This site is managed by Richard Ostler. You can learn more about and contact Richard at: papaostler.com
MEDIA STORIES
STORIES I
MEDIA STORIES
STORIES
LDSLiving, “Previous Latter-day Saint Bishop Shares 4 Ways We Can Show Respect for LGBTQ Members” 01/19
“Previous Latter-day Saint bishop and advisory board member of Listen, Learn and Love Richard Ostler, known as "Papa Ostler," has given presentations for Listen, Learn and Love about how members can be more inclusive toward their LGBT brothers and sisters. ”
Deseret News, “10 ways to connect with Latter-day Saint millennials, from those on the church's front lines” 10/01
“When Richard Ostler took over as bishop of a Young Single Adult ward near the start of this decade, he set out to learn as much as he could about the 18-to-30-year-old Latter-day Saints in the West Valley City and Magna areas.”
Deseret News, “Misunderstood? Why Latter-day Saint millennials just want to be heard” 10/01
“What is happening and why? How can older generations build bridges to millennials and better connect them to the church? And why is the church's new book on its early history — "Saints" — an opportunity for everyone to better understand today's millennials?”
LDSLiving, “A Mission President's Beautiful Response When a Missionary Came Out to Him as Gay” 8/18
“After Cal Burke wrote his heartbreakingly honest story about the moment he first told someone he was gay on Twitter, it immediately began making an impact. Receiving nearly 1,000 likes and over 100 retweets, this story about a mission president's beautiful response to one missionary's worries demonstrates deep love and compassion worth emulating.”
The Daily Universe, “LDS Church donates $25,000 to LGBTQ support group” 7/18
“Affirmation is a community of LGBTQ Mormons who are struggling to make sense of their sexual orientation and religious beliefs. Affirmation provides a safe place for LGBTQ individuals to receive help and support. The nonprofit also offers suicide prevention trainings to help others know how to assist those struggling with suicidal thoughts.”
Deseret News Opinion, “We don't need to agree on anything to recognize human dignity” 6/18
“As the LDS mother of a son who married another man last year, I am acutely aware of the arguments on both sides of this issue. Our family is profoundly grateful to the many people who recognized the need to break down the walls and barriers that we sometimes let separate us. Many of our church friends came to our son’s reception and let our son know he is loved.”
Deseret News Utah, “Sen. Orrin Hatch: LGBT youth deserve 'unwavering love and support'” 6/18
“No one should ever feel less because of their gender identity or sexual orientation," Hatch said Wednesday, describing the bullying, discrimination and even estrangement experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.”
Deseret News Faith, “LDS Church's FamilySearch database to add same-sex families to Family Tree feature” 6/18
"To support this goal," the release continued, "same-sex relationships, including same-sex parents and same-sex couples, will be provided in FamilySearch Family Tree. Several systems that surround Family Tree, such as tree and record searching, must be significantly redesigned to support same-sex relationships before Family Tree can release this capability."
The Salt Lake Tribune, “Former bishop creates support group, explains how to be a good Mormon and still embrace the LGBTQ community” 5/18
“My whole life, straight people have told me how to feel about LGBTQ people and I wondered how much homophobia was inside of me because I let them define that,” he said Wednesday. “I decided to wipe my hard drive clean.”
LDSLiving, “You Can Be an LGBT Ally and a Faithful Member of the Church” 4/18
Ostler became interested in LGBTQ issues after learning of a gay teen’s suicide in his community. He helped found Listen, Learn & Love, a nonprofit not affiliated with the LDS Church that provides resources for Mormons who want to learn more about those who are LGBTQ.
LDSLiving, “Preventing Youth Suicide in Our Wards and Families
(+ Valuable Resources)” 3/18
“Two days after the press conference, an official letter from the Church was sent to general authorities, area authorities and local priesthood leaders. The letter discussed resources available to help leaders and members with issues associated with suicide.”
Ben Schilaty, one of the four members of the panel hosted by BYU, shares his experience of the discussion on LGBTQ individuals. Ben describes the event as “a healing evening for students who have felt marginalized,” and shares his love and thanks for all of those who have supported him and all of those who identify as both LDS and LGBTQ.
The Salt Lake Tribune,
“‘I Thought I Was the Only Queer Person at BYU’: LGBT Students Host Panel Focused on Faith and Gender Identity at Mormon Church-owned University.” 3/18
In March of 2018, BYU hosted a panel in which four students who identify as LGBTQ spoke about their experiences as an LGBTQ individual while attending BYU. All four acknowledged the difficulties of reconciling their faith with their sexuality – particularly while attending an institution where the policies and language reflect that seeming incompatibility, but all four panel members expressed their appreciation for being allowed to share their experiences in the hopes that meaningful discussion and respect for all individuals will follow.
Fox13's Interview, with Erika Munson, “3 Questions with Bob Evans: Erika Munson talks Mormons Building Bridges.” 3/18
Erika Munson discusses how Mormons Building Bridges facilitates meaningful, loving relationships within the community.
LGBTQ: Off the Grid’s Interview, “Off the Grid: Rainbow Mutual.” 3/18
Andrea Smardon meets with the Berry family to talk about the inception of Rainbow Mutual, the event created by Abram and his family to allow LGBTQ+ individuals who are Mormon or have a Mormon background to meet monthly for a mutual activity.
KUER Interview, with Richard Ostler, “Meet the Man Who Became an LGBTQ Ally While Serving as a Mormon Bishop.” 12/17
Richard Ostler shares how his calling as a YSA Bishop led him to reconsider his beliefs and thoughts about our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. This experience has strengthened his faith in God and love for those within the LGBTQ+ community. Though his time as a Bishop is over, he has since become active in local organizations which advocate love and support for those who identify as LGBTQ+.
KSL’s Interview, with The Christofferson Brothers, “Christofferson Brothers Share How They Remained ‘As One.’” 10/17
The Christofferson Brothers share how Tom’s revelation that he is gay affected the dynamic of their relationships for the better. The Christofferson brothers advocate love and support for those within the LGBTQ+ community -- not with the intent of getting them to return to or go to church but simply out of genuine love.