In his solo debut single, out singer
Tyler Glenn criticizes a Mormon Church policy that targets gays and
their children.
In the video for Trash, Glenn,
frontman for the Utah-based alternative rock band Neon Trees, sings,
“One man's trash is another man's treasure,” surrounded by
altered portraits of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Mormon Church last year said that
it considers gay married Mormons apostates, which could lead to
excommunication, and barred the children of parents in gay
relationships from joining the Mormon Church until they turn 18, and
then only if they disavow same-sex relationships.
Glenn, who came out with the tweet, “I
am a happy and healthy Mormon gay pop star,” told Rolling
Stone that the policy was a turning point for him.
“My entire life and perspective on
God, the afterlife, morals and values, my self-worth and my born
sexual orientation has been wired within the framework of this
religion that doesn't have a place for me,” Glenn said. “I
served [this church]. I was the square peg trying to fit into the
round hole. I believed it still six months ago.”
“I always tried to make being gay and
being Mormon work.”
“The big problem here is that they
claim it's the only truth. There have been over 40 suicides within
the church as a result of this policy. These aren't just grown men
and women. Many are children. It's backwards. It's not of God. I
needed to make this statement to artfully show the pain of a faith
crisis and the darkness of doubt, but also that there's ways to
reclaim what is yours,” Glenn added.