** Trigger Warning: This podcast talks about suicide. If you are suicidal, please call/text/chat 988 **

My friends Dave and Kimi Martin join us to talk about their transgender son Levi who died of suicide in December of 2022 at the age of 17. Dave and Kimi (active LDS, Parents of 7, Live in Massachusetts) share their story of the journey to understand and then support their son. They do this to honor Levi and also to invite us to do better.

They talk about their bright, intelligent son Levi—and their joint efforts to understand the cause of his emotional challenges which was finally understood to be being transgender. Even with that understanding they talk about how Levi—turning 18—was “terrified of how society treats transgender persons.”

The Martins talk about the principle of “proximity” and the need to listen to and understand people different than how that helps us better love and support them.

They talk about the heartache of losing a child, hopes on how we can do better to support queer people, and gratitude for the many acts/messages of support.

I encourage everyone to listen to the Martin’s story and share it with friends. Discuss it as families and ward/stake councils. Consider what we can do to follow the example of Jesus to better support those marginalized by society. Their story and Levi’s life helps us better see, understand, love, and our transgender friends.

Thank you, Dave and Kimi, for being on the podcast and sharing your story. On behalf of all of our listeners, thank you. And we love the Martin family and are so sorry Levi is gone.

Podcast links:

Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/dmartinine/posts/pfbid013xyRvZFBTaXeEarY1RK3RTAhZKVjh4kxhDyWDbN1A56MKNz3RkCXkU1dUj6aS2ml

Obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/26743430/levi-martin

Eulogy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NTKWqxgZBamE5hnuh7XhcKm2WyMUjs_B/view?fbclid=IwAR1AtQiPUIoheXLQ9PIk-TS2TaQvoucim3Ww-P3JDf7ZxzfiQSCxj-cD32I

Gordon Laws: Irreantum Article: https://irreantum.associationmormonletters.org/_20-1-i-can-take-or-leave-it/

Evan Smith’s Crossroads: https://www.gayldscrossroads.org/

Ministering to LGBTQ Latter-day Saints Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143

Richard Ostler Book: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints:

Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints