You know, if TLC wanted to put together a reunion or a follow-up “Where Are They Now?” special, maybe we’d be surprised to learn that some of them have finally accepted their sexuality and realized they’re no longer just SSA!
In the meantime, Hagins wrapped up his coverage of the special on TikTok by saying, “I’m about to go do some digging and try to find these people,” so we’ll stay glued to his page and keep our figners crossed for some positive updates!
@julianhagins Replying to @Cactus_lass #myhusbandsnotgay#mormons#utah#ssa#gay#funny#realitytv#tv#tlc#whattowatch#dating♬ original sound – Julian Hagins
My Husband’s Not Gay is available for digital purchase via the TLC Presents series on Amazon Prime Video.
.
“She’s like, ‘Oh, I know what camping is.’”
@julianhagins Replying to @Nina Walker #myhusbandsnotgay#tlc#fyp#realitytv#tv#mormon#family#drama#tv#ssa#gay♬ original sound – Julian Hagins
“Being with someone with SSA comes with its own set of challenges,” Tanya says in the special.
In the comments section of one clip, a user commented, “I’m angry they allowed the ‘backlash’ to cancel this show,” while others praised the special for its concept and intentional cinematography. “Why would they sign up for this?”
@julianhagins#tlc#myhusbandsnotgay#realitytv#utah#mormon#gay#marriage#family#denial#tv#whattowatch#realityrewatch♬ original sound – Julian Hagins
In one such clip, we meet Jeff and his wife Tanya, who have been married nine years and even have a young son.
“That’s why she’s trying to start the episode out like, ‘Oh, SSA! SSA!’ Yeah, he about to get some SSA. Backwards!”
The couple even brings up a previous time when Jeff had some guy friends sleep over at the house and “things got a little out of control.” Whoops!
Related
David Archuleta on his transformation from Mormon church boy to out & proud gym bro: “I feel great”
The 33-year-old is living his best life since coming out & leaving the Mormon church.
Or maybe they more broadly identify as queer!” But we can assure you that was not the case…
These were all devoted members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, which says any form of sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin, and which also does not perform or support same-sex marriages, so… you do the math!
Related
Woman who outed ex to his fundamentalist, Mormon family wonders: “Am I an a**hole?”
Were her actions just?
Curtis and Tera Brown recently celebrated 30 years of marriage, with Tera gushing about the milestone on social media.
A controversial TLC docuseries from 2015 called My Husband's Not Gay has gone viral on TikTok as a new generation of reality TV fans discover it
The TLC special followed three married Mormon men who are all same-sex attracted, but chose to pursue a traditional lifestyle with wives and children (Curtis and Tera Brown pictured)
Curtis and Tera recently celebrated 30 years of marriage and are still going strong
'We are happier, more connected, more in love, and more aligned than ever before.
Though admittedly, while Mormons aren’t exactly known for being the epitome of moral righteousness, the criticism is still understandable.
Still, the special attracted a big audience due to its concept, but if you were among those who missed its initial broadcast, you might be understandably curious to see what all the fuss was about.
Where can I watch My Husband’s Not Gay?
Last but not least are Jeff and Tanya Bennion, who were the central couple on the TLC special. In a period when queer concepts and content were still scarce, the backlash was understandable — perhaps even necessary.
Nearly a decade after My Husband’s Not Gay‘s debut, the media landscape has changed quite extensively and is much more inclusive to LGBTQ+ voices, making the outage around the special feel a little overblown in retrospect. “Surely this is satire,” one user commented in a clip shared on the platform.
In 2015, GLAAD called this special “dangerous,” with online papers like The Atlantic going as far as publishing a piece that highlighted the show’s alleged “lack of empathy.” “TLC is sending the message that being gay is something that can and ought to be changed, or that you should reject your sexual orientation by marrying someone of the opposite sex,” criticized the website.
At the same time, the clips reveal that the series still has its share of fans.
The backlash from its original airing didn’t go unnoticed either.
North Star's official website says that the church helps 'individuals and families concerned with issues of sexual orientation or gender identity to more authentically, healthily and joyfully live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'
At the time that it aired, LGBTQactivists protested My Husband's Not Gay, alleging that the show's stars were actively trying to advertise a discredited therapy program that claims to turn homosexual men straight.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline.
Where to watch ‘My Husband’s Not Gay’ on streaming
Few reality shows are as entertaining or as unique asMy Husband’s Not Gay. Whoever came up with the idea of creating a special about gay Mormon men who refuse to acknowledge their sexuality — while married to Mormon women who are fully aware that their husbands are gay — was an absolute genius, and no one can convince me otherwise.
As expected, though, the one-hour special was as controversial as it was entertaining, with several organizations criticizing TLC — because of course it was TLC — for broadcasting a show that seemed to endorse the idea that denying one’s sexuality is acceptable or even encouraged.
When My Husband’s Not Gay premiered in January of 2015, it was met with pushback from the broader queer community and a number of LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including GLAAD, which called the show “irresponsible” for “showing content that gives the idea that sexual orientation is a choice.”
At the time, a Change.org petition suggesting TLC cancel the show received over 100,000 signatures, arguing it sent a message that “being gay is something that can and ought to be changed, or that you should reject your sexual orientation by marrying someone of the opposite sex.”
It’s unclear if there was ever a plan for TLC to broadcast My Husband’s Not Gay as a full series, so it’s hard to say for sure if the petition and public outcry was effective in stopping it, but the hour-long special did air regardless, only to be forgotten about soon thereafter… until now.
Recently, TikToker Julian Hagins—who runs the podcast Reality Rewatch—stumbled upon the special and is adding his hilarious commentary to some of its most unbelievable moments, and is going viral in the process.
“So everybody’s in denial on this show,” Hagins says as he laughs his way through select clips.
Last but not least are Jeff and Tanya Bennion, who were the central couple on the TLC special
The couple are still together and Jeff works for a Utah church that treats people dealing with same sex attraction
Groups like GLAAD called the show 'irresponsible' and 'dangerous' for portraying sexuality as a choice that can be changed with conversion therapy programs.
TLC staunchly denied that it condoned conversion therapy programs.
At the time, GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis described what was so dangerous about these therapy programs.
'Basically, gay reparative therapy is the notion that you can take the gay out of somebody, which we know is not true,' Ellis told Entertainment Tonight.
'Medical experts have debunked that for ages now, and also it's illegal in a lot of states.'
TikTok
Share or comment on this article: My Husband's Not Gay: What happened to the cast of controversial reality show about married male Mormons attracted to other men?
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. While TLC has its own streaming service — called TLC GO — this platform does not host My Husband’s Not Gay.