Tyler Glenn's Raw Performance on Live with Kelly May Move You to Tears

Tyler Glenn appeared this morning on Live with Kelly to perform "Midnight," a single from his debut solo album "Excommunication."

His stage presence on the show might come off as a little strange at first to those who know him primarily from his hyper-animated performances as Neon Trees' frontman. The casual viewer could probably expect something lighthearted and fun from Glenn in this moment, something filled with electronic music and a danceable beat. But his message this time around is incredibly personal and quite different.

Accompanied by only a pianist, Glenn comes straight out with the primary themes from his album, singing about faith and doubt. He begs a tortured question in his chorus, the veins in his neck bulging as he belts, "God, where the hell are you hiding?"

Surprised by the change of tone? Here's a little background.

After The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints released its Nov. 2015 decision to categorize married LGBTQ Mormons as apostates, essentially declaring for them that they've renounced their religion, Glenn went on the defensive for LGBTQ Mormons. And for good reason.

One month after the church's decision to resist the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that paved the way for marriage equality, Tad Walch and Lois M. Collins covered claims of 32 LGBTQ Mormon youth suicide cases that had happened since the church's announcement. Peggy Fletcher Stack reported a rise in patients reporting suicidal thoughts and seeking therapy. The psychological effect of telling people that they had forsaken their grounding beliefs by being courageous enough to accept themselves didn't merely continue, it surged.

Glenn posted a Facebook Live video in response to the suicides. It's powerful. Watch it.

This is the kind of emotion you can see in his performance and in his new album. It's not "Animals" feel-good pop, it's not your "Everybody Talks" morning commute jam. It's a gay Mormon responding to his community's desire to kill itself, struggling with the black-and-white condemnation that comes with being a member of the church.

We support you in that, Tyler.

To end on a hopeful note, things might be looking up for LGBTQ youth in Utah thanks to a recent lawsuit brought against the Utah State Board of Education by Equality Utah and The National Center for Lesbian Rights. Read about it here. If successful, the suit would set a powerful precedent for the treatment of LGBTQ children, including Mormon youth, in public schools.

LGBT youth (ages 24 and younger) who are considering suicide can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.