Charlie Bird became the viral face of BYU during his years as Cosmo the Cougar when made waves across the nation in February 2017 when he came out and revealed to BYU fans that he is gay.
Now in his book Without the Mask, Bird reflects on how his identity has strengthened his testimony and how he views his sexual orientation in conjunction with his faith in Jesus Christ.
Alternating between memoir and teaching chapters, Bird’s touching and authentic prose chronicles his decision to openly share that he is gay and to remain active in the faith. Highlighting the challenges Bird has faced along the way, the book also shares the blessings he’s learned to recognize through his sexual orientation. Charlie feels deeply the importance of maintaining a relationship with God and hopes this message will “spark healing, bridge gaps of understanding and inspire hope” for other LGBTQ readers and those who love them.
0:00- About Charlie Bird- early life, being the cougar mascot
6:01- Serving a mission; feeling different and his experience in the Church
18:34- Returning home from his mission; realizing he was still attracted to men
24:01- Mental health struggles and seeking help
30:30- Pride parade in Washington, D.C.; spiritual experiences
36:30- Being an openly gay senior at BYU; advocating for change and being fully himself
43:37- Life after BYU; the importance of personal revelation
50:15- Charlie Bird’s Book and Podcast (listed below)
57:08- Ending Questions
Without the Mask: Coming Out and Coming Into God’s Light by Charlie Bird
Charlie’s Podcast: “Questions for the Closet”
His Epic Cosmo performance:
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