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Tyler Glenn, the lead singer of Neon Trees, has come out as gay.
"I've always felt like I'm an open book, and yet obviously I haven't been completely."
Glenn says he's known he was gay since he was a young child, but kept his sexuality a secret until now because he is Mormon, and his faith’s belief that homosexuality is wrong, and can lead to excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he stayed closeted.
"I had my crushes on guys throughout high school, but it was never an overwhelming thing until my twenties. Then I'd be dating girls and in love with my straight friend and it was the worst feeling in the world.”
But, after realizing he was gay, and seeing how his own church spent some $22 million fighting same-sex marriage in California in 2008, he realized he needed to accept himself. It took a while, to be fair, but it’s a process, specially thinking your own family might disown you simply for being gay, but as more and more people come out, especially those sports stars and professional athletes, Glenn became inspired:
"I really love all of the sports figures that are coming out recently. I appreciated Michael Sam was like, 'I want to be able to go to the movies and hold hands with my boyfriend.' Even hearing him say 'boyfriend,' I was just like, that's cool."
In 2013, after coming out to friends and family, he began writing new music for Neon Trees’ newest album, Pop Psychology, many of which address his years in the closet. And now he might just be inspiring other young gay men and women, especially Mormon church members who are gay and closeted, to come out.
Welcome out, Tyler, and as out gift to you from HOMO HQ, please accept the Official Coming Out Toaster Oven as well as your own copy of The Gay Agenda.
Welcome out, Tyler, welcome out.
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via Rolling Stone
