Gay Mormon Dad by Chad Anderson & Remy Burke

I have been super bad at properly commemorating celebration months this year so far, but better late than never I suppose, so Happy Pride! I tend to read a lot of books with queer characters and themes yet, oddly, feel like Chad Anderson and Remy Burke’s Gay Mormon Dad is the only one I’ve read for June so far.

But what a way to start! This is a deeply personal, achingly vulnerable memoir of what it was like to grow up gay and Mormon at the end of the 20th century, and how Mr Anderson eventually came out and began to live life on his own terms. It was not an easy journey, but his honesty and courage give readers hope that they too can overcome the obstacles in their path on the way to existing as free and honest people.

Beginning from a childhood marked by abuse, Chad sought comfort in the church his mother devoutly believed in. Since church elders told him he could pray the gay away, he tried his best to do exactly that, even getting married and having two kids before deciding that he couldn’t live like he was suffocating any more. Unsurprisingly, it was a hard road forward, but he persevered until he achieved a life he could be, well, proud of.

As someone who spent a large part of my youth in a conservative religious society, I felt immediately familiar with so much of his struggle. What was new to me were the details of the Mormon church and practices, which I found fascinating. I didn’t expect learn so much about the faith in this book but definitely appreciate the greater sociological understanding I came away with.

I also appreciated his blunt honesty. The parts with his frankly heroic younger sister Sheri were hard to read, but also an excellent reminder that everyone deserves a chance to grow and become a better person. And just in case anyone thinks that that’s an endorsement of allowing people to treat you badly, it’s not: boundaries are still super important. You can’t fix people, but you can give them the space to learn how to improve themselves to the point that they’re ready to be a healthy part of your life again.

Interspersed with the narrative are poems that illuminate Mr Anderson’s state of mind at certain key points of his life. I found these to be less successful than the rest of the book, tho they are certainly very raw in their emotional honesty. My favorite of them was likely He Said; I did very much appreciate how his sardonic commentary on the gay dating scene was a humorous counterpoint to the heavier parts of the memoir.

Remy Burke’s art is perfect throughout. His gentle realism and superior use of flow make this book feel even more accessible to a wider audience who may not necessarily “get” graphic stories. This is very much a memoir that deserves to be widely read, in hopes it will help people free themselves from mindsets that destroy both the self and society, and perhaps allow them to embrace love and kindness instead.

Gay Mormon Dad by Chad Anderson & Remy Burke was published May 5 2026 by Graphic Mundi and is available from all good booksellers, including