Press Tour (Part Three): SiriusXM & Instinct Magazine

Eric Alper – SiriusXM

After wrapping up with Steve Duffy, I connected with Eric Alper from SiriusXM. His focus was on the music at the heart of Scott’s story. We talked about my motivation for writing the book, and I shared memories of encouraging his talent through piano lessons and theater. Eric asked about the defining moments, such as Scott’s coming out in high school, my early hesitations, and my eventual growth into a stronger LGBTQ+ ally.

We also touched on some personal touches in the book, like Scott’s beautiful foreword and the QR code linking to his song “Pray,” which addresses the harm of “praying the gay away.” Eric’s questions brought out how Scott’s career with Pentatonix changed our family dynamic and my perspective on the music industry, both for the better.

It was a warm, music-filled conversation that made me feel even more connected to the stories behind the songs.

Denny Patterson – Instinct Magazine

My third interview of the day was with Denny Patterson from Instinct Magazine, and it was pure joy. Denny’s questions were so thoughtful and let me into so many stories, from Scott’s early years in Arlington, Texas, where his musical gift was already obvious, to his coming out in high school, his journey with Pentatonix, and finally his marriage to Mark in 2023.

Scott spoke about how working on the book together strengthened our bond. He mentioned how much he appreciated my reaching out to his friends and digging through old videos to make sure we told his story authentically.

We spent time talking about Scott’s coming out process. I shared my initial hesitation, asking him to wait until college to come out publicly because I worried about how the world might treat him. Looking back, I wish I’d handled it differently, but it became a learning moment for me. Scott insists he thinks I handled it perfectly.

We also discussed his commitment to using his platform to champion LGBTQ+ acceptance. As a queer kid, he rarely saw himself represented in the media, and that lack of representation is something he’s determined to change for others.

The conversation with Denny left me emotional and inspired. I really hope it resonates with both the LGBTQ+ community and parents navigating their own journeys with their children.

In the next blog, I’ll share a very special Mother’s Day interview for BroadwayWorld’s The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, where Scott and I were again interviewed together.