The family of Elizabeth Smart was thrust into the spotlight when she was kidnapped in 2002. The Mormon family was relieved when she was returned to them in 2003. Now, her dad Ed has come out of the closet.
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Photo credit: teve C Wilson/AP/Shutterstock
“I remember at 12 [years old] realizing that I was different,” The 64-year-old told
RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
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Photo credit: Dan Callister/Shutterstock
“We moved from California to Salt Lake City, and if you crossed your legs the wrong way, or you held your hand or said a word or something, it was very difficult,” Ed remembered. “It was a challenge and I think that all children want to be accepted by their peers and fit in whether they’re gay or not. It was certainly totally unacceptable back then.”
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Photo credit: Ron Edmonds/AP/Shutterstock
Ed announced the news in a Facebook post that he intended to keep just for “family and friends.” But the news quickly spread.
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Photo credit: Douglas C Pizac/AP/Shutterstock
“I feel very relieved,” Ed said about coming out, despite the “shock” it gave his wife and children. “I think that there are so many like myself that have remained closeted for the better part of their lives and debate on whether or not it’s something that they want to do because it is so hard. It is so life-changing.”
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Photo credit: M Spencer Green/AP/Shutterstock
Growing up in the Mormon church made it particularly difficult for Ed to come out. “My whole life I have believed in what was taught to me through the church and that was that the feelings that I had were bad,” he said. “I suppressed that so deeply that I never ever wanted to identify as being gay. I know there are so many people out there that are in my same situation.”
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Photo credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock
Elizabeth was kidnapped at knifepoint from their Salt Lake City home in 2002. She was tortured and abused for nine months before being eventually rescued.
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Photo credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock
“I remember at 12 [years old] realizing that I was different,” The 64-year-old told
RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
Photo credit: teve C Wilson/AP/Shutterstock
“We moved from California to Salt Lake City, and if you crossed your legs the wrong way, or you held your hand or said a word or something, it was very difficult,” Ed remembered. “It was a challenge and I think that all children want to be accepted by their peers and fit in whether they’re gay or not. It was certainly totally unacceptable back then.”
Photo credit: Dan Callister/Shutterstock
Ed announced the news in a Facebook post that he intended to keep just for “family and friends.” But the news quickly spread.
Photo credit: Ron Edmonds/AP/Shutterstock
“I feel very relieved,” Ed said about coming out, despite the “shock” it gave his wife and children. “I think that there are so many like myself that have remained closeted for the better part of their lives and debate on whether or not it’s something that they want to do because it is so hard. It is so life-changing.”
Photo credit: Douglas C Pizac/AP/Shutterstock
Growing up in the Mormon church made it particularly difficult for Ed to come out. “My whole life I have believed in what was taught to me through the church and that was that the feelings that I had were bad,” he said. “I suppressed that so deeply that I never ever wanted to identify as being gay. I know there are so many people out there that are in my same situation.”
Photo credit: M Spencer Green/AP/Shutterstock
Elizabeth was kidnapped at knifepoint from their Salt Lake City home in 2002. She was tortured and abused for nine months before being eventually rescued.
Photo credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock
Photo credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock
