Social Icons

YOUNG BLIZZY RADIO LIVE ON AIR

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Father of Utah kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart comes out as gay, says 'I was attracted to men going as far back as 12 years old'






Ed Smart, the father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted in 2002 has announced he is gay, divorcing his wife, and is also leaving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



Smart, 64, of Salt Lake City said in a letter shared on his Facebook page that he no longer feels comfortable being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which opposes gay marriage and same-sex relationships but preaches love and compassion for LGBTQ people.



"It is with this same spirit that I wish to share the news that I have recently acknowledged to myself and my family that I am gay,'' he wrote. "The decision to be honest and truthful about my orientation comes with its own set of challenges, but at the same time it is a huge relief."



Smart has five children with his wife, Lois, who filed for divorce on July 5, according to court records obtained by The Salt Lake City Tribune.



"I love my family and always will,'' he wrote. "Lois has been a loyal wife, and extraordinary mother, who has had to endure an impossible part of this journey. I deeply regret the excruciating pain this has caused her.



"Hurting her was never my intent. While our marriage will end, my love for Lois and everyone in my family is eternal. I believe that love is what binds us together. While there are wounds right now, I also know our Savior can help heal the damage which this revelation has brought. Through Christ love will outlast the grief."



"As an openly gay man, the Church is not a place where I find solace any longer,'' he wrote. "It is not my responsibility to tell the Church, its members or its leadership what to believe about the rightness or wrongness of being LGBTQ. I can only believe what I feel is right, but it is my responsibility to continue to grow, progress and mature as a child of loving Heavenly Parents, and to do that in a way that is spiritually healthy for me."



“I have mostly watched in silence for years as many LGBTQ individuals both in and out of The Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] have been victims of ridicule, shunning, rejection and outright humiliation,” Smart wrote.



He added: “I didn’t want to face the feelings I fought so hard to suppress, and didn’t want to reach out and tell those being ostracized that I too am numbered among them. But I cannot do that any longer.”



"I was attracted to men going as far back as 12 years old," he told CNN. "I tried to suppress that; it's not me, not who I am. I tried to put that out."



His daughter, Elizabeth, 31, also provided a statement to TODAY following her father's announcement.

"My parents taught me as a young child that they would love me unconditionally no matter what happened," she said. "While I am deeply saddened by their separation, nothing could change my love and admiration for them both. Their decisions are very personal. As such, I will not pass judgment and rather am focusing on loving and supporting them and the other members of my family."



Mr.Smart and his family made major headline in 2002, when Elizabeth, then 14, was abducted from their home in the Federal Heights neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Elizabeth said she was kept tethered to a tree and raped repeatedly during her captivity.



In 2003, she was found walking down a Utah street with her kidnappers, just 5 miles from her home.

































“I have mostly watched in silence for years as many LGBTQ individuals both in and out of The Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] have been victims of ridicule, shunning, rejection and outright humiliation,” Smart wrote.





He added: “I didn’t want to face the feelings I fought so hard to suppress, and didn’t want to reach out and tell those being ostracized that I too am numbered among them. But I cannot do that any longer.”





"Never wanted to live with regret," he said. "My belief was something that was very difficult to come to terms with. I tried and I tried to reconcile my beliefs, and I could not. Therefore, I no longer accept the guilt and the shame that I have basically had my whole life."



Smart said he hasn't removed his name from the church, though "if they were to push me to do so, I would." For now, he's still a member, but he said religion makes it very difficult to identify with something "that is so put down upon."



"The trauma that occurs -- keeping that inside -- it makes you miserable," he said. "I don't think God wants us to be miserable."







"I was attracted to men going as far back as 12 years old," he told CNN. "I tried to suppress that; it's not me, not who I am. I tried to put that out."

Ojude Oba 2019, Proudly Sponsored By FCMB











It was a rich showcase of colours, culture and tradition at this year's Ojude Oba Festival which held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on August 13, 2019.


The Ojude Oba, (which in Ijebu dialect means, “the king’s forecourt or frontage”, is a major festival in Nigeria that began over 100 years ago. It brings together all sons and daughters of Ijebuland in Nigeria and diaspora for a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual accomplishments and other values of the Ijebu nation. During the Festival, various age groups (popularly known as the Regberegbes), indigenes, their friends and associates from far and near - all in their colourful costumes and riding on horses, thronged the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland to pay homage to him amidst prayers and other fun-filled activities.



