Polygamy, gays, and TV: Dustin Lance Black knows about devout Mormons. He was one before leaving the church as a teenager. Now he's an out writer working on the hit HBO series about polygamy.

You were born into the church?

Yes, the grandparents on my father's side are from Utah. My father was a Mormon missionary who converted my mother. From birth I was brought up as a devout Mormon.

Were you exposed to polygamists?

No. If you grow up [Latter-day Saints] these days, it's not something that's discussed. It's part of the history they'd rather not have publicized.

What is it like being the only Mormon on the Big Love staff?

I find myself defending the church as much as giving out information. [The other writers] have no idea how much [Mormons] don't want to talk about this.

Is Big Love a cultural breakthrough for polygamists?

I don't know, but we get pretty darn good ratings in Utah.

Do positive portrayals of polygamists hurt the fight for marriage equality?

Now you're bringing out the hardball questions [laughs]. I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned that this show might add fuel to the fire of those who would like to suppress the gay rights movement. At the same time, I hope this is showing a fair and balanced view of alternative lifestyles, and to show that perhaps they don't have a negative effect on the general population.

Do you know of polygamists who have compared their movement with the gay rights movement?

Not personally. Most of the polygamists that I've found in my research are very firm believers in the fundamentalist LDS religion, and that is not a very pro-gay atmosphere. Among polygamists, I think it's more like, "If they can have it, why can't we?"

You seem to be developing a story line that focuses on a sexual attraction between two wives. Listen, being gay and homosexuality is a part of everybody's world. It exists in Utah, it exists in fundamentalist Mormon culture, it exists in [mainstream] Mormon culture, and God knows it existed for me in Mormon culture--so it will absolutely be addressed in some form or another in the show.

Some have speculated that eldest son Ben is gay. I'm not telling you on the record if he's gay or not. Stay tuned.