An Interview with Ty Mansfield “Voice of Hope:…Same Gender Attraction… (Episode 22)

Summary: Ty Mansfield is a life-long member of the Church, served in the Manchester New Hampshire mission and graduated from BYU in Asian Studies and Business Management. His master’s- and doctoral-level education is in marriage and family therapy, and he currently works as a therapist in Lubbock, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Danielle, and their two kids. Well-acquainted with the dichotomy faced by Latter-day Saints who experience same-sex attraction, Ty chronicled his own spiritual journey as co-author with Fred and Marilyn Matis of In Quiet Desperation: Understanding The Challenge Of Same-gender Attraction, which includes a personal memoir of his spiritual journey as a member of the Church sorting through some of the conflicts often associated with this issue. He has also compiled Voices of Hope: Latter-Day Saint Perspectives on Same Gender Attraction- An Anthology of Gospel Teachings and Personal Essays, an anthology of gospel teachings by a number of prominent LDS inspirational writers, as well as a number of personal essays written by LDS men and women who have first-hand experience with homosexual attraction. In the May/June 2013 issue of LDS Living magazine, Ty and his wife were invited to share their story has the cover feature. Ty is a cofounder of the nonprofit organization North Star, a faith-affirming support organization for LDS individuals and families affected by homosexuality and who desire to live within the framework of the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. http://ldsvoicesofhope.org In this interview Kirk talks with Ty talks about his own spiritual path, labeling homosexuality, and how to stay in the church while being gay and Mormon.