Mormon county commissioner in Utah comes out as gay

Republican lawmaker Nathan Ivie says it took him more than 20 years to come to terms with his identity.

But on Wednesday morning the 40-year-old Utah County commissioner sat in front of his computer and publicly shared the secret that has caused him pain and confusion since he was nine years old: He is gay.

In a video posted to Facebook that has since been viewed more than 4,000 times, Ivie embraces his sexual orientation and recounts the difficult experience of growing up feeling at odds "spiritually and biologically." Ivie is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but he declined to comment on his faith. The Utah-based faith strictly opposes gay marriage and still considers same-sex relationships to be a serious transgression.

Many residents of Utah County, which is south of Salt Lake City and includes the church-owned Brigham Young University, are members of the church.

Read more: https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2019/05/23/mormon-county-commissioner-utah-coming-out-gay/1207919001/