns those who act on same-sex attractionandare in same-sex relationships.
So to many, it came as a surprise that Matt Easton, a 24-year-old senior at the Mormon Brigham Young University, came out as gayduring a graduation speechbefore thousands of people last Friday.
“I stand before my family, friends, and graduating class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God,” said Easton during his convocation speech for the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences.
The news was met with screams, cheers and rounds of applause, including from his mother, who is suffering from terminal cancer.
“I am not broken,” he said. “I am loved and important to the plan of our great creator. Each of us are.”
“Four years ago, it would have been impossible for me to imagine that I would come out to my entire college,” he continued. “It is a phenomenal feeling. And it is a victory for me in and of itself.”
Matt Easton.Rick Bowmer/AP/REX/Shutterstock
He pointed thePostto Buttigieg’sspeech criticizing Vice President Mike Pence, in which Buttigieg said: “That’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand: That if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me. Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator.”
“My generation, and even more so the generation after me, we’re changing the way we talk about our identity and who we are,” Easton told thePost. “It’s okay to be different, or not fit the norm.”
Matt Easton (right) with classmates.Courtesy Matt Easton
At times, Easton said, he wasn’t sure if he belonged at BYU. Theschool’s honor code, while not banning gay students, says one will be in violation of it if they commit “homosexual behavior” that “includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.”
Matt Easton.
About two years ago, after opening up to his parents, some friends and faculty advisers and receiving their support, Easton gained confidence, he told thePost.
With a 4.0 average, he was selected as one of the valedictorians to speak at graduation. Easton eventually decided to include discussion of his sexuality, but first he needed approval from the dean’s office. Administrators gave him the thumbs up, saying, “Go for it,” thePostreports.
“The dean’s office saw and approved Matt’s speech before our college convocation,” Dean Ben Ogles of BYU’s College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences tells PEOPLE.
Since coming out, Easton has received a groundswell of support, including a shoutout from actress and singerKristin Chenowethon Twitter.
“I’m very proud of you. As a straight Christian woman, i stand beside you!! I say to you: YOU ARE LOVED!!!!!” wrote Chenoweth.
As for his future in the church, that is more of an unknown.
source: people.com
