‘Neon Mom’ Responds To Tyler Glenn’s LDS Church-Bashing Music Video

Source: Video for "Trash," a solo debut for Neon Trees lead vocalist Tyler Glenn.

PROVO, Utah, May 10, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Deb Glenn, mother of Neon Trees frontman Tyler Glenn, had a strong and negative reaction to the solo video for “Trash,” which slams the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its founder, Joseph Smith.

“I viewed it and I don’t like it,” Deb Glenn wrote on her Twitter page, @NeonMom. “I find it sacrilegious. I find it upsetting. I find it dark. And I love my son.”

“Trash” targets and condemns the restrictive principles of the LDS Church. Tyler Glenn, a longtime member of LDS Church, came out as a gay two years ago, and said he had no plans to change his religious beliefs.

The LDS Church excommunicates gay people who act on their sexual impulses, and does not recognize same-sex marriages, now legal in every state. Late last year, the church also said that children of same-sex relationships will be denied baptism and blessings until they become adults, leave their parents’ households, and denounce homosexuality.

Image: Video for "Trash," by Tyler Glenn, pictured.
Image Video for Trash by Tyler Glenn pictured

Glenn’s “Trash” video, released on April 29, featuring him on the floor drinking from a beer bottle (drinking alcohol is against LDS Church rules), then standing and walking down a dim hallway hung with a portrait similar to a famous painting of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith, only Smith seems to have ghoulish, empty spaces where his eyes, nose and mouth should be.

Glenn sings “Trash” lyrics, which include lyrics with references to baptism before he was ready, speaking in tongues, visions, and superstitious prayers on his behalf.

Source: LDSLiving.com
Source LDSLivingcom

The chorus suggests that church friends think the singer is a freak, “… But we got history, in all of this, I lost myself. Maybe I’ll see you in hell.”

“I tried changing the perspective,” Deb Glenn wrote, in her post, which her son shared on his own Twitter, page, @tylerinacoma.

“What is it that he is saying, why this depiction, why this imagery,” Deb Glenn continued. “I know Tyler. I know his heart. I have seen and felt the marginalization of the LGBT+.”

Glenn said she had seen her son’s frustration and sadness, especially since the new and old information on the LDS Church’s policy on homosexuality hit the news in November.

Source: Pinterest
Source Pinterest

“And then I viewed the video and saw all that pain coming out of him,” Glenn said of her son. “Even I, his mother, did not know of his true inner turmoil, distress and great personal pain. The man in the video drew on some very serious pain, a lifetime of pain. It’s not pretty.”

Glenn said the post was not about her or her own faith or belief in LDS teachings.

“It’s about a young man who is in the public eye (who) has discovered himself and doing something with the pain that is real. I do not want to justify his action turned into what he feels is art. But I do say as my faith has taught me to love one another. To find fault, to finger point, to hate, to loath, to judge without understanding is wrong.”

Image: Video for "Trash," by Tyler Glenn, pictured.
Image Video for Trash by Tyler Glenn pictured

Glenn said everyone has the right to opinions.

“I choose to act on my faith in God and seek ways to understand, lift and love,” she wrote. “Tyler knows that my husband and I stand with him, at the ready to carry him if necessary. All my love, Mom.”

A few days after Deb Glenn’s post, son Tyler posted a note of appreciation to his mother.

Tyler Glenn and mom

Deb Glenn’s post:

Deb Glenn note

To view “Trash,” click this link. The song’s lyrics follow.

“Trash”

I think I lost myself in your new religion
You say a prayer for me like a superstition
We were always made for love
We could always speak in tongues
On my knees and I’m seeing visions
Yeah, you remind me that seven sins are deadly
You used to baptize me when I wasn’t ready
Water never turns to wine
I’ve been drinking all the time
I think of you whenever I see fire in the sky

[Chorus]
Your friends think I’m a freak
Why, what’s in my drink?
I can’t even think, but we got history
In all of this, I lost myself
Maybe I’ll see you in hell
Okay, whatever
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

[Verse 2]
I said my flesh is weak but the spirit’s willing
And you would sell my soul just to make the killing
If you wanted me to stay
I’d prepare my days away

[Chorus]
Your friends think I’m a freak
Why, what’s in my drink?
I can’t even think, but we got history
In all of this, I lost myself
Maybe I’ll see you in hell
Okay, whatever
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

[Bridge]
You keep throwing me out like
You keep throwing me out like
You keep throwing me out like
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

[Chorus]
Your friends think I’m a freak
Why, what’s in my drink?
I can’t even think, but we got history
In all of this, I lost myself
Maybe I’ll see you in hell
Okay, whatever
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

6 COMMENTS

  1. I wonder when his video about Islam will be coming out. Considering how adherents to that religion execute gays, I am sure Mr. Glenn will be producing some “art” depicting him spitting on pictures of Muhammed very soon….right?

    • Oh please. He grew up in Mormonism. You can’t treat people like trash and lesser human beings, and then when they stand up for themselves by treating YOU like trash, come out and say ‘oh, but look at Muslims in other countries who’ve never personally hurt you, aren’t they worse?’

      in the grand scheme of things of course they’re worse. But Mormonism is personal to him. And yes, what he did was art, and the song is incredibly creative and good –

      But hey if you honestly think you’re making some kind of legitimate point here, I’ll use your own logic on you.

      I suppose the next religion you’ll be joining will be secularism, or some religion that doesn’t treat gays as inferior humans. Since ya know, you care so much about ‘equality’ and ‘agency’, and would never want to do what the devil did by trying to take away someone else’s agency, by denying them the right to marry who they want, right?

      Oh, what’s that? You only prefer using your logic when it doesn’t mean you have to change your viewpoint? Oh, how convenient.

      • The song has a great beat and I do like the song but the video is not art! I understand that he is angry and extremely hurt. I can see it in his eyes. I’m not sure what he was thinking the church would do on when he began acting on his homosexual feelings. What upsets me is that his family is still members of the LDS church and a lot of his fans. He is hurting all of them when he shows sacred things from the temple ceremony. He wants people to accept him and not make light of his lifestyle or his feelings and then he goes and mocks his family and fans religion? Very sad and upset with images in his video

  2. “Tyler Glenn, a longtime member of LDS Church, came out as a gay two years ago, and said he had no plans to change his religious beliefs.”

    “A GAY” ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

    I hope that my excessive punctuation proved my point on that one…

    That vulgarity aside, fellow readers, please understand that the “Mormon Church” is a disgusting Oligarchy that does not pay taxes on hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, and stemmed from the delusions of grandeur of a young boy (age 14 — if we are to believe the rhetoric), who grew up to be a narcissist, pedophile, serial rapist and bank fraud (he printed his own money and sold it to church members in exchange for legitimate currency for his own monetary gain).
    My contention is that anything resulting from such a source is toxic and should be avoided at all costs.

    Lastly, who wrote this? The grammar is appalling.

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