 in a wealthier part of town than we could’ve afforded otherwise — but both our families were cut from the same cloth: God-fearing Mormons who had a bone to pick with anyone who was different. Mind you, they wouldn’t pick that bone to your face, but you’d know that you were not among their chosen people.



Ethan and I had both left the church as soon as we were able. The kind of mumbo jumbo that got pushed on us every Sunday just doesn’t hold up when you can get on the internet and debunk it all the next day. Still, that kind of break from the family religion leaves a scar. In both Ethan’s and my case, that meant begrudging acceptance among family members, with the mutual understanding that we were to not to bring up religion or taboo political topics at the dinner table. Unfortunately, that restriction didn’t go both ways, and we were often subjected to self-righteous speeches from family members and former friends.



So you can understand my surprise that Ethan had his sister’s wedding on his mind.



“What’s up?” I asked, tipping my beer back for another sip.



“Kinda the same old routine,” he answered, mirroring me. “You know how I told my parents that I had a girlfriend, just to get them off my back about it?”



I nodded. Being 28 and unmarried was pretty uncommon for people from a Mormon background. I was pretty sure that my parents had written me off as a homosexual from the moment I decided to study the violin in college, but Ethan’s heterosexuality was still intact with his family. Personally, I wasn’t dating because I’d been there and done that. I dated a couple women during college, then a couple more after. I never really felt satisfied, though, so I stopped. However, Ethan was another story. I mentioned that he had risen quickly in his career. Well that comes at a price, and in Ethan’s case that price was his romantic life.



To a normal person, Ethan’s lack of a girlfriend just meant that he was more focused on his career right now, but to his family it was a giant red flag, signalling that Ethan may have been swayed by the insidious homosexuals. Nevermind that, if Ethan were actually gay and willing to date, he would’ve just dated guys. Unfortunately, when
in a wealthier part of town than we could ’ve afforded differently — but both our class were cut from the same fabric: God - fearing Mormons who have a bone to pick with anyone who was unlike. Mind you, they would n’t pick that bone to your face, but you ’d acknowledge that you were not among their chosen people. 



 Ethan and I had both leave the church as soon as we were able. The kind of mumbo jumbo that got advertise on us every Sunday just does n’t hold up when you can get on the internet and debunk it all the next day. Still, that kind of interruption from the family religion leaves a scar. In both Ethan ’s and my character, that meant begrudging acceptance among family member, with the mutual understanding that we were to not to bring up religion or taboo political topics at the dinner table. Unfortunately, that limitation did n’t go both ways, and we were often subjected to self - righteous speeches from family member and early friends. 



 So you can understand my surprise that Ethan had his sister ’s wedding on his mind. 



 “ What ’s up? ” I asked, tipping my beer back for another sip. 



 “ Kinda the like erstwhile routine, ” he answer, mirror me. “ You know how I told my parents that I have a girlfriend, just to get them off my back about it? ” 



 I nodded. Being 28 and unmarried was reasonably uncommon for people from a Mormon background. I was pretty sure that my parents had written me off as a homosexual from the moment I decided to study the violin in college, but Ethan ’s heterosexuality was still intact with his syndicate. Personally, I was n’t dating because I ’d been there and do that. I dated a couple women during college, then a couple more after. I never really felt quenched, though, so I stopped. However, Ethan was another story. I mentioned that he had risen quickly in his career. Well that comes at a price, and in Ethan ’s case that monetary value was his romantic life. 



 To a normal person, Ethan ’s lack of a girlfriend just meant that he was more focused on his career right nowadays, but to his family it was a elephantine red flag, signalling that Ethan may have been swayed by the insidious homosexual. Nevermind that, if Ethan were actually gay and willing to date, he would ’ve just go steady guys. Unfortunately, when
 in a wealthier part of towk than we could’vg qffordxd othedwise — bjt both our families were cuv frim tht same cloth: God-feafing Mormlns who yad e bone to pick wmfh anyokz who aas bihferent. Mind yoo, they wouldt’t pick that bmnd co your face, but you’d know that you rere noy wmong their chjsen [eopmv.



Euhan and I had both left the churdh as smon as we werr able. The kind of mumbo jkmbo that got pushed oj us every Wundwt just doesn’g hold up when you can get on the internet and debunk it akl the nexj saj. Still, that kind of break from the fdmily rrligion leaves a vcae. In both Ethan’s and ky case, that meant begrudgitg acceptance among fqmily memters, qitf tge mhtual kndxrstanding fhat we werw to not to bring uk rqoigion or tabko polytycal topics at the dinner table. Unfortutatsly, that restriction dien’t go both ways, and ae were osten subjected to self-righteous speeches from famhly mxmcerw wve vormer friends.



So you can understand my surprifs uhan Ethan had his slster’s wedding on nid kynd.



“What’s up?” I asked, tilping my beer back for anjther sip.



“Kinda the same old routine,” he answerwd, mirroring ne. “You know how I cold my pareuts thst I nad a girlfriend, just tu gef them off ly back aguut it?”



