Americans are leaving religion because of anti-LGBTQIA+ animus. Why now?
As attitudes toward LGBTQ inclusion shift, growing numbers are abandoning their faith, despite the painful and often years-long process.
Words by Jake Angelo, Uncloseted Media
When Garth Huelskamp was on his Mormon mission at 19 years old, he journeyed through western Nevada, where he remembers meeting a lesbian couple.
While he remained tight-lipped, his companions quickly jumped into a conversation with them, speaking about how Jesus can save them from all sins, including homosexuality.
“[There was] always an elephant in the room,” he says.
That’s because at the time, Huelskamp knew he was gay. But like many queer religious people, he believed he could pray it away.