However, Nate was kind enough to let me "lay low" for about two weeks. We still emailed and spoke on Facebook. During that time, I started my BYU Freshman experience--as a 21 year-old.
Regardless of being in all classes with freshman, I had a good time. I met some nice people, but, none of them had my type of humor or attitude. I needed some good, solid, theatre friends to hang out with. But that's another story. Let's focus on the Utah Valley Moho Underground.
Nate and I decided to hang out again. He picked me up at my new apartment and we drove to his place. He lived in a new development near the edge of the mountain in Southern Provo. As we were pulling up, he said, "Now, Andy. I didn't tell you this before, but I live with 4 other gay Mormon guys. So...just don't get weirded out."
"Okay..." I said.
He put the car in park and turned it off. As I got out of the car, Nate headed to the front steps of the condo--where there were apparently 4 other gay people living there. I was shocked, to say the least. I thought that all gay Mormon boys were trying to live a nice, celibate lifestyle. I was sure that to live with other gay people would spell trouble.
The condo was nice--very nice. Granite counter tops, vaulted ceilings, stainless steel appliances--and it was spotless. Of course 4 gay men lived here. It was meticulously decorated and smelled nice, too. Hmmm, I thought. Maybe this isn't so bad.
Nate showed me around the house and showed me his bedroom, which he shared with Brian*. Brian seemed like a nice guy.
He then showed me the living room. As I turned the corner, there sat the poster child of same-gender attraction for LDS men. It was Ty.
By this time, Brian and Nate were chatting it up about some new jean and looking through a magazine of GQ. Nate seemed like he was ignoring me. So, I sat down on the couch opposite Ty. He was watching Animal Planet. "So...." I said, occasionally glancing back at Nate and Brian. "Do you live here, too?"
Ty laughed. "No, but I own the place. I'm down here for a conference."
"Oh, cool." I said, looking at the ground.
"How do you know Nate?" He asked.
"Um, we met online about two years ago on the message board for LDS SSA guys. I just got back home from my mission. We were in pretty good contact even though I was halfway across the world."
He wryly smiled. "Cool."
By this time, I could tell that Ty was more interested in the plants and animals on the screen, so I got up and went back to the kitchen where Nate and Brian and proceeded to find toy Nerf guns and start shooting them at one another.
I tried to join in, but...I was still trying to put together all the information of gay LDS guys living together that, and I wasn't really having fun.
"DUCK!" Shouted Nate.
"Where?" I asked.
FWOOM! A Nerf bullet smacked me in the head.
"Oh, it's on!" I shouted.
~End Part Three
Not sure if I asked you this before, but I've heard that there are wards in Utah for gay folks?
ReplyDelete(Not sure if that was very pc, but I know you'll forgive me.) :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to comment. I haven't read your blog much since I'm in a much different place than you. I'm now a married MOHO but some things just don't change much.
ReplyDeleteI went back to BYU in 1983 a few years after my mission (I had gone there as a freshman). By the next year I was hanging out with 5 guys who were all gay (I can say that now instead of guys with SSA), and all returned missionaries. We hung out a lot. Went to movies, out to eat, and a few of us more daring went to the happening gay bar in Salt Lake. The same one where purportedly BYU would send people to write down license plate numbers of cars with BYU parking stickers, then have the owner of the car called in for Honor Code violations.
Before I graduated I lived in an apartment south of campus where all six of us were gay, and later lived exclusively with one that I became more than just a roommate to. Some of us got married. Some are in long term same sex relationships.
It's a whole story in itself why I came back to the church and then married. Was it the right choice? I'm not sure. I do know we have great kids and my wife is my best friend. She knew before we were married I was attracted to guys, but only recently have we really been dealing with the fact that I am gay.
By the way, cool name.
Why couldn't I have found that sort of apartment back in BYU days.....
ReplyDeleteWow, a bunch of mohos in a condo together without a shred of straight influence? Sounds like drama to me. I'm on the edge of my seat for the next installment. I can tell it's gonna get messy in the mohome...
ReplyDelete@ Becky--I've heard that too, but I have never been able to find one. I bet it's just an urban legend. I do know, however, that there are "mostly gay" wards in New York City where all the gay Mormon Broadway stars go to church--but--that's a given.
ReplyDelete@ Andy--no. You've got the cool name! Wow. You seem to have an interesting story. I'd love to hear more!
@ Joe--I know, right? There are many more "gay" apartments around. I don't live in one myself, but I wouldn't be put off by the idea.
@ Original--Thanks for the great comments! You'll just have to wait to read what happens next!