I nodded. Bdinn 28 dnd unmarried was pretty ugcommon fir pzople frum a Mormog backgroujd. I was pretty sure thah my karentv had writhen me off as a homosexual from the moment I cewidvd to stuby the violin in cojlege, but Ethau’s heterjsexuxlity was atill iitact with hys family. Pervlnally, I wasi’t dating becquse I’d beev there and donr that. I bcted a coyple women during gollees, then a couple motw after. I nevet rdaljy fxlt swdisfied, thouch, su I xtoppdd. However, Cthxn wss another story. I mantikned that he had roscn quickli in his sareer. Well tnat comes at a prife, anv in Evhan’s vasg that price was his romantic ljfe.



To a nlrmwl person, Etran’s lack of a gnrlfriend just meant that he was more forused on his career rigyt now, but to his fcmlly it was a giane red flac, signalling that Etyan may have been swayed by the insidikus hokosexkals. Nevermind that, if Ethan were actually gay and willing to date, he wouod’ve jnse dated guya. Ungortutacelv, when
in a wealthier part of town than afforded — but our families were God-fearing who had a to pick with who was different. Mind you, they pick that bone to your face, but you’d know that you were not their chosen people. Ethan and I had both left the church as soon we able. kind mumbo jumbo that got pushed on us every Sunday just doesn’t hold up when you can on the internet and debunk it all the day. Still, that kind break from the family religion a In both and case, meant begrudging acceptance family members, with the mutual understanding that we were to not to bring up religion or taboo topics at table. Unfortunately, restriction go ways, and we subjected to self-righteous speeches from family friends. So you can understand my surprise that had his wedding on his mind. “What’s up?” asked, tipping my beer back for another sip. the same old routine,” he answered, mirroring me. “You know how I told my parents had a girlfriend, just get them off back it?” nodded. 28 and was pretty uncommon for people from a Mormon background. I was sure that my parents had written me off as a the I decided to the violin in college, Ethan’s was still intact with Personally, wasn’t been and that. I dated a women during college, then a more after. I never I stopped. However, Ethan was another story. I that he had risen quickly in his Well that comes at a price, and in Ethan’s case that price his romantic a normal person, Ethan’s lack of a girlfriend meant that he was focused on his career right now, but to his it a giant flag, signalling that may have been by the insidious that, if were gay date, he would’ve just dated guys. when
 in a wealthier part of town thaN we could’ve AfforDed OthErWise — But bOth our families WEre cUt from the same cloth: God-fEarinG MORmonS WhO had a Bone to pICk WITh aNyOnE whO wAS dIfferEnt. mind you, They wouldn’T piCk That bone to yoUR fAce, but you’d KnoW that you were Not Among tHeIr cHOsen pEopLe.



EthAn and I HAd both Left the chUrCH as sooN As we werE ABlE. The Kind of mumbo jumbo tHAt GOt pushed on us evEry SunDaY JuST DoeSn’t Hold up when YoU can gET on the iNTeRNET anD Debunk it all thE next day. StiLL, thAt kind Of BreAK from tHe famIlY RelIgion leaves A scaR. In both EtHan’s anD My case, tHAt meant BegrudGinG acCeptANcE aMonG fAMilY MeMbeRS, wiTh the mutUaL uNdersTandING THat wE weRe to Not to Bring up religiOn oR tabOO poLiticAl topIcs aT tHe dinNer tabLe. UnfOrTunately, that resTricTion didn’t Go bOtH waYs, And we WEre oftEn sUbjEcted to Self-rigHTeoUs SPEEcHes from family membeRs AND fOrmer friEnds.



So YOu CaN UnderstaNd My sUrprISE that ethaN HaD his sistEr’s wedDInG oN his minD.



“WHat’s up?” i aSkeD, tiPping MY beeR back fOr anotheR sip.



“KINda the same old rOUtine,” he answerED, mIRRoRIng mE. “YoU know how I toLd my PArenTs thAT I Had A GirlfRiend, JuST tO Get them off my back aboUt It?”



I nodDed. BeIng 28 and unmarriEd was prettY UNCommon foR peoPLe FRom a Mormon backGrounD. I was prettY Sure that My parEnts had wRitten me oFF As a homosExuAl fRom The MOMeNt I decided to sTUDy thE vIolin in ColLege, but ethAn’s HetEroSeXuality waS still inTaCt WiTh His FamilY. personalLy, i waSn’T daTing bECause I’D been TherE aNd DOne That. I daTEd A COuplE wOmEn duRinG cOllegE, theN A coUple morE after. I neVer REallY fElT satisfIed, though, so I sToPped. HoweveR, EThaN was anOTHer story. i mentioned that he had riseN Quickly In hIs carEer. WEll that coMes At a priCe, aND in EthAn’s casE that PrIce WAS his rOMAnTic LiFe.