Sponsors of the Ojude Oba Festival and foremost Nigerian financial institution First City Monument Bank (FCMB) congratulated the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, chiefs, age groups, all indigenes, friends and well-wishers of Ijebuland on this year’s festival.


The Bank reiterated its commitment to support activities that promote and add value to Nigeria’s culture and heritage which are also capable of boosting tourism, trade and the hospitality sector. FCMB's participation was as usual grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that graced the fiesta.


In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Adetona, the Founder of FCMB Group, who is also the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, Otunba (Dr) Olasubomi Balogun, CON, expressed his gratitude to the paramount ruler for his selflessness, distinguished and exemplary leadership for the 59 years he has been the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, which makes him one of the longest reigning monarchs in Nigeria.


In the same vein, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years. He stated that, ‘’the Ojude Oba Festival is a rallying point to promote the sustainable growth and development of our community. We recognise that celebrating our heritage is an important part of our national identity, a means of educating visitors and future generations about our history and an opportunity to measure our growth, development and sustainability. Hence, for us at FCMB, the Ojude Oba Festival is not just another event. It is a pride to us; being a major platform through which we reaffirm our commitment to the community and promote our nation’s cultural diversity. We will continue to support all activities of the State with focus on the economic and social development. We are committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival and are proud to be associated with its grandeur’’.

For more information about FCMB, please visit www.fcmb.com

Some pictures from Ojude Oba 2019 are shown below:

































Prince Osisioma Foundation Wishes Founder's Wife, Princess Ujuwa Eze Happy Birthday (Photos)

















Prince Osisioma Foundation has wished the founders Wife, Princess Ujunwa Eze(IYOM) a delightful advancement through the ages of grace as she marks her birthday today. Speaking with our reporter this morning, the Manager of the Foundation, Mr. Emeka spoke on behalf of the foundation, wishing her long life and prosperity.



In his commendations, he noted that Princess Ujuwa Eze, the Wife of Prince(Dr.) Onyeka Eze has remained a woman of distinctive virtuousness and a perfect example of an ideal wife and a mother to many. Mr. Emeka stressed that Princess Ujunwa has remained the pillar upon which her family have built its strenght, true love, real joy, firm faith and fear so ordinary.



The celebrant has been described as a virtuous woman, an icon of hope, a true definition of undespicable love and a carrier of divine grace, which has left her in the realm of immeasurable grace and glory. Princess Ujunwa Eze was married to the billionaire philanthropist in 2013 and has been blessed with two sets of twins since then.



She has been the strenght behind the success of Prince Onyeka Eze, that sustains the saying, "behind every successful man, there is a woman". However, we join the rest of the world in wishing the soulmate of the Chairman of the International acclaimed NGO Prince Osisioma Foundation, Princess Ujunwah Eze(IYOM) a blissful birthday carnival.











LISTEN UP TO SUNDAY MORNING GOSPEL VIBES ON YOUNGBLIZZYRADIO HOST :DABLISS SPECIAL GUEST: EVANG UCHE MOG


A BIG THANKS TO ALL MY LOVELY FRIENDS , FANS FOR THE MASSIVE TURN UP ON MY SHOW YOUNG BLIZZY RADIO

SUNDAY MORNING GOSPEL VIBES

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

SHOW DATE: 18/8/2019
SHOW HOST:DABLISS
SPECIAL GUEST:EVANG UCHE M.O.G


LOVELY FRIENDS JOIN DABLISS ON AIR EVERY FRIDAY @YOUNG BLIZZY RADIO FROM 8PM TO 10PM FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST OF AFROBEATS HIT MUSIC COUNTDOWN listen live here LISTEN LIVE ON WEB @ http://www.youngblizzymusic.com youngblizzyradio.com


LISTEN LIVE WITH YOUR PHONE HERE
http://www.afrobeatzmusic.com/p/movie-tv.html

https://tunein.com/radio/YOUNG-BLIZZY-RADIO-s246336
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

SPONSPORED POST

.
 

YOUNGBLIZZYMUSIC.COM

youngblizzyradio@gmail.com

YOUNGBLIZZYMUSIC.COM

FOR ONLINE PROMOTION AND ADVERT PLACEMENT
PLS CONTACT US ON..
FACEBOOK : YOUNG BLIZZY ENTERTAINT - YBE ,
TWITTER: @YoungBlizzy_Ent