Jen and Julie Mason, 2016

File — Box: 1, Folder: 9

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Jenn Mason was born in England and raised in England in Scotland. In 1978, her father received a call to be a general authority for the LDS Church and so the family moved to America. Jenn describes growing up in a LDS household. She also talks about her struggles to reconcile her homosexuality with her family’s religious background. Jenn describes her experiences dealing with her siblings and her mother after coming out. After moving away from home, Jenn was involved in gay and lesbian youth groups and support groups in Salt Lake City, as well as the gay community generally. Some of the support the groups provided was for HIV/AIDS education. Later, after her father passed away and she moved in with her mother, she began to participate in the LDS Church more. Jenn talks about her experiences working at the Church Office Building, dealing with her bishop, and, finally, her decision to choose a relationship with Julie rather than a place in the LDS Church. She also explains that she perceives some differences in the way gay women are treated compared to the way gay men are treated by the LDS Church. Julie Mason was born and raised in Idaho. She moved to Utah in 1984. She talks about the ideas she had about homosexuality growing up and how those ideas evolved after meeting Jenn and her community in high school. Julie also participated in gay and lesbian youth groups and support groups with Jenn. Though Julie joined the LDS Church, she did so because of relationships she was in. She describes the evolution of her participation in LDS Church and her decision to eventually leave the religion and commit to a relationship with Jenn.
Interviewed by Chris Dunsmore.

Dates

2016

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.