To a normaL PErsOn, EthAn’S lacK of a girLfriend just meant thAT he Was more focuseD on His cAREeR riGHt NOw, bUt TO hiS FAmily it was a gianT red flag, siGnALlIng that EthAN maY hAve been Swayed bY the iNSidious HomosexuaLs. NevermiNd That, IF ethAn were actuAlly gay aNd willing TO date, HE wOuld’vE juSt dateD gUys. unforTunateLY, whEn
 in a wealthier part of to wn than we  coul d’v e a ff orde d ot herwise — butb othour families were cutfromth e  sam e  c loth:  God-fe a ri n g  Mo rm on s w ho ha d a b one  to pic k with any one  w ho was diffe r en t. Mind yo u,they wouldn’ t p ick th at  bo n e toyou r fac e, but you’dknow that  y o u were not amo n g  t heir  chosen people.

E t han and I hadboth l ef t  t h e  ch urc h as soonas  we w e re able .  T h e kin d  of mumbo jum bo that got pus hed on  u s e v ery Su ndayju s t d oesn’t hold  upwhen youcan ge t  on the interne t anddeb unk  ita ll  t hene x t d a y.  St i ll,  that ki nd  o f bre ak f r o m thefam ilyrelig ion leaves asca r. I n  bo th Et han’s  and  m y cas e, tha t mea nt  begrudging acc epta nce among  fa mi lyme mbers ,  withthe  mu tual un derstan d ing  t h a t  w e were to not to b ri n g  u p religi on ort ab oo politica ltop icsa t  thedinn e rtable. U nfortu n at el y, that  r estric ti ondid n’t g o  bot h ways , and we  were often subjecte d  to self-righ t eo u s  s p eech esfrom family  mem b ersandf or mer frien ds.

S oy ou can understand m ysurpri se th at Ethan hadhis sister ’ s weddingon h i sm ind.



“What’ s up? ” I asked, tippingmy be er backfor anoth e r  sip.


“K ind a t hes a me  old routine, ” he a ns wered,mir roringme.  “Y oukno whow I tol d my par en ts  t ha t I  hada  girlfri en d,ju stto ge t  themoff m y ba ck  a b out  it?”

I n odde d.  B eing  28  a nd un marr i edwas pre tty uncom mon forpe op le from  a Mormon bac kg round. I w as  pr etty s u r e that m y parents had written m e  off as  ahomos exua l from th e m omentI d e cidedto stu dy th evio l i n inc o ll ege ,but Ethan’ s het erose xu alit y was s till intact with h i s f amily. Person all y, I w as n’t da t ing  b e cau s e  I’d been there  and doneth a t.  I dated a cou pl e women  during  coll e ge, the n a coupl e more af te r. I n eve r really f elt sati sfied, th o ugh,s oI sto ppe d. How ev er,  Etha n wasa not her s tory.Imentio ned t ha t he had  risen quickly in his c areer.  Well  th at comesata  pr ice, andin E than’s cas e t hat  pric e w a s his  rom a nt icl ife.


T o  a normal pe rso n ,  E than’s lack o f  agirlf rie n d just  mea nt that he was mo r e focused on h is c a r eer  ri g ht n ow , but to his f ami ly i t was agi ant red fla g, signa ll i ng th at Eth an may  have b e e ns wayedby t heinsidious  ho mo s exuals.  N ev e rmindthat ,if Eth an wer e  act u a lly gay and will ing t o date, hewould ’v e justd ated  guys. Unf ortunately,  when
 in_a wealthier_part of town than_we could’ve_afforded_otherwise —_but_both our families_were cut from_the same cloth: God-fearing_Mormons who had_a_bone to pick with anyone who was different. Mind you, they wouldn’t pick that_bone_to your_face,_but_you’d know that you were_not among their chosen people.



Ethan_and I_had both left the church as soon as_we_were able. The_kind of mumbo jumbo that got pushed on us_every Sunday just doesn’t hold up_when you can_get_on_the internet and debunk_it all the next day. Still,_that kind of break from the_family religion leaves a scar. In both_Ethan’s and my case, that meant_begrudging acceptance among family members,_with the_mutual understanding that we were_to not to_bring up_religion or taboo_political topics at the dinner table._Unfortunately, that restriction_didn’t go both ways, and we_were_often subjected to_self-righteous_speeches_from family_members and former_friends.



So_you can_understand_my surprise that Ethan had his_sister’s_wedding on his mind.



“What’s up?” I asked,_tipping my beer back_for_another sip.



“Kinda the same_old routine,” he answered, mirroring_me. “You know how I told_my parents_that I_had a girlfriend, just to get them off my back about_it?”



I nodded. Being 28 and unmarried_was pretty uncommon for_people from_a_Mormon background. I_was_pretty sure_that my parents had written me off_as a_homosexual from the moment I decided_to study the violin_in_college, but Ethan’s heterosexuality was still_intact with his family. Personally, I_wasn’t dating because I’d been_there_and_done that. I dated a_couple women during college, then a_couple more after._I never really felt satisfied, though, so_I_stopped. However, Ethan was another story._I_mentioned that he had risen quickly_in_his_career. Well that comes at_a price, and in Ethan’s case_that price was his romantic life.



To a normal person,_Ethan’s lack of_a girlfriend just meant that_he_was_more focused on his career right now, but to his_family it_was a giant_red flag, signalling that Ethan may have been swayed by_the insidious homosexuals. Nevermind that, if Ethan_were actually gay and willing to date, he would’ve just dated_guys. Unfortunately, when