Imagine Dragons Pens Letter of Love

Dan Reynolds has written a letter of love and encouragement to LGBTQ youth.

The Imagine Dragons frontman – who was raised Mormon and has subsequently become a staunch ally for gay Mormon youth – wrote the letter for Billboard as part of Pride Month. The note describes Reynolds’ conflict as a Mormon, in which he is forced to balance his understanding of his faith’s homophobic beliefs with his empathy for his gay friends and family.

The singer writes, “Religious leaders can speak all day about how much they ‘love’ our LGBTQ youth, but until they change their dangerous doctrine…they are contributing towards increased depression and anxiety in the lives of our LGBTQ youth as well as suicide….They simply want to love the way that their heart tells them to love. And they deserve to be LOVED, not ‘tolerated.’”

Reynolds then addresses youth directly: “To our LGBTQ youth. I LOVE YOU. Fully. Completely. I celebrate you. You are beautiful and worthy of love. I hope you let yourself find it and find peace and security in that place. You deserve it. I will fight for you.”