Why a Queer Asian Nonmember Showed Up At an LDS Institute

All Out in the Open

All Out in the Open, Questions from the Closet

Latter-day Saint, Christ, Society & Culture, Mormon, Gay, Religion & Spirituality, Faith, Lgbtq, Transgender, Church Of Jesus Christ, Christianity, Lgbt, Lds

5 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 12 August 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This OUT and About episode features Atlas Nocturne (he/they). While at Arizona State University, Atlas began attending the Church’s Institute of Religion—even though they’re not a member. They share what it was like to navigate faith spaces as a trans, non-binary person and how Church members made them feel welcome. Atlas’ story is a reminder that understanding and connection can bloom, even when we start from very different places.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to All Island Open. We are super happy you're here. This week we have an out and about episode, and this is a segment where Yesey Wilson takes us on a tour of the LGBTQ LDS landscape across the global church.
0:11.7	This episode is a little bit different because Yasea interviewed his friend Atlas, who's a queer Asian American and isn't a member of the church, but started attending Institute every single week.
0:21.0	It's a fascinating story of love, belonging, and inclusion, and we hope you like.
0:34.1	Aloha, everybody, welcome to Out and About. I'm your host, Yassi Wilson, and today I have a dear friend that is going to be kind of, today's a special. Today is a special. My friend is in the room with us, and I'll have them introduce themselves, and we'll start rolling. But as you know know we're here to cover some cultures from around the world
0:57.3	but this one is a little bit different take so why don't I have my friend introduce themselves this is atlas
1:04.7	hello everyone my name is atlas and I've known yesterday for a little while we were college friends for a bit and it's a little crazy
1:12.2	to be here in the studio with you today, but I'm excited. Anyway, in terms of my identities, I identify as
1:18.2	trans and non-binary. I go by they, them, and he, him pronouns, no preference. And cultural, I am
1:23.8	half Vietnamese, half Cambodian. So yeah. Sweet.
1:32.1	And I'm, oh, shoot, now I'm drawn a blank.
1:33.4	Where did we meet?
1:37.4	Was it at the institute first or was it choir?
1:39.1	It was choir first, actually. You had walked in as a, I think, prospective grad student for the choir that I was singing in, and then a couple
1:46.0	weeks later, I just ran into you at the Institute building. That's what is.
1:49.5	That's just like, wait a minute. I know you. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay, I do remember, I do remember that.
1:55.2	Oh, that's squeaky. Do you hear that? But yeah, so I was, yeah, I was a grad student at ASU in conducting,
2:03.5	and you were singing in the Barrett choir.
2:06.4	And, yeah, the interesting thing about seeing you at the institute,
2:11.3	but the audience doesn't know is that you're not a member of the church.
2:18.1	I am not.
2:19.5	So, what are you doing at the Institute of Religion at Tempe located on the ASU campus, Atlas?
2:26.7	That's a really funny question.
	...

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