Raul A. Reyes, a lawyer, is a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors. He has written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, Texas Monthly and the Huffington Post.
For most of his life, singer David Archuleta was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — until inner turmoil over his sexuality nearly drove him to self-harm. “The church is very much emphasized on family; you’re supposed to get married and have babies, create family, and that is your ultimate purpose in life,” the “American Idol” alumnus said. “You have to get married and have children in order to receive the highest form of heaven.
Latinos are a growing part of the church’s ranks — and at the same time Latinos are more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to identify as LGBTQ. “We applaud parents like David’s ‘Mama Lupe’ for doing the work to understand and support their sons and daughters for living authentically,” said Fred Bowers, president of Affirmation, a worldwide group that helps support people as they define their spirituality and intersection with the Mormon church.
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