Interview: EXJW Tells Experience of Being a Gay Jehovah's Witness 

Hey everyone, Peter here! I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Justin for this opportunity🙌 And thank you for all your lovely comments, they've made my day! I'm extremely grateful to have been able to use my experience to help others✨️

The deep pain inflicted by this religion is incalculable!!

"Have you repented of your SINS?" ...At 13.... My Gaaaahhhhd!

I am a 55-year-old lesbian, who wasted half of my life with this cult, and I’m only 15 minutes into this video and I can relate to this guy so so much! Life as a gay JW is devastating. Edit to add, it’s hideous that they expect us to stay alone for our entire lives and never have love…… THEY would not do that and no one is asking them to. It’s disgusting. I am so bitter toward that cult but, like Peter, my family is still inside. I’m sorry you went through that Peter. I relate.

Wow, this was hard to get through and I don’t know how you were able to keep it together recounting your experiences. I’m in my late 70’s and was exposed to this bs as a child. Your story brought back bad memories and although I was never baptized (I apparently was a critical thinker) at a young age. Unfortunately, I introduced my ex-wife to this cult (her dad was gay) and she ran with it. I did that, I think to try and please a parent sadly. She remarried in the organization and without going into details, came to realize the cruelty of these generally good, but very misguided people and left the cult permanently. Hearing your horrific story of being gay and what you went through and hearing you say “why would anyone put themself though all the humiliation and pain on purpose if they had a choice about being gay” After all these years, I think I finally understand that it’s not a choice and I’m really sorry that you had to endure all that pain. Best wishes for your continued healing 🙏

Omg the way your mom totally humiliated you!! 😢😢😢

Great interview Justin. It's hard enough being a "straight" kid. My heart breaks for Peter. To have to focus on "walking straight" - that is completely on another level of stress/suppression. Just listening to how the elders asked extremely intimate/personal questions {FLASHBACK}.

What a moving interview! Love the courageous acts of Peter. He came out victorious into a fine freedom from a destructive, despicable Cult of WT. Great thanks Justin for this interview.

Congrats, Peter & Justin. Very well done authentic interview. ❤. Please continue to let your voices be heard. You both are doing the real life saving work 🙌 👏!!!

I will be back to finish this video later. PETER - WE LOVE YOU! ❤️ You are so brave & im so sorry for everything that happened to you. Its heartbreaking 💔 🫂

Wow. Thank you for telling your story. That takes strength. Keep living your best life.

Thank you Justin for loving Justice! This was hard to hear that Peter had to endure all of this because of his dysfunctional family and cult. May you both as well as all of us cult survivors, completely heal and be the thrivers we are meant to be...I love you all⚘️💞🙌

Hurting people hurt. I believe a lot of JWs were hurt, and sometimes in order to fit in, and to avoid loneliness, fear, shame and ridicule, they in turn hurt others. If you only knew of the amount of JWs who are on antidepressant drugs you would show more compassion to the rank in file witnesses. We live in a world that is saturated with pain and misery. Religion hurts!!!

Hi Justin!!

I also did not answer those two questions just before baptism.

Psychiatric hospitals, while uncomfortable, can be important stepping stones to healing. I’ve been hospitalized six times for psychiatric care, with one spell being over a month. 35:14 while the places aren’t perfect, for young people it can be a respite and a place where you can be honest without the fear of judgement.

Hey Peter. It took alot of courage to give this interview. I thought I had it bad growing up in the cult but your story was way worse. I'm sorry you had to experience all that trauma, but I can tell you are a very strong and intelligent person, and that has allowed you to persevere. I was also struck by your kind outlook regarding people who are different. This experience could have easily made you an angry, bitter person, but it didn’t. Bless you for that. I wish you the very best going forward.

Hi Peter, thanks for sharing your story. Hats off to you. I can’t imagine being gay and a JW. That’s a double whammy. I’m so happy you’re out of the cult. There’s a lot of bigotry in this world so not being a JW is one less thing to worry about. Peace and love to you. Greetings from the 🇬🇧.

😂 I loved what Peter said about it being a “choice”. I knew I was non binary (but didn’t have the words for it so stuck with ‘tomboy’) and gay from so young I can’t even remember! But being born into this cult, I made the CHOICE to be straight! It’s not a choice, I tried to take my own life many times from the age of 14. I was riddled with guilt and just felt like a failure because I couldn’t do it. Imagine feeling like you’ve been raped every time you have sex with your husband, it’s soul destroying. I was 45 when I met my partner, I left everything behind. My mother (still a witness) and my brother, who faded out but can’t let go of the doctrines. Despite all that, I have had 5 years now of unconditional love, new beautiful friends both from the LGBTQIA+ community and straight people. My partner’s family have adopted me and although there is a deep pain and open wound when it comes to my blood family, I am happier and more content than I’ve ever been! I’ve put myself through various studies and now work in mental health. The damage the watchtower does to people’s minds will be discovered more and more and they will be judged. Mark 7:7 mate, should be their yearly scripture because it is them to a T!

Great interview! I hope the best possible outcomes for the rest of his life. Much love fam....

Thank you Peter for sharing your story. Thank you Justin for putting the interview together. I can totally relate to Peter. Its not easy. But there is life after the JWs. If I can come out, anyone can do it.

What a tormenting childhood! ! Hopefully he can move forward with a positive outlook on life. Thanks for sharing this experience.

Heterosexual female 49yo born in and this has ticked me off. I had gay friends and I always stood up for them. I also have 2 sons and couldn't imagine doing this to my boys 😡🥺

I have to say that I think that Peter's experience is fairly typical in the org. Most people look the other way & feel uncomfortable with the situation to the point that they actively ignore it. When the person leaves, they feel relieved. No shame or guilt for standing by watching someone being abused.

24:59 your baptism experience reminds me of mine. I really worked so hard to get to that point, hoping that the water would ignite my soul to take God over my sexuality from that point out, and the confusion when I just *couldn’t* DESTROYED me. Then, I thought if I just confessed my sins all the time, THAT would help. But then shame. Man, the shame. It would never be enough. Freedom came when I knew I no longer had to hide

Completely agree with Peter's statement about the "conversion" experiences of brothers who were 'once homosexual'. Either they weren't actually gay (perhaps they were going through a phase) OR, to add to that, they ARE gay and have just learned to suppress their tendencies really well. The latter is quite harmful, though, because experts have stated that people who aren't fully themselves, or who hold on to lies, are more prone to health complications.

When Peter was discussing the notorized letter of disownment, I realized I was sitting forward with my mouth hanging open in shock. Peter, I honestly don't know how you survived this. You have suffered horrendous abuse. I'm so sorry. It seems like every adult in your life completely failed you. Although I'm sure you have many traumas and scars from that abuse to this day, the fact that you came through this to land on your feet is an amazing testament to your courage and spirit. Wishing all the best to you and hoping you can live a happy and fulfilling life.

👋

This was a great interview..Peter you are stronger than you know….I’m so happy you’re free to be who you want to be.. The cold heartedness of the people in this cult is evident in the way they treat their “love one’s”…SMDH!!!! I hope I’m still alive when this Borg folds….i hope they lose all tax benefits soon…..No one should ever have to endure this kind of mental abuse… There’s no love in that Borganization🌈🌈❤️🥰

and to think they have have a new app now that they insist members install on phones instead of desktops. hmm i wonder what could be the reason? tracking? i put the damn thing on my computer but they won’t leave me alone about putting it on my phone. i’m not dumb enough for that. lol😂

So pleased that you “chose” to remain true to yourself! Thank you for sharing ♥️😌😘

I just realized when I was watching your channel that this kid I had a crush on in 1st grade much have been JW. I thought he just liked wearing suits. But I now recall he was not able to celebrate any birthdays with us and I didn't fully understand why.

Hi Peter, do you work at that AMC torrance? Would love to meet you, ( just for support),, so sorry for your struggle...you will be the Victor!!!!

This is so bad. I'm so sorry that happen to you. The only thing I guess I don't agree with was hanging out with adults. I have always liked being around people who we're older than me. It helped me to be open to having a variety of friends and learning more about life. But I guess it's also messed me up alittle with how I look at dating, that's the only thing I can truly say screwed me up. But friends, no.

It’s honestly shocking how many parallels I had with this guy. Gay JWs I think go through the wringer much harder than most, since homosexuality is considered a much more severe sin than the rest, and it’s inexorably linked to your identity and can never be fully ignored. I also remember my mom criticizing me for “faggy” behavior, I remember feeling trapped even around other people. I remember showing my second grade teacher some belt marks and she hugged me. But after my parents met with her she shut up and didn’t talk to me again ever. I’m not even sure what they told her but she was a sweetheart, they must have just scared her somehow. From an early age I recognized I was alone in a lot of things. I didn’t know why, I didn’t know the scope of my situation, but I just knew I had to be self sufficient. The gay thing clearly affected my parents on a deep emotional level, my mom would sob openly and my dad could barely contain his rage. I wasn’t safe unless I kept entirely to myself, and I felt wrong for doing it because their motivations seemed so pure. I used to think that made their feelings valid and it took me a long time to learn that genuine people can still be unfair or hurtful.

Praying for a brother would 'bring reproach on Jehovah'????? I'm sure Jehovah can decide whether or not that is the case. Pray for the guy anyway and let Jehovah decide if he's going to listen.

When my mother find out that im gay she behaved very same way, she was avoiding contact with me, was blaming me that I shortened her life and destroyed her health and her marriage. My father said that he is not considering me as his son anymore. He said that he build house to have children so better I marry a woman and pretend to love her. Blaming me that it's my choice and im the worst kid that they could ever imagine, they said that they would love to have a son that have sex with old woman than a gay one.

Great interview. What is sad to me is once you realize that the JWs have it all wrong regarding homosexuals, then you have to deal with what going on outside this religion, with so-called Christian evangelicals who also demonize homosexuals and want to use politics and laws to prevent this. For some time, it was much more acceptable, but over the last few years these darn self-righteous Christain groups still think this is a "choice". It's no more a choice than someone being heterosexual. It's not something you consciously decide, it's just who you are!

i’m waiting to see a jw i know tell his/her exit story.

What he said resonated. Idk how many other jw kids he went to the kingdom hall with or went to school with but I was the only jw in my school until 11th grade when my little sister started 9th grade. The only jw...and you're in the closet. Feeling as if u have to single handedly represent what this religion means..mean while still being picked on with 0 defenses...

Great explanation of gayness…I didn’t identify myself as gay growing up but I had experiences with women. After high school, I got into a lesbian relationships for 15 yrs of my life…. Then met a JW man, married9 years, divorced…after my divorce i dated a few other guys…I’m now with a woman and it’s been almost 10 years….I’m completely happy with a woman…..I tried living up to others expectations but I’m living for me now….Thank you🌈🥰