# Elizabeth Smart's father comes out as gay **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762 "2019-08-16T19:43:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/1 "2019-08-16T19:43:19Z")
Maybe he figures now he’s old enough that this news won’t impact his kids much since they are grown. > **[Ed Smart, father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, comes out as gay](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/16/ed-smart-elizabeth-smart-father-comes-out-gay-announces-divorce/2027981001/)** > > Ed Smart, the father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, came out as gay in a Facebook post Thursday and said he and his wife are separating. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/2 "2019-08-16T20:13:19Z")
Must be a slow news day. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/3 "2019-08-16T20:20:28Z")
Why is this even noteworthy? The Smart family has been out of the news for what, over a decade? There are millions of other gay folks in the country who are just as notable. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/4 "2019-08-16T20:30:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Why is this even noteworthy? The Smart family has been out of the news for what, over a decade? There are millions of other gay folks in the country who are just as notable. Because the family is Mormon. Mormons are against same sex marriage, and refer to gay Mormons as apostates. When Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped, there was speculation by some that her Mormon upbringing made her easier to control by her captors. Strict Mormon women are indoctrinated to be submissive to men. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/5 "2019-08-16T20:37:40Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Because the family is Mormon. Mormons are against same sex marriage, and refer to gay Mormons as apostates. > . Apparently, on further reading of the article, the Mormon Church no longer shuns gay members as apostates in a surprise reversal. They still are against marriage equality though. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/6 "2019-08-16T20:51:04Z")
But still, so what if he’s gay? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/7 "2019-08-16T20:56:05Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > … Strict Mormon women are indoctrinated to be submissive to men. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/8 "2019-08-16T21:10:09Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Cite? [This article contains elements of the polygamy/submission argument.](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/nov/16/elizabeth-smart-brian-mitchell-utah) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/9 "2019-08-16T21:13:43Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Cite? Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/10 "2019-08-16T21:13:51Z")
Perhaps Mr. Smart can form his own LDS church that embraces both the old ways, and the new. “I now pronounce you husband and husband and husband and husband…” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/11 "2019-08-16T21:21:28Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Cite? Do you actually need a cite that the Mormon church is patriarchal? Is that truly what you’re asking here? As for the article, I’m saddened that this is news in any way, both because of the non-importance and because it brings a painful personal issue, separation, out for public review and comment. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/12 "2019-08-16T21:24:26Z")
I think most 14 year old girls are going to be submissive especially when kidnapped and raped daily. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/13 "2019-08-16T21:35:22Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Do you actually need a cite that the Mormon church is patriarchal? Is that truly what you’re asking here? … No, I’m asking for a cite for “Strict Mormon women are indoctrinated to be submissive to men.” ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/14 "2019-08-16T21:38:09Z")
I’ll let others participate in the hijack if they want. I’m not playing. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/15 "2019-08-16T22:56:06Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps Mr. Smart can form his own LDS church that embraces both the old ways, and the new. > > “I now pronounce you husband and husband and husband and husband…” > > Regards, > Shodan Now **that’s** funny. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/16 "2019-08-16T22:57:52Z")
Lots of people, myself included, said that he triggered their gaydar big time, but I for one felt it was NOMB and wouldn’t have been if I knew the family personally. I’ve heard so many stories about gay Mormon men that I sometimes wonder if the denomination has ANY straight men in it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/17 "2019-08-16T23:28:33Z")
I’ve known several gay men who were Mormon. I’ve also known gay men who were Hasidic Jews. And I’ve known gay men who were Catholic priests. This is hardly news. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/18 "2019-08-17T03:36:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve known several gay men who were Mormon. I’ve also known gay men who were Hasidic Jews. And I’ve known gay men who were Catholic priests. > > This is hardly news. My Lutheran pastor is not a woman, and has a husband anyway. People of all sexualities exist in all faiths. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/19 "2019-08-17T06:04:39Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > My Lutheran pastor is not a woman, and has a husband anyway. People of all sexualities exist in all faiths. Oh, _especially_ Lutheran pastors! ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762/20 "2019-08-17T06:06:18Z")
It’s only not newsworthy for people who don’t understand Mormonism and Mormon culture. For those of us who were part of that culture, it is of interest. To understand the significance of the story, you need to appreciate several things. First, being gay as a Mormon is still a big deal. Most gays who are active are closeted. There are very, very few active gays. Despite the church backing off slightly from the Draconian measured which they implemented after gay marriage was legalized, but it still is a homophobic religion. There is a disconnect among some of the members as some of them are starting to question if there should be such discrimination against people from the LBGT community. My best friend from high school is now a bishop, the lay leader of a congregation, and has expressed liberal views on the subject, but he is still a minority. Smart feels that there is no place for him in the Mormon faith, and I have to agree with him. Far too many closed minded bigots. Leaving the faith is a huge deal for most people, far more so than for most of the lapsed Catholics, for example. Families are torn apart, and people are shunned. When I told my mother about my leaving the church, she equated the severity of that action to my older brother who raped me, our younger brother and other boys. Some of my friends told me that I had died a spiritual death. Smith leaving the faith is not a trivial matter. It’s newsworthy in Utah because of who Smart is. He is not simply the father of Elizabeth Smart, but a member of one of the “Mormon Royalty;” prominent members of the insular community. The Smarts are part of this elite group so a member of the Royalty leaving the church is news for the Mormon community. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay/838762.md?page=2)