As a teenaged convert, Terell always had questions about the Church’s stance on members of African descent, particularly the priesthood ban. But he fell in love with the gospel, went to BYU, and served a mission in Brazil. After his mission, he tried to date women but was rejected multiple times because of his race. When one of his best friends came out to Terrell as gay, Terrell finally felt safe to contemplate his own intersectional identity as a gay, black Mormon.

Terrell sees many LGBTQ Mormons who feel torn between a life of celibacy or a life outside the Church. But Terrell finds balance by remaining active in the Church while also dating men. Because he hopes to marry someday, he doesn’t know if he will always be active in the Church, but he hopes his experiences may inspire others to change so that someday he can be both gay and active in the Church.