How Growing up Mormon Shaped DWTS Pro Ezra Sosa’s Coming Out Journey

DWTS' Ezra Sosa Shares How Growing Up Mormon Shaped His Coming Out Journey

Growing up in a conservative Utah household, Ezra Sosa could hardly imagine he'd one day become a world-famous dancer.

"I definitely feel like growing up," the Dancing With the Stars pro told E! News in an exclusive interview, "I was shoved into a box."

While beating the odds to land a coveted spot on the wildly popular ABC reality TV competition series was one major hurdle on his path to stardom, being honestly and authentically himself was another challenge he'd have to overcome.

"I was told by many people—not by anyone a part of the show—that I couldn't be openly gay on Dancing With the Stars," Ezra recounted. "That's really hard to hear, especially when that's your biggest dream. But if I listened to them, I wouldn't be here today. So, it's really important to keep those dreams going."

Of course, growing up Mormon didn't provide the 25-year-old with many queer role models in his immediate community. But while Ezra spent most of his childhood wrestling with the thought of coming out, he knew the one place he could truly express himself was in the ballroom.

"Dance was my outlet," he reflected. "The arts is something that's so important, especially in the queer community, especially in queer youth, because when I was a kid and I couldn't voice how I felt and I couldn't even tell people who I was, I was able to go to a dance studio, play some music and I was able to express myself in ways that words couldn't."

Put simply, Ezra added, "It was my lifeline."

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ezra—who has partnered with celebs like Jordan Chiles and Anna Delvey since he joined the show full-time for season 33 in 2024—now relishes being a gay role model for young queer people across the globe.

"To be able to go out on the road and see all the queer people that come to the show just to watch me is so, so, so special," he gushed. "I don't think there's a greater full circle moment."

But amid showing the world "how freaking awesome it is to be a gay man," Ezra takes his duties as a LGBTQIA+ role model very seriously.

"It is the biggest honor of my life," he confessed. "I always dreamed of being in this position, not only just being on Dancing With the Stars, but also being a role model in our community. I'm so stoked and I know the impact that being on that show has. I really just hold that close to myself."

Disney/Eric McCandless

And since June is Pride Month, Ezra shared what celebrating the annual milestone means to him.

"I am very proud of the person that I've become," he stated. "I definitely feel the things that I'm most proud of is my strength, my perseverance, my ability to adapt, my social media savvy skills. I definitely feel like if it wasn't for those attributes, I wouldn't have the career that I have right now.

Dancing With the Stars returns with season 34 this fall. But in the meantime, get your tickets to see Ezra at DWTS Con 2026 in Palm Springs, Calif., July 31 to Aug. 2.

And keep reading for more stars' emotional coming out stories in honor of Pride.

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