VIDEO ‘My Husband’s Not Gay’ TLC special features married gay Mormon men who are not gay

TLC has just announced that in January they will be airing the special My Husband’s Not Gay documenting the lives of four openly gay Mormon men (three married, one single) who choose to ignore their sexual preferences in order to marry women and raise families according to the Mormon Church’s teachings.

According to The Wrap, the cast includes married couples Curtis and Tera, Jeff and Tanya, and Pret and Megan as well as Tom, a 35-year-old bachelor who is looking to settle for, and settle down with, a nice Mormon woman.

“I get a little defensive when somebody calls my husband gay,” one wife says in the preview trailer. “I like to say I’ve chosen an alternative to an alternative lifestyle,” single Tom says before offering up this non-clarifying clarification: “I’m interested in men, I’m just not interested in MEN.”

Here’s the My Husband’s Not Gay preview trailer:

And here are some quotes in chronological order, starting with the clip’s text intro:

“In Salt Lake City, Utah there is a group of Mormons who live their lives a little differently…”

Husband: “We do love each other very much. We’re best friends.”

Wife’s response: “I wouldn’t change anything about it.”

Husband: “There’s no marriage that is perfect. Ours isn’t, but with our faith in God, we believe we can overcome anything.”

Tom: “I like to say I’ve chosen an alternative to an alternative lifestyle.”

Husband: “I’m attracted to my wife for sure, and I’m definitely attracted to men, too.”

Tom: “I’m interested in men, I’m just not interested in MEN.”

Wife: “I get a little defensive when somebody calls my husband gay.”

Tom: “I want to marry a woman, but I don’t know how to work out these feelings.”

* NOTE: The rainbow flag TLC logo was added by us.

I assume this special was inspired by the openly gay and married Mormon blogger Josh Weed who made national headlines a couple of years ago with his seemingly contradictory story:

Josh recently announced he plans to release a memoir.

My Husband’s Not Gay will air Sunday, January 11 at 10/9c on TLC. It is produced by Hot Snakes Media, who worked with TLC on previous shows like Breaking Amish and Escaping Alaska as well as their other Mormon-themed endeavor, Breaking the Faith. I assume this special is, pardon the seemingly appropriate expression, a backdoor pilot, and if the response is positive enough we may see it get a full-season order. Of course, being TLC and given that the concept already revolves around the Mormon faith, perhaps we could see another polygamist family wrestling with the same issues called Our Husband’s Not Gay? 😉

UPDATE – Here is the full My Husband’s Not Gay press release from TLC with more information on the couples:

NEW TLC SPECIAL “MY HUSBAND’S NOT GAY” EXPLORES UNCONVENTIONAL MORMON MARRIAGES

In Salt Lake City, UT, there are some Mormons who live their lives… a little differently. There are some men who are happily married and attracted to their wives, but they are also attracted to other men. They refer to it as Same Sex Attraction… not gay, SSA.

In the new TLC special MY HUSBAND’S NOT GAY – airing January 11 at 10/9c – these couples share the challenges they face every day and explain why they have decided to live the way they do, and explore how these wives endure this unusual facet in their relationships as they strive to make their marriages work.

As these couples – all friends – navigate their unconventional relationships, their single friend is ultimately looking for a wife but is also attracted to men. And when he goes on a blind date with an unsuspecting woman, he must decide whether or not to reveal his big secret.

Meet the people of MY HUSBAND’S NOT GAY:

Jeff & Tanya
Jeff was born and raised in Salt Lake City, while Tanya grew up in Wyoming. They were introduced on a blind date, 13 years ago. They have been married for 10 years and have one 6-year-old son. Jeff and Tanya are both committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe that the way to a happy marriage is through honest communication, experiencing new things together and working together on fun projects.

Pret & Megan
Pret and Megan met in Sunday School, 17 years ago. It took them a few rounds of dating before they realized they really DID want to be together. They now reside in a suburb of Salt Lake City, UT, have been married for almost 9 years, and have two daughters: a three year old and a newborn. They are both life-long Mormons and active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Curtis & Tera
Curtis and Tera both grew up in Salt Lake City, UT and met on the first day of high school. They have been married for 20 years and have four children. Together they love traveling abroad and seeing how other cultures interact. As lifelong members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, faith and family are extremely important to them. They support and encourage each other in their marriage and love spending time together.

Tom
At 35 years old, Tom is the single one in the group. He was raised in Idaho where he grew up camping, fishing and playing baseball and basketball. He has always been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and now lives in Salt Lake City, UT where he is a teacher, coach, and mentor. He loves encouraging and inspiring youth. Tom also enjoys watching sports and movies with friends, and eating great food.

MY HUSBAND’S NOT GAY is produced for TLC by Hot Snakes Media.