Pinaluha ng American singer na si David Archuleta ang mga hurado at manonood ng grand finals ng Season 9 ng Masked Singer USA noong May 17, 2023, dahil sa kanyang mga pahayag tungkol sa mga pagsubok na pinagdaraanan mula nang aminin niya ang pagiging miyembro ng LGBTQ+ community.
Read: American Idol alumnus David Archuleta umaming miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community
Nang lumahok si David sa American Idol Season 7 noong 2008, siya ang hinirang na first runner-up.
Sa Masked Singer, muling tinanghal na first runner-up ang 32-year-old singer dahil sa madamdamin na pag-awit nito sa "All By Myself" na tila repleksyon ng mga nagaganap sa kanyang personal na buhay.
Para kay David, naka-parrot costume na may mystery name na Macaw, isang healing process ang pagsali sa Masked Singer dahil nakaramdam siya ng kalayaan tulad ng kanyang naging pakiramdam noong June 12, 2021, ang araw na ipinagtapat niya sa publiko ang katotohanan.
Saad niya, “Just like being Macaw, it has felt liberating. Coming out felt like liberating and it is scary.
“I grew up very religious. It was a huge part of my life. And I believe that if I lived the way, like, being queer, that I was gonna be evil, so I worked really hard to be anything but that.
“It got to a point where I thought maybe it’s better if I am not here, but I realized I can’t change this.
"So, if anyone else has grew up feeling like they were bad just because of who they are attracted to and who they loved, I want you to know that it is worth taking the courage to show your true colors.
"It’s scary but you’re worthy, you matter and so beautiful," lumuluhang sabi ni David na nagpaiyak sa mga hurado, studio audience, at viewers ng Masked Singer.
Hindi maipagkakailang nakadagdag sa dinaramdam ni David ang mabigat na desisyon ng pamilya niya na tumiwalag bilang mga miyembro ng The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints o Mormon Church dahil sa diskriminasyong ipinaranas sa singer
Read: David Archuleta reveals reason for stepping back from Mormon church after coming out.
Music coordinator sa kanilang local ward ang nanay ni David na si Lupe Marie Bartholomew.
Noong March 2023, nagpasya siyang gawing opisyal ang pagtiwalag niya mula sa kanilang simbahan.
Noong May 10, 2023, pitong araw bago ang grand finals ng Masked Singer, ibinahagi ni Lupe sa kanyang mga kaibigan ang kuwento ng malungkot na karanasan at diskriminasyon na naranasan ni David mula sa ibang mga miyembro ng simbahan na dating kinaaaniban nila.
Lahad niya: “This is a very sensitive topic and forgive me ahead of time if some of you feel offended by this post, you can choose not to read it but I felt it was time for me to just be honest to my friends and some members of my family on why I chose to give up my membership from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
“This hasn’t been an easy journey for me, I have cried tears of pain and disappointment for quite some time before I made this decision, either I was all in or all out and here’s the reason why I’m all out.
“I’ll try my best to keep it short and straight to the point since I’m not good with words anyways but here I go….
“Just in October 30th of 2022, I was serving as the Music Coordinator in my Ward and loved my calling so much even though when I was called to it I felt very incompetent.
“I was starting to get to know many people and my love for them grew as I served and try to get to know each one of them. The people in the Ward are over the top amazing and I felt so honored and so lucky to be around them, they’re humble, loving, accepting, amazing teachers, leaders etc.
“Some of my own family members (first generation “Mormons”) have left the church for quiet some time and some where currently leaving the church and that caused me a lot of pain and I couldn’t understand how they could do that??!!
“Well, I decided last year I was going to remain faithful no matter who left the church and couldn’t wait to get on my journey of attending the Temple once a week, paying tithing, serving on callings etc and keep doing everything right even if I had to stand alone."
Pagpapatuloy ni Lupe: “My son David visited my home and stayed with me many times while he did shows in Salt Lake and we had many conversations about where he was at in his life.
“One day he received a letter at my house and it was sent by a group named 'Mama Dragons.' It was a heart attack of beautiful letters from mothers of the LGBTQ community in support of David coming out.
“It was a beautiful thing for me to share this moment with him because I felt that these where moms whom I could relate with and where walking the same journey for quiet some time and I have just started mine and it’s all new to me.
“I was surprised to see there where so many of them!! I invited David to come to Sacrament meeting with me and he came a few times but then he stopped because he said ‘It hurts too much to be there mom.’
“For some reason I couldn’t understand why he was saying that but then it hit me how the LGBTQ has been really not welcome in this church, ‘We love you but you’re not welcome to participate of all the blessings because of who you are.’
“Some talks have been really hurtful towards them and I didn’t get it then because I was so committed to stay and obey.
“I cried many nights at bedtime and my husband is a witness to this because I was feeling so much pain to see my child suffer so much.
“I sat in church in Sacrament meeting one day and and looked around and then said to myself ‘God is not here. How can a loving God be so exclusive?’
“I did not teach my children their whole lives to serve and love a God who is not accepting of them. God is love!
“By November 20th, 2022 I wrote a letter to my Bishop and told him I was stepping away from the church. And by March, 2023 I decided to give up my membership completely after finding out the true story of Joseph Smith and many other things I won’t go on details.
“Everything went down the hill for me very quickly and did not want to participate and support anymore these beliefs.
“I love honesty and will always respect someone or an organization who is always being honest in their dealings with their fellow men.
“I love truth and will stand by truth. Sadly I’ve seen many cases of family and friends who won’t talk to you anymore because you leave the church, if you’re one of them I will totally understand if you choose to do the same with me I have walked on your shoes before, I know how much pain it causes to hear the news but I’m in a new journey now, I feel it has been an awakening in my life and I’m finally ready to move on. Love you all.”