When video of Justin Utley's surprise proposal to his boyfriend hit the internet this week, little did he know that he and fiance Craig Nielson soon would become a viral sensation.
Their video -- posted by their friend Elizabeth Flynn to Facebook and shared across a variety of websites, including Towleroad -- has been viewed tens of thousands of times, garnering compliments such as "this is what true love looks like," "this is one of the most beautiful things I've seen," and even a dejected "What I feel ripped off. My proposal was us sitting on the couch like hey lets get married. Then back to watching tv. Lol"
The proposal took place in New York City, on the plaza at Manhattan's Lincoln Center, and included the Stonewall Chorale performing "Love Changes Everything." That is a song from Nielson's favorite musical, Aspects Of Love, and Utley managed to convince the choir to perform as a flash mob to surprise his boyfriend before he popped the question.
Naturally, Nielson said 'Yaasss!'
Utley, a singer-songwriter originally from Salt Lake City now living in New York, is no stranger to finding the drama in real life. In March 2014, his stirring speech to Utah's legislature made headlines for his candor; He spoke to the lawmakers about his fears of discrimination, about losing his late boyfriend to a heart attack and then losing his job -- all despite trying to conceal his sexuality. Utley said he was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) and endured two years of excruciating conversion therapy, sometimes called "ex-gay" or "reparative" therapy, which tries to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
But Utley's dark past is behind him now, as he prepares to begin his new, soon-to-be-legally married life with Nielson.
Watch the video from Facebook below and have tissues handy.
This is what true love looks like .... So humbled & blessed to be apart of this #justinlovescraig
Posted by Elizabeth Flynn on Saturday, November 7, 2015
