[Un-Affirmed, Again] The international support group Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons was supposed to meet with LDS Church President Thomas Monson on Aug. 11--the culmination of years of work by the group to get a sympathetic ear from church hierarchy.On July 24, church leaders abruptly canceled the scheduled conversation and requested the meeting take place "next year." Affirmation's executive committee, however, doesn't plan on taking no for an answer. In an e-mailed press release, the group says it will meet at Salt Lake City's Pride Center at 10 a.m. Monday, and make itself available to any LDS poobah (my word, not theirs) who cares to show up to the breakfast meeting. The media is also invited.
The Mormon Church's official stand on gay members is the old "hate the sin, love the sinner" idea. That is, gay and lesbians are welcome in the church so long as they remain celibate.
As to the Monday breakfast meeting, well, I wouldn't yet order up the cinnamon buns and decaf, Affirmation.
Nevertheless, Affirmation Executive Director Olin Thomas plans to fly in from his home in Alexandria, Va., for the non-meeting. The group was to have focused on what it says is a shockingly high rate of homelessness and suicides among young gay and lesbian Mormons. Affirmation says it has 30 documented cases of suicide that can be directly linked to the isolation and depression gay church members experience.
"In recent years, the Church’s view towards gay and lesbian people has changed, and church leaders now recognize that being gay is a biological characteristic,” says David Melson, Affirmation’s senior assistant executive director, in the press release. “The items that we had planned to discuss all focus on education and on toning down some of the rhetoric. Nothing that we will be proposing requires any change in doctrine.”
“We are concerned at the church’s decision to not attend the meeting on August 11. The deaths, the homelessness, and the grief that occur because of well-intentioned but misguided practices are real, and they must all stop, now.”
Good luck, I say. I've always found it deeply mysterious people would want to remain in a club that wouldn't welcome them--unequivocally--as members. But that's just me.
Above: Affirmation members in 1979, during a march in Washington D.C. (Holly Mullen)
I, too, am fascinated by that, Holly.
ReplyDelete"In recent years, the Church’s view towards gay and lesbian people has changed, and church leaders now recognize that being gay is a biological characteristic,”......Do they really? I don't believe they do. Even if they do, that doesn't mean they accept gay people. They might concede it's biological, but still view gays on a lesser level than heteros.
God made 1% Mormon and 12% gay. I think he loves us a whole lot more.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify a comment by the gentleman from Affirmation. The church has never recognized homosexuality as biological. They have recognized that it directly effects some individuals, but has not given any indication that someone is born with the biological disposition to be genetically homosexual. That is a big difference.
ReplyDeleteI am curious what the suicide rate of gay is outside of the church. You say 30 people out of 6 million (US, 13 million if they took that number from world wide.). How many gay individuals kill themselves every year in the united states.
More non gay members kill themselves every year. What does that mean? I just don't get the reasoning behind this whole movement.
The church is trying to help Gay members the best they can. These are people whose lifestyles will never meet the standards of the church, yet the church would like to help them in any way they can.
The church will never change their view on homosexual activities or relationships. It would dissolve the entire church. The teachings of the church are based on the Plan of salvation which teaches the purpose of life which includes having an eternal helpmate and to procreate.
I am a member of the church and I am also in theater. I have learned to balance my beliefs in the gospel of the church with my love for my fellow man. My gay friends understand my beliefs, but they still have and enjoy my friendship. I would help them move just as much as I would my Elder's Quorum President.
Mike, I happen to have been raised mormon and have a gay brother, thanks to sunstone and a lot of other "mormon" affilated groups, they have been educating those of us whom are obviously somewhat behind on scientifically proven evidence coming straight out of BYU that actually proves that being gay is in fact a biological disposition. In Fact I have experienced several gay and lesbian people say to me why would we choose this. Just like any other minority group it wasn't their choice to be born the color or gender that they are. AS far as the suicide rate the point is that it doesn't matter what statistically is going on as a whole what matters here is that locally, close to you and I, young and old people are killing themselves because a society that we belong to is not unconditionally loving and accepting them like Jesus would. BOttom line it is not what we look like on the outside that really matters here it is that we love each and every soul around us. It is our test to see how unjudgemental and accepting we can be and these situations test us. Same with the mormon church it practices and preaches about unconditional love and acceptance and love your neighbor as yourself, but when they send their followers out into the real word it seems to be a hard thing for it's follower to accomplish. I guess a true test. What's inside is what counts and that is bottom line, the church cares too much about the tithing they would lose, the way they would look in other peoples eyes, rather than swallowing it's "pride" and stand up for the soul rather than what is on the outside.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, if that is your real name. :)
ReplyDeleteyou said:
I happen to have been raised mormon and have a gay brother, thanks to sunstone and a lot of other "mormon" affilated groups, they have been educating those of us whom are obviously somewhat behind on scientifically proven evidence coming straight out of BYU that actually proves that being gay is in fact a biological disposition.
What scientific eveidence? If one was to use such evidence to prove ones point. It would be important to share the resource so that others so that they may, too, read and understand and interpret said research. Sorry, I have read the Gay Gene theory doctirine that is out there and it is tied to more speculation and association then it is to resolving medical, biological fact. Gay gene research (pro) is connected to possibilities not conclusive or even directive evidence.
you said:
Just like any other minority group it wasn't their choice to be born the color or gender that they are. In Fact I have experienced several gay and lesbian people say to me why would we choose this.
Who would choose to be miserable? Most people I know live in misery with their decisions including their sexual ones. What makes someone who chooses to be gay any different. Sexual urges are the most powerful motivator in the human body. I am not saying gay people aren't attracted to the same sex, I am saying they make decisions that can lead to misery just like the rest of us.
My personal opinion is that homosexuality is a weakness similar to any other sexual weakness. In the pre-existