GayTruth Story: "I would have died without them"

Cody Derrick grew up in a conservative Mormon home in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah. At the age of 21, shortly after returning from his mission, Cody came out that he was gay. This is Cody Derrick's coming out story; a story of religion, fear, and family.

Although we're still not sure if his family are "hate the sin, not the sinner" believers, we're so glad Cody has found the strength and support he desperately needed from his immediate family. In his own words, he expresses how devastated he is "for all of those kids who couldn't figure out that it was better to be gay than than dead".

It is truly a devastating reality for the millions of gay people out there who have either succumb to thoughts of suicide, or live a life scarred with self hate. To all the gay people out there who aren't as lucky to have accepting parents, we hope this story brings you comfort in knowing this isn't always the way things turn out.