#1003 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,7,8,9,10

I knew I was gay as early as I was 8. All I knew is that what I felt was wrong and evil. That was constantly reiterated at church for the next decade of my life. The amount of self loathing and shaming was crippling at times. No one knew. When I was 11, I…

#1002 Sarah V. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8

I was baptized at 8, like all the other kids who were raised in the church did. When I was 9 I was raped by my brother over the span of almost a year. My parent’s had caught him in the act and instead of involving law enforcement they just sat us down and told…

#998 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9. Other: ecclesiastical coercion to do harm to my congregation

I am one of the many men who was repeatedly sexually shamed in interviews. This line of specific and graphic sexual questioning took place since I was 12 years old and lasted until after my mission. I was grilled about it explicitly by bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, and young men’s leaders. Even now as…

#996 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

I had been molested by one of my brothers friends for several years between 11 & 14. This boy would sneak into my bedroom at night when he thought I was asleep. We finally moved and I felt it was something I needed to talk to someone about it but didn’t feel comfortable talking to…

#994 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,7

i was constantly asked as from 14-18 if I was masturbating by my ward leader; my bishop referred to it as, self abuse. I had struggled with that before, but had stopped. I felt ashamed for feeling uncomfortable discussing with my bishop, because it was basically understood at that time that I would be separated…