A new documentary series Room to Grow showcases different coming out stories. Released on the USA’s National Coming Out Day, the first episode introduces you to thirteen year old Savannah.
At thirteen she’s full of confidence, she loves to rap, she’s mastered the sword dance and has a rack of medals for her efforts in Highland dancing, and she’s out and proud as a young gay women.
As the episode progresses we see Savannah attending her church, the Church of Latter Day Saints. Suddenly you remember where you’ve seen Savannah before. Last year when the then 12 year-old announced to her church that she was same-sex attracted the video was headline news around the world.
As the confident teenager told her community about her sexuality and how important her religious beliefs were, she outlined that she had no problem reconciling the two. “I believe is God is there, he knows I’m perfect, just the way I am.” But before she could complete her testimony her microphone was shut off and she was asked to return to the congregation.
A year on from the event Savannah shares that the older male member of her church who turned off her microphone has never spoken to her about the incident. Despite bumping into each other regularly in the tight knit community, and living in the same street, he’s never explained his actions – and the teenager reveals she is still finding the lack of explanation upsetting.
Savannah did find strength however from her own family and her loving mother, and the letters she received from people around the world.
The young advocate for LGBTI rights offers to be a friend for anyone who is having trouble coming out, and offers some heartfelt advice encouraging others teens just to be themselves.
The series can be viewed on online streaming service Revry, a content provider dedicated to bringing LGBTIQ+ to queer audiences. Alongside some of the most acclaimed queer themed TV series, films and documentaries is a stack of great original content that can only be found on the Revry platform.
Watch the first episode at Revry.
OIP Staff
