Chad Hardy
Man on a Mission
On Sunday, July 13, 2008, life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chad Hardy was excommunicated by the church for releasing a calendar that features shirtless Mormon missionaries.
Chad Hardy made headlines around the world with his thought-provoking Men on a Mission Calendar in late 2007. Hardy's vision of the tongue-and-cheek project involves a much deeper story than the eye-candy; one that can reshape perceptions, heighten awareness, and perhaps encourage and inspire a broadened acceptance of human and religious diversity.
Chad -- and a few of his models -- will be at the 2009 Affirmation Conference to explain a bit about their mission.
Hardy's project has proven to be a powerful progressive step in building a dialogue that encourages people across every belief system and walk of life to defy stereotypes, step out of judgment and embrace tolerance over fear. With the recent months of the Mormon Church's heavy involvement in the politically charged agenda targeted at discriminating gays and dividing families in California, Chad is certainly timely.
Having come from a sixth-generation Mormon family, lived in Utah for 8 years, and served a 2-year mission himself, he has an in-depth understanding of the LDS church and its devotees. Hardy set out on a mission to "open shirts, open minds" by showcasing individuality within one of the most conservative religions as a medium to build bridges that separate humanity based on religious and cultural intolerance.
Hardy's bold move not only cost him his place in the Mormon Church, but it has now cost him his BA degree in Communications Studies at Mormon-owned Brigham Young University.
Hardy's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was an attempt to silence him because of his project. And now the continued blow with his revoked degree has given him more reason and conviction to encourage people of every belief system to take a stand for what they believe in to let their own voice be heard and live with the powerful consequences without fear.
Hardy believes that change does not happen until the status quo is challenged. His goal is that others will follow, to shine the light of accountability on the intolerance and abuse that exists within our country in the name of God.
The Men on a Mission calendar has also served as an outlet of expression for the models involved. Some of the men were attracted to the project because of its charity contributions (a portion of the profits would be donated to the charity of each model’s choice), but others saw an opportunity to express their own sexuality. Two of the men from the 2009 calendar and half the models for the slated 2010 calendar are gay. And you only have to remember back to California’s Proposition 8 to know how the LDS Church feels about homosexuality.
