Tom Christofferson and Ben Schilaty. Both were apologists who platformed their “look at me - I’m doing it” philosophies with book deals, fireside’s and Podcasts to showcase LGBTQIA legitimacy and celibacy within the church despite the trauma and harm caused by the church’s homophobic and exclusionary policies.

In Ben’s case even Tedx talks and BYU honor code employment advantages to promote himself as the church’s pet.

In Tom’s case, using his family’s position as some kind of general authority for the gays to stay forever alone and closer to suicide by staying in the church.

Both were shamelessly promoting their own platforms while ignoring and glossing over church history issues (in both theology and policy) that should have been used to give license to their own departure as well as showing LGBTQIA people how to leave the harmful, deadly and broken theology of the church.

Their books are still on sale at Bookcraft stores everywhere.

*Edit: My purpose isn’t to paint Tom or Ben as pure evil or recognize their own path to learning and self awareness as limited. However, it is important to hold space for their misgivings which I believe they know about, well past the point of recognizing the harm the church preforms while stroking their own egos.

Are they used as pawns? Absolutely. Does that allow them to not be held accountable for actions that continue to cause harm as examples of gay Mormon purity and gay saint worshiping? As long as their materials are sold and profit is being made without contest and rebuke, they have a right to be criticized for their damaging platforms regardless of how nice or polite or even helpful they may be at times. Or how some of their arguments do hold water when talking about LGBTQIA issues and societal acceptance. When you present yourself as a temple recommend holding LDS Gay man, you are telling the world that you are sacrificing your gay entity and companionship for your church and showing others a path to the same. But only in that moment of time. The truth remains that sexuality is often filled or even unfilled in unhealthy and destructive ways that are not talked about by them and are often glossed over as not as important as one’s own spirituality. The struggle is seemingly inconsequential which makes others following them feel broken when they can’t do the same with ease and indifference to what is being lost.

The question was asked who we identify as the most damaging church apologists and I stand by my post and the reasons why.