1470: When an LDS Apostle Calls You Out - Gay BYU Valedictorian Matt Easton
Mormon Stories Podcast
Dr. John Dehlin
4.5 • 5.7K Ratings
🗓️ 30 August 2021
⏱️ 218 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In April of 2019 Brigham Young University valedictorian Matt Easton came out as a faithful gay Mormon during his valedictorian address, which was pre-approved by the LDS Church. Matt's speech received very positive national media attention, including an appearance on the Ellen Show. Matt is currently attending U.C. Berkeley as a Political Science Ph.D. student.
Last week, Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland publicly "called out" Matt Easton, accusing him of "commandeering" the 2019 graduation ceremony. His exact words were:
"If a student commandeers a graduation podium intended to represent everyone getting diplomas in order to announce his personal sexual orientation, what might another speaker feel free to announce the next year until eventually anything goes? What might commencement come to mean — or not mean — if we push individual license over institutional dignity for very long? Do we simply end up with more divisiveness in our culture than we already have? And we already have too much everywhere."
Please join us on August 29, 2021 at 1:30pm Utah time as Matt Easton shares with us his Mormon story, and responds to Elder Holland's irresponsible attacks.
Show Notes:
- Matt Easton's Valedictorian address.
- Matt's appearance on Ellen.
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's BYU Speech attacking Matt
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Mormon Stories Podcasts and I dare even say a special edition of Mormon Stories Podcasts |
| 0:08.5 | It is Sunday, August 29th, 2021 and as you can visibly see for those joining us |
| 0:15.4 | visually on either YouTube or Facebook |
| 0:18.2 | I am joined by my dear friend and colleague Kyle Ashworth. Hey, Kyle's it going? |
| 0:23.4 | It's well. Thanks, John. It's good to have you here. It is. It's good to have you here |
| 0:27.6 | Because we are broadcasting on both platforms both the Latter-Gay Stories Podcasts and Mormon Stories which is unique and exciting |
| 0:34.6 | It's amazing. Yeah, we're making history. So we are super excited today |
| 0:38.6 | It has been a busy week in Mormon land because last week |
| 0:43.4 | Mormon Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland gave a |
| 0:46.6 | very controversial talk to BYU faculty and staff and we've covered that already on Mormon Stories Podcasts |
| 0:54.0 | We had my dear friend Kyle here along with Harado talking about their reactions as members of the LGBTQ |
| 1:00.6 | More kind of Mormon community to that talk |
| 1:02.4 | We also had John Larson come on who shared his feelings and thoughts about it |
| 1:06.2 | But just to give you guys a quick overview for those who have no idea what I'm talking about many of you join us as having never been Mormon |
| 1:13.4 | Last week one of the top-ranking Mormon Apostles gave a talk at BYU |
| 1:18.1 | Where he basically said several things |
| 1:20.2 | He tried to express some empathy for the LGBTQ Mormon experience |
| 1:25.6 | But then he went on to basically in my interpretation call out BYU |
| 1:31.7 | Administration staff and faculty |
| 1:33.9 | Expressing concern about the level of support that is being shown to the LGBTQ community and |
| 1:41.0 | Two criticisms made by BYU student staff and faculty to the LDS church and its leadership for the church's position opposing |
| 1:49.1 | same-sex marriage and other types of policies |
... |
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