A Little Bit Culty Real Housewife and Bad Mormon: Heather Gay on Surviving Mormonism (Part 2)
Nov 27, 2025
Heather Gay, bestselling author and former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star, shares her journey after leaving the LDS Church. She discusses the joy and freedom she found post-Mormonism, alongside her impactful docuseries Surviving Mormonism. Heather reveals the church's troubling responses to abuse and emphasizes the importance of supporting survivors. The conversation hilariously veers into personal freedoms like ditching garments and wearing real bras, culminating in a heartfelt call for reform within the church and recognition of abuse as a crime.
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Freedom Sparked Creative Purpose
- Leaving Mormonism unlocked creative joy, purpose, and self-discovery for Heather Gay.
- She says everything great in her life came after leaving the church and Housewives opened unexpected opportunities.
Institutional Power And Personal Cost
- The LDS Church holds deep political and institutional power in Utah, permeating law, education, and community institutions.
- Heather says speaking out risks professional and social fallout, particularly for family members still in-state.
Genesis Of Surviving Mormonism
- Heather initiated the Surviving Mormonism series after hearing overwhelming responses on Mormon Stories and her book tour.
- She began the series by confronting a friend's conversion-therapy story and apologizing for previously ignoring it.
