In this episode, we interview Laura Skaggs. Laura's been on a long journey within church; initially coming out and working for change in the church for many years before deciding to divorce her former husband and withdraw her membership. Laura also provides some insight into the trauma that queer Mormons experience, per Brian Simmon's dissertation and uses beautiful scripture metaphors (including the story of Moses) to speak about the complexity of queer Latter-day Saint experiences.

Laura Skaggs is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in treating spiritual trauma at the intersection of LGBTQ+ experiences and religion. Laura earned her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at San Diego State University with an emphasis in LGBTQ+ mental health within conservative religious social contexts. She went on to serve for two years on the board of directors of Affirmation LGBT+ Mormons, Families and Friends with a focus on responding to spiritual trauma and suicide prevention. Laura is also the co-creator of CWEERS Empowerment groups: a practice designed to help LGBTQ+ individuals and their supporters confront social discrimination and internalized stigma. Laura is the mother of two daughters and presently sees clients full time in Provo, UT as part of Flourish Therapy Inc: a non-profit mental health clinic committed to expanding access to affordable, culturally competent, evidence-based behavioral and mental health services for LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families. She also has done some beautiful writing, including this piece.

For further background about David Archuleta (whom Laura references in the episode a few times), please read this article or this article.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Kyle Ashworth. We talk to him about his own experience coming into his queerness (including his mixed-orientation marriage and his marriage to his now husband) and becoming the host of a queer podcast. We also talk extensively about On the Record, a document Kyle has compiled to help establish a historical accounting of the official statements provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the Church’s education, policy, disclosure, and messaging regarding LGBTQ+ topics. This document is vital in understanding where we're at today in regards to queer messaging within the Church.

Kyle Ashworth is the voice behind Latter Gay Stories. Latter Gay Stories is an LGBTQ podcast and website resource for those in and adjacent to the intersection of LGBTQ Street and LDS Avenue. Kyle has developed resources to bring visibility to the LGBTQ+ community and establish the value of queer experiences and queer people in society. Kyle actively supports many local LGBTQ+ organizations, sits on multiple boards, and has previously served as president of the Affirmation Intermountain Region and in other community and civic positions. He is the father of four children. Kyle and his husband Jay, live in Heber City. You can follow Latter Gay Stories on Instagram and Facebook @LatterGayStories.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In part 1 of this episode we learned about the Lamanite Placement Program. In part 2 we learn about how Latter-day Saints can help support Native homes and communities, especially through ICWA. Souksavanh offers history and generously provides a blueprint going forward. It is not enough to just know what has happened, but to consider where we go from here. Souksavanh shares their knowledge and research about gender and how gender has been shaped by colonialism.

Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, Diné is a Ph.D. candidate at Oregon State University in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Queer Studies and concentration in Indigenous Urban Studies and a Ph.D. Candidate at Macquarie University in Indigenous Studies. Their concentrated area of research is on Indigenous urban experience, Two-Spirit wellbeing, Relocation Act of 1950, and Native and Queer urbanization. Souksavanh is originally from Diné (Navajo) Nation but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, is second generation Laotian, and Queer/Trans/Two-Spirit. You can connect with them on Instagram @souksavanh.t.keovorabouth.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this first part of our first ever two-parter, we interview Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth. In this first episode we learn about this history of the Dine (Navajo) people and their matrilineal clans. We learn that queerness was always a part of Dine culture. Souksavanh explains the Relocation Act which moved their grandpa to Chicago and the Latter-day Saint Indian/Lamanite Placement Program when their mom, aunts, and uncles were placed in the program while their grandfather was in Chicago. Souksavanh offers a lot of history of the program's racism and how that racism continues today.

Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, Diné is a Ph.D. candidate at Oregon State University in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Queer Studies and concentration in Indigenous Urban Studies and a Ph.D. Candidate at Macquarie University in Indigenous Studies. Their concentrated area of research is on Indigenous urban experience, Two-Spirit wellbeing, Relocation Act of 1950, and Native and Queer urbanization. Souksavanh is originally from Diné (Navajo) Nation but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, is second generation Laotian, and Queer/Trans/Two-Spirit. You can connect with them on Instagram @souksavanh.t.keovorabouth.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Lin Flores. Some things we talk about include:

• The difficulties they faced being a brown queer teacher in Utah
• Dealing with micro (and macro) aggressions in a school environment
• Being a convert to the LDS church

Lin Flores (she/they) lives and works in SLC, UT as a full-time poet and creative writing student. They are enrolled in the online Creative Writing Masters Program at the University of New Orleans. Lin published her first chapbook, Reflections While Living in Utah, in 2020. This work quickly became a local bestseller, making it the most sold book at Utah’s first LBGTQ bookstore—Under The Umbrella. Lin loves art, music, history, donuts, and God. You can connect with them on Instagram @lincpoetry.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview Sadi Rogers. Some things we talk about include:

• The realities of "leadership roulette" on how church discipline is carried out for queer individuals
• Being in a mixed-orientation marriage and then going through a divorce
• Marrying her now wife and figuring out where she now fits in the church

Sadi is a queer woman currently living in Southern California. She was raised LDS and is a wife, mother, substitute teacher, and EMT. She has 3 kids and a really awesome wife. When she’s not spending time with family or working she likes being outdoors, playing sports, or scrolling TikTok. Her love languages are taking naps and tacos. She believes that diversity is God’s gift to us to become more Christlike and hopes that sharing her story will inspire others to share their stories too. You can connect with her on Facebook or Instagram.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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In this episode, we interview ruth González-Muhlestein. Some topics we cover include:

• Realizing she was asexual earlier this year, after already being married and having kids
• The tendency some people have to pathologize or infantilize those that asexual
• What compulsory sexuality is and how people are impacted by it

ruth González-Muhlestein is an Orem-born, first generation Mexican-American. She’s passionate about antibias/anti-racism and enjoys reading, writing, making music and collages. She is a parent and partner, and works as a social media content creator for RISE Virtual Academy and Utah Educational Equity Coalition. You can connect with her on Instagram @asexualfeelings.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website

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In this episode, we interview Maddison Tenney. Some topics we cover include:

• How disability advocacy, queer advocacy, and all types of advocacy for the marginalized interconnect
• How the RaYnbow Collective came to be and the things they've accomplished
• The pushback the RaYnbow Collective received and how they dealt with it

Maddison Tenney is a Queer Latter-Day Saint, artist and activist. She is the executive director of the RaYnbow Collective, an off-campus non-profit for LGBTQ+ students at BYU. She is also a staff member at Equality Utah. Maddi grew up in Oregon and Utah and is currently finishing her degree in English Literature with minors in Art and Global Women's Studies. You can connect with her on Instagram @maddi_10e.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website

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This episode has a content warning, in that we talk about abuse in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We're still on break, but we wanted to bring you this special bonus episode where we talk with Bradley Talbot about the Hulu series Mormon No More, which includes his story. Some topics we cover include:

• Bradley's involvement with Color the Campus and lighting of the Rainbow Y
• Our reactions to Mormon No More (no spoilers, so if you haven't seen it, maybe catch a synopsis)
• Discussions of the law of chastity and abuse in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Bradley is the Founder of Color the Campus, earned his Bachelors in Psychology and Family Life at BYU and is about to start his MSW at Boston College. You can connect with him on Instagram @the_bradpad.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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As we wrap up the first season of our podcast, we recorded a discussion about our decision to take a break. We recognize that we have a lot of privilege when it comes to this topic and we recognize that there are elements of this discussion we are not able to discuss with enough clarity. However, some of the points we cover include:

• The need to rest and what that actually may look like
• How rest and community care are tied to one another, and how self-care can fall short of our needs as communities
• Leaning on the work done by disability advocates and BIPOC communities who rely on and share insights into how communities of care work

Though we are taking a break, we will be back! Follow along on our social media channels (Instagram and/or Facebook) to stay up-to-date!

For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website.

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