Exclusive Interview with MANHUNT's Newest Model

A MANHUNTing Mormon? Yup, you read that right! Hottie Michael Walker was raised as a Mormon and is now MANHUNT's newest model. Read about what he had to endure while growing up gay and Mormon; the consequences he faced as a result of the decisions he made in life; and how he became MANHUNT's newest model.

Read the transcript from the interview below:

How was working on the Men on A Mission calendar?

I was recruited for The Men on a Mission project by one of the original 2008 models and it started out as sort of a joke to me, but Chad and his team were very professional and it is now something I'm proud of being a part of. We ended up in DNA magazine this month as well, with a four page spread- not too shabby.

Why Mr. December?

I wondered the same thing- Chad, the calendar's creator told me that my picture seemed like the perfect bookend to the other pictures. I must say I can't complain, Mr. December's a good spot.

Did you run into any trouble with the Mormon Church as a result of your involvement with the calendar?

I was called by my Stake President (a local leader of the congregation in L.A.) but never returned his call. I've heard that some of the other models in the calendar have had interviews regarding their involvement, but none have been ex-communicated as far as I know.

Why did you choose the Ronald McDonald house for your charitable donation?

I served a two-year mission for the Church in Western New York and while I was in Buffalo I volunteered a great deal there. It was an incredible experience and I connected with the staff and the families in need on deeply personal and spiritual level. I'm thrilled that I'm able to support them through this project.

To say the gay community and the Mormon Church haven't been getting along lately is an understatement. What are your feelings on the recent rift and on Proposition 8?

This one's a tough one for me. Growing up Mormon and gay has to be one of the most difficult social and spiritual conundrums anyone can be subjected to. I was deeply disturbed and saddened by the overwhelming involvement of the LDS church in support of prop 8. Their usual non-involvement rule in politics was abandoned for a sickly impressive campaign that ended in the taking of basic fundamental rights from me and my friends. This has caused a huge divide in my family (I'm not going home for Thanksgiving anymore) and has forced me to call into question everything about the institution I was raised a member of. While I respect the Mormon church for instilling the values I carry with me today, the passing of proposition 8 has caused me to lose my affinity for the church and left me feeling almost like I've lost a good friend or family member. It was the final straw that caused me to finally say "you're not Mormon any more." That being said, I hope that people understand that there are many, many good and decent members of the Mormon church that understand our struggle and support us in every way and I hope we can separate the mistake of the leaders and some financially excitable members from those in the church as a whole.

Read the rest of the interview after the JUMP:

The creator of the Calendar, Ched Hardy, was ex-communicated from the church,  was that fair in your view?

My heart goes out to Chad. I spoke with him about this last week. Not only was Chad excommunicated, but they decided to strip him of his degree from Brigham Young University. I, too, graduated from Brigham Young University, and wholeheartedly disagree with both decisions. They claim that they excommunicated him because of reasons outside the calendar- something that Chad has told me is a bold-faced lie. It's sad to me that all of this would happen to him over something so ridiculously innocent as a shirtless calendar. Doesn't the church have bigger fish to fry?

How does it feel to become a MANHUNT model? Are you a MANHUNT member?

I have been an off and on member of Manhunt since I came out, about a year after my mission. My profile on the site is a little different however, since I am primarily relationship-oriented. There is a major disclaimer next to my picture. I am thrilled to be a part of the site as a model. It's amusing to me, as was my involvement with the calendar. All of my friends get a kick out of it.

Have you done any modeling prior to the MANHUNT shoot?

I was with Wilhelmina for about ten years prior to the Manhunt shoot- so I've done random projects here and there...

How was the photo-shoot?

The shoot was very professional and relaxed. When I first arrived, I was adamant about not doing any shots in my underwear, but was soon convinced otherwise. Everyone was really nice and did what they could to make me feel comfortable.

All our readers are dying to know…are you single?

Yes. Single. I'm a serial dater, but haven't found him yet.

Comments

[Josh]

How do some people get such awesome opportunities? I'm too sequestered in Nebraska...

[Steve]

He's really cute!

[superwing]

He seems to have a good head on his shoulders. What's his MANHUNT screenname? :)

[Dylan]

where is he? I dont see any pics of him? do they have new models? they should do an interview with all of the models! they're so hot!

[Kelynn C]

my bf and i already had our chance with him when he lived in slc...we all went to the same gym together. he was a fun guy, but down south...not impressive....lol

[Josh]

Didn't I see this interview, like, three or four months ago?

[Jeff]

As a gay member of the LDS Church myself, I could certainly relate to Michael's story. Someone once said "All lives are acts of bravery." Michael, I think you're very brave. Heavenly Father put you here for a very special purpose!

[Ty]

I was a member of the LDS church up until I came out at 17. I can understand Michael's thoughts about his family, as I felt the same way for a few years.

Now, at 22, I've found happiness in Pagan worship. My family and I are on very good terms, and my sister absolutely adores my boyfriend of 3 years :)

I wish Michael the best of luck with his search for "the one." He's out there, I know it :)

[NavyMike]

Ex-Mormon, here. Unlike Mr. Walker, it came as no surprise to me of the Church's involvement in supporting Prop 8. Nearly a decade earlier, the Church made its stance very clear when a similar bill tried to work its way through Hawaii's courts. The Church made headlines then, and it made headlines on Prop 8. The actions of the Church on Prop 8 may have been the final straw for Mr. Walker, but he seems rather naive to not know of what the Church is capable of doing, or undoing. As much as there are "good, decent" members in the Church who support him and our lifestyle, there's a vast disproportionate number of members, among being good and decent, that do NOT support the homosexual lifestyle. It's an uphill climb worth fighting for, but only time will tell before we have the majority of Americans supporting gay rights.

[Snowboard09]

"he was a fun guy, but down south...not impressive....lol"

kelynn: Nice juvenile comment. Now how about you showing a bit of decorum and maturity rather than exposing that ugly side of you.

[Apollo]

I dated a gay Mormon once. What he described was the most twisted unenlightened sexist medieval "religion" I've ever been exposed to. I met many of his family members and they only supported my suspicions. They were all very "nice" and "polite" on the surface but actions speak louder than words and they all acted like members of a cult which is exactly what the CoLDS is. These people make scientology look legitimate.

[Snowboard09]

Apollo, it would be easy to look at any religious group with a critical eye that does not share the mainstream beliefs of modern Christianity..or on ANY religion not based on Judaism for that matter. Perhaps if you supported your "suspicions" with facts rather than your apparent fears that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult, than you might have a stronger argument. Otherwise, you're just another one of the many uninformed fear-mongerers.

[Pojke_cutts]

As an ex-Mormon, this article really speaks to me. though once you come out its not that hard to break away from the church(( in my opinion)) sure, they are everywhere in SLC but, the social rejection makes it easier to push them away right back. kudos to you Michael for surviving.

[abc]

Mormonism is a cult. Period.