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Former American Idol contestant David Archuleta has given an interview to NBC News in which he talks more about his coming out journey.
Archuleta was raised in the Church of Latter Day Saints and remains a practicing Mormon. He appeared on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008.
In June, he revealed via an Instagram post that he had come out to his family as gay in 2014. However, he subsequently recognized he had feelings toward men and women, so decided he might be bisexual.
He publicly came out as a member of the LGBTQ community this year. He said he still preferred not to attach labels to himself, and in line with his faith, was saving himself for marriage.
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Related: David Archuleta says he used to pray to be straight and is still saving himself for marriage
He said in subsequent interviews that, partly because of his religious beliefs, coming to terms with his sexuality had been a struggle.
In yesterday’s interview, he talked more about the challenge to reconcile his Mormon faith and his sexuality. He said a conversation he had with God had prompted him to go public.
“I kind of went through a faith crisis for a month, when I was in the process of breaking up with this girl I was in a relationship with. But I felt so disconnected from everything. My anxiety had gotten so bad. I was like, ‘I don’t even remember how it feels to be close to God or to even have feelings for anybody … I don’t even know how I feel about myself right now’.”
He turned to prayer.
“When I had that prayer, God just said, ‘David, you know I trust you, right? I want you to post about what you’re going through right now.’ And it was just so clear what I needed to say. I knew exactly what I needed to say, but I feel uncomfortable saying it, because I like to keep to myself — especially with this kind of stuff. But I just knew I had to.”
He said that when growing up, he was told that being anything other than heterosexual was wrong.
“I always felt like my feelings were different, starting from a younger age, and I just thought maybe I need time to figure this out and I’ll be able to understand this better or work it out. I didn’t really want to be honest with myself, because I was always embarrassed, and really, I was ashamed to feel that way. Just growing up in a religious household, the idea was, ‘Oh this isn’t OK. It’s not right.’”
Related: Gay Mormon born without limbs talks about coming out, finding love and makeup
Archuleta told NBC News he is currently “getting to know guys,” working on new music, and looking forward to touring again after previous dates were canceled during the pandemic. He’s also speaking out as an advocate for LGBTQ rights.
This week. Archuleta took to Instagram to give his reaction to a controversial speech given last week by Mormon Elder Jeffrey R. Holland at Brigham Young University Annual Conference.
Holland criticized a valedictorian who previously used his graduation speech to come out. Holland also suggested staff take up their intellectual “muskets” to fight back against LGBTQ advocacy. The speech led to criticism for its use of violent language.
Archuleta said he understood why many LGBTQ Mormons had felt “unseen” by Hollands words.
“I just wanted to show my love to you all,” Archuleta said, adding “We can love someone, and respect someone…I have love for [Holland] and I have love for everyone who felt they were unseen and felt hurt by some of the comments and how it’s been interpreted…”
He went on to say that he wanted to look at the positives and that Holland’s speech had prompted important conversations.
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Mister P
Run from that church and it’s made up stories.
GayEGO
Right on! I was raised as a Mormon, knew I liked guys since I was a baby. I left the church as the only thing I learned from the church was that God gave us a brain and expects us to use it!
Donston
Growing up in a super religious environment and perhaps dealing with some mental health struggles or questioning or fluidity or contradictions or trying to understand where you are in the gender, sexual, romantic, emotional investment, commitment spectrum- I do sympathize with all of that. But I’m also leery. This feels like the type of person that is talking about their “pride” one week and then a couple years later are publicly saying some rather hateful, homophobic, gay shaming stuff. I hope I’m wrong. But do you.
ted
Your sky daddy said what to you? ?
Chrisk
Oh lord. I got half way and couldn’t hold back my gagging at all the religious babbling so I had to stop.
I know that mommy and daddies acceptance is important to you and it’s hard when you’ve been brainwashed most of your life. You’re never going to change them from within. Much like Log Cabin Republicans think they can change the Republican Party. All I can say is get away from the loons and you’ll be much happier.
odowd4sure
Amen to that. Give him a little time, he will be switching his stance and move onto something else i.e. Demi Lovato.
Jim
If he wants to say god spoke to him so what? He’s probably doing a lot of gay mormons good.
Prinny
That’s a oxymoron and you know it
WillParkinson
Prinny,
I think you mean it’s an OxyMormon.
Cam
“”Archuleta said he understood why many LGBTQ Mormons had felt “unseen” by Hollands words.””
He’s still towing the cult’s line.
No, they didn’t feel “unseen”, they felt attacked by that bigot.
Prinny
A sad self hating case
ScottOnEarth
Sorry, but who cares?
rickywintour
You do since you took the time to comment idiot.
ScottOnEarth
rickywintour: Um, not really…and are people still using that tired retort from the dark ages? One doesn’t have to care about something to be annoyed by it. I’m sure your mom could tell you about that.
barryaksarben
Ricks response may be tired and from the dark ages ( liek you) but it is still valid . If you truly didnt care you would not comment
WillParkinson
Pretty sure ‘Sorry, who cares?’ has been around longer than the dark ages. If you truly didn’t care, you wouldn’t have bothered to even look at the article, thus saving your annoyance.
Cam
@ScottOnEarth
You cared enough to not only read it and comment, but to then come back an hour later, check to see if anybody responded to your comment, and commented again.
Nice try.
Jere
I wish he’d elaborated on what his plans were regarding LGBTQ rights advocacy. Does he mean within his church? If so, that’s great, but my understanding is that the Mormons will only tolerate gays as long as they sit down and shut up about it and otherwise follow church teachings. Archuleta seems to be doing the second part of that, but, if he wants to be an advocate, within the church or otherwise, he’s going to have to rock a few boats and that means he’s going to risk ex-communication, which is pretty serious for someone as religious as he is. Of course, being ex-communicated might be the best thing that ever happened to him. In any case, his music career is likely over, not because he’s gay, but because he’s largely been forgotten by the general public.
spacecadet
Why would his music career be over? If anything, all of the attention he’s received in the media lately has reminded me that he’s still around. I’ve checked out his recent musical output and it’s quite good and he’s still got a great voice. When he goes on tour again I would love to go see him perform live.
winemaker
The church of latter day saints, aka mormon is nothing but a huge cult. It’s not a true Christian church like the Catholic or Protestant denominations as it isn’t a reform church, meaning it didn’t come about due to the Protestant Reformation. How anyone with at least half a brain much less than someone who’s gay could belong to this cult baffles me and I’m sure thousands of others. And who really cares much gives a rats ripe ass about this guy and his drama, move on.
rickywintour
You wrote a whole paragraph so obviously you care very much you old dried up Queen. Now go do something productive instead of being bitter and hateful punk.
Chrisk
rickywintour
Calling others old queens is such a gay insult. I guess to a closet case being gay and old is the worst thing you can be.
I do agree that it sounds like you’d know something about being angry and bitter since you sound like you are as well.
ShiningSex
ALL RELIGION IS STUPID. HE’S ANNOYING.
Cam
Actually it is exactly like a Christian Church now. Because all that is needed for a church to be considered Christian is apparently for it to be bigoted and hate LGBTQ people.
So the Mormon church more than qualifies.
SELA Rising
Anytime someone talks about hearing gods voice talking to them i replace it with “santas” voice or “thors” voice talking to them, and then i know they are definitely crazy. Ain’t no one talking to you but yourself. Anyhow, this is sad. Its like Jews for hitler or Roaches for Raid. You are supporting those who seek to suppress/exterminate you. Poor guy.
Mack
Perhaps the Church of Morons have put devices in the homes and when you pray they tell you what to do. Hey, don’t put anything pass a religious freak.
mz.sam
Being a brainwashed Mormon since childhood David is a lost cause and at best he stays in his religious closet. A devout Mormon friend I know tried coming thoughout his life but his delusional religious convictions keep pushing him back in the closet until he convinced himself he’s happiest being married to a fellow devout woman.
Donston
Honestly, that might have been the best route for your friend to go. If you can’t separate yourself from religious doctrine, can’t rid yourself of religious guilt, can’t rid yourself from fear of being ostracized, can’t snuff out internalized phobias and queer insecurities and gay shame, can’t snuff out the idea that same-sex love/relationships/commitments are lesser than… then hetero commitment is probably the best option for you. Also, the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, relationship/commitment spectrum is wide and varied. While upbringing/religion/ego is always gonna have an affect on that spectrum. Whatever path David goes down is the path he goes down. I just hope he’s not looking for “queers” to make him relevant again. And hopefully, he won’t be spewing homophobic or anti-gay diatribe a few years from now.
cuteguy
Coming from a recovering Catholic myself, once you separate God from church aka cult, you will live a much happier and fulfilled life. God is love. Church cults are hate. Know the difference
ShiningSex
NO, IT WAS HIS BOMBED CAREER THAT DID IT.
HE DENIED IT OVER AND OVER WHEN ANYONE/EVERYONE COULD SEE THIS. GO AWAY LOSER!
MORE RESPECT TO THOSE THAT DON’T DENY WHEN IT’S SO OBVIOUS.
MynameisSid
I’ve cried my eyes out many times watching “latter days” and wondering how someone can reconcile the treatment of that young man with being what a loving God would believe. I know it’s a movie, but damn, so brutal. I’m not religious, but I pray, and I pray that this young man doesn’t spend his life feeling tortured simply for being himself.
Liquid Silver
Dude, I’d get checked for that schizophrenia. Or whatever, I’m not a doctor, but you got something goin’ on there.
Joshooeerr
Gays who can “reconcile” their faith with their sexuality are part of the problem. The church still thinks you’re disordered and sinful. The Church will still oppose your rights at every opportunity. The Church will still promote hate and remain the major barrier to you being accepted by others. The Church still shows no signs of actually changing, even if – like the pope – they sometimes make public statements about acceptance that create the illusion of moving forward. It is just that: an illusion, generally based on the desperate need to retain followers (and cash flow). In short, the Church is evil and massively hypocritical. And I don’t care which Church you belong to; they are all the same. Yes, even those happy-clappy “diverse” churches full of disaffected gay, trans and non-binary worshippers with a fun, charismatic trans minister, who used to be a minister of the opposite sex. You’re kidding yourself if you think otherwise. And you’re perpetuating the negative attitudes that affect us all.
Fahd
He’s trying to walk a tightrope, but the elders are just going to cut the rope. I don’t think one can be an out gay person and be a member in good standing of the Mormon religion – I never heard of an openly gay person having a temple recommend or whatever they call it.
Imo, his only chance at happiness involves taking the difficult step of starting a life outside the church – I’m sure it’s especially difficult for a Mormon because it is so cultish with everyone you know and everything you do being Mormon, but others have done it and he can. I’m sure there are even ex-Mormon gays who could help.
Mormonism, always on the wrong side of history!
BoomerMyles
He still sounds pretty fucjed up snd will need LOTS of therapy (or s hot 6’2″ 24 year old to set him right).
Jack
I’ll never, ever, ever get Mormonism. I had a gay Mormon friend who went to church every Sunday and was forced to sit in the last pew like a leper. He was as resentful AF and still went every week. It’s the QANON of Christianity.