Overview
- New excerpts shared with People on Feb. 11 describe Archuleta scouting places to die as he struggled to reconcile his sexuality with his Mormon upbringing.
- He recalls finding a bridge he believed would be lethal and says fear of surviving and becoming paralyzed deterred an attempt.
- Archuleta writes that a prayerful experience led him to believe God affirmed that being gay was not a mistake and encouraged him to date men.
- He says years of efforts to change his orientation through missions, confession, multiple engagements, and therapy failed and deepened his despair.
- Archuleta publicly came out as queer in 2021 and left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about a year later, with fuller context to come in Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself.