I Thought I Was The Only Gay LDS Father In Idaho By Scott Wood

I Thought I Was The Only Gay LDS Father In Idaho By Scott Wood

 

April 27, 2019 was literally a New Beginning for me.  It was THE day I realized and accepted that I was a gay man - 532 days ago.  In the following few weeks, I told family and close friends.  Finally on December 31, 2019, I posted on Facebook that I was gay. The past 18 months have been filled with great happiness and great pain.  Rejection and acceptance have added to the happiness and pain. 

I have stopped lying to myself and hiding my real feelings toward the same sex. Korina and the boys have been fairly supportive and accepting.  They have been the most affected by the change.  In February I moved into my own place and in July we finalized our divorce - so many bitter-sweet changes.  We share custody of the boys and continue to co-parent. 
 
At this time I have chosen to distance myself from the Church; not the Gospel. I struggle to fully support an organization that cannot support the feelings I have been blessed with by my Heavenly Father. The burden I have to deal with is not my Same Sex Attraction (that is perfectly normal and natural to me) but it is the judgement of others that have decided LGBTQ+ persons are sinning and it is wrong to act on natural feelings.
 
I have met so many fabulous men and women in the LGBTQ community all over Idaho and Utah. We are everywhere.  We do a VERY good job of hiding because of the guilt and shame given to us by so many religious organizations and society. Some of the most compassionate and loving people are LGBTQ.
 
October 11, 2020 is National Coming Out Day. I remember this day in 2019 and wondered what it would be like to be totally open to all those around me.  Well, it has slowly happened and it feels great to be myself.  I would encourage anyone else with questions about who they are to reach out to a safe person and talk about their feelings.  There are many LGBTQ resources in our community.  I thought I was alone.  I thought I was the only gay LDS father in Idaho.  I am not.  I am also not an adulterer or pedophile! 
 
Please throw away the stereotypes about what you think a gay man is.  Open your mind and prove that LOVE IS LOVE and everyone deserves to be loved and God made us all and God makes no mistakes.