Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Six Questions for Chad Hardy

Photographer of Mormon beefcake

Hardy

Tiffany Brown

Chad Hardy, creator of the “Men on a Mission” calendar, is working on the 2010 calendar with photographer Shane O’Neal, right, and Mormon models.

Chad Hardy made a beefcake calendar — 12 months of returned Mormon missionaries, posing with smiles and without shirts. His “Men on a Mission” calendar sold 10,000 copies. Hardy made international headlines.

Then he was excommunicated. BYU withheld his college degree.

Hardy’s response? Make more calendars. The 32-year-old Las Vegas resident is now photographing 24 Mormon models for his 2010 calendars, including the first to feature women.

More calendars? Are you trying to antagonize the church, or do you just like punishment?

They sought me out and attacked me. I never once attacked the church. Now I feel like I have to fight back, and I am going to fight back by continuing my project.

You say the calendars are supposed to spark discussion. Does that discussion really go beyond, “Whoa, shirtless Mormons”?

Those who choose to see the deeper message will find it. They’ll discuss why others are so upset by this, and whether you have to look a certain way to have faith.

Aren’t you afraid your message gets buried by the beefcake humor?

That’s kind of the point. Get people laughing first and after that the discussion starts. It’s funny, and there’s nothing wrong with it. What’s worse, showing your human sensual side or withholding that from people and making it dirty?

Despite being excommunicated, do you still consider yourself Mormon?

I’ve questioned the church, the church tried to censor me, but I’m not out looking for another religion.

What’s your take on the LDS church’s financial backing of the campaign to outlaw gay marriage in California?

I’m really disturbed by what the church did. They say they are not anti-gay, then they pull a stunt like that, then they’re confused about why everybody points fingers at them. They say marriage is sacred. It’s sacred for gay couples as well.

Will you feel responsible if the church goes after the people who posed for your calendars?

They came to me. Some want to get out a positive message about the church, some want to give a message to the church.

There is so much pressure to conform, and it’s amazing how afraid the church is of sexuality. I grew up with such shame about my body and sex. I still deal with those issues.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy