Michael Elliot Glatze (/ɡlæts/; born 1975)[1] was the co-founder of Young Gay America and a former advocate for gay rights. He subsequently renounced homosexuality and became a non-denominational Christian pastor.

Michael Glatze
Born
Michael Elliot Glatze

1975 (age 48–49)
Tacoma, Washington, United States

Biography

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Glatze was born in Tacoma, Washington. His mother was a non-denominational Christian and his father was agnostic.[2] His father died of a heart condition when Glatze was 13, and his mother died when he was 19.[3] Glatze earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College where he majored in English literature and creative writing, with a minor in music.[4]

While working at XY Magazine in San Francisco, Glatze met Benjie Nycum. Glatze and Nycum coauthored the book XY Survival Guide (2000).[5] They later co-founded their own magazine, Young Gay America.[6]

In 2003, Glatze starred in Jim in Bold, an LGBT-related film, with his then-partner Benjie.[7]

In 2005, Glatze was quoted by Time magazine saying "I don't think the gay movement understands the extent to which the next generation just wants to be normal kids. The people who are getting that are the Christian right."[6]

Glatze turned toward Christianity after a health scare due to palpitations.[1][8] Worried that he was affected by the same heart condition which claimed his father's life, he sought medical help. The palpitations turned out to be due to anemia, caused by celiac disease.[9] He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the first half of 2007[10] but left the church shortly thereafter.[1]

He has received media coverage in other publications and in the book 16 Amazing Stories of Divine Intervention as well as several blogs.[11]

In 2011, he began studying at a Bible college in Wyoming where he met Rebekah. He married her in 2013. [12]

Ministry

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After graduating, he became pastor of a small Presbyterian church in Yoder, Wyoming.[13] In June 2014, Glatze decided to end his affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA), due to the Church's decision to accept the blessing of same-sex marriages, and to become non-denominational Christian.[14][15][16][17]

His story is told in the 2015 indie film, I Am Michael starring James Franco and Zachary Quinto[18] and the short 2017 documentary Michael Lost and Found.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Denizet-Lewis, Benoit (June 19, 2011). "Going Straight". New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  2. ^ Nicolos, Joseph. Interview with Michael Glatze (PDF), retrieved 2008-09-23
  3. ^ "Leading Gay Rights Activist Comes Out of Homosexuality, Tells His Story", The Christian Post, July 5, 2007, archived from the original on 2012-07-23, retrieved 2023-03-12
  4. ^ Williams, Ken (May 22, 2015). "Stranger than Fiction". San Diego Uptown News. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Nycum, Benjie; Glatze, Michael (2000), XY Survival Guide, X Y Pub, ISBN 978-0-9703213-4-3
  6. ^ a b Cloud, John (October 2, 2005), "The Battle Over Gay Teens", Time Magazine, vol. 166, no. 15, pp. 42–8, 51, PMID 16250141, archived from the original on March 23, 2007, retrieved 2008-11-23
  7. ^ "Jim in Bold". IMDb.
  8. ^ Denizet-Lewis, Benoit (16 June 2011). "My Ex-Gay Friend". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Foucher, David (July 11, 2007), "My Ex-Gay Life :: Choosing Heterosexuality", Edge Boston, retrieved 2008-09-23
  10. ^ Throckmorton, Warren (July 4, 2007), Interview with Michael Glatze, archived from the original on March 18, 2009, retrieved 2008-11-23
  11. ^ Schindler, Paul (July 11, 2007), "The Life and Death of A Young Gay American", Gay City News, retrieved September 23, 2008
  12. ^ Jessica Martinez, Former Gay Activist Talks About His Heterosexual Marriage, Being a Pastor and Upcoming Movie Starring James Franco, christianpost.com, USA, May 15, 2014
  13. ^ Former Gay Activist Talks About His Heterosexual Marriage, Being a Pastor and Upcoming Movie Starring James Franco, The Christian Post, May 15, 2014
  14. ^ Shawn Akers, ‘I Am Michael’ Looks Beyond the Cultural Battle to the Heart, mycharisma.com, USA, February 10, 2015
  15. ^ Amanda Buckle, Who is Michael Glatze? The true story of the 'I Am Michael' movie, mic.com, USA, January 27, 2017
  16. ^ Ring, Trudy (4 February 2015). "'Ex-Gay' Subject of New Film Grateful to James Franco". The Advocate. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  17. ^ Denizet-Lewis, Benoit (16 June 2011). "My Ex-Gay Friend". New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  18. ^ Stern, Marlow. "Gay No More: The Story of Michael Glatze".
  19. ^ "Michael Lost and Found". imdb.com. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  20. ^ Daniel Wilner (27 May 2017). Michael Lost and Found (Motion picture). Yoder, Wyoming: Netflix. Retrieved 20 June 2017.