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Long hallways and secret passages: queerness and religion in poetic form

ABSTRACT Through poetic inquiry, I retell Willow’s story, a self-identified “ex”-Mormon woman with a gay son whom she respects and loves more than anything in the world. Willow has left Mormonism by the wayside to offer her full love and support to her son. She credits her son with saving her from herself and lessening the hold religion had over her. In representing Willow’s story, I focused on how her life had transformed from devout Mormon to “ex”-Mormon after her teenage son came out as gay. While interviewing Willow, I was drawn into her world as storyteller. Interspersed throughout her story, I provide autoethnographic reflections on areas of my life that are visible in Willow’s story. In many ways, listening to Willow’s story helped me to work therapeutically through personal issues surrounding queerness and religion. It is my hope that others will see pieces of themselves in Willow’s story.