I’m not an ex-priest but my uncle is. In 2008 in California there was a proposition (prop 8) that sought to overturn the legalization of gay marriage. My uncle’s bishop sent out a mass directive to all the priests to urge their parishioners to vote yes on 8.

My uncle is gay and said he could not in good conscience follow the bishop’s order because he knew what it felt like to be a gay kid in the pews being told that you’re an abomination. Instead he wrote a speech and called the press.

At the end of mass he said they were free to go but they could stay and listen to something he had to share. He came out as gay and shared with the parishioners why he felt it was immoral to vote yes on 8. He was suspended as a priest and continued being an lgbt activist, including handcuffing himself to the White House fence in protest of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I’m super proud of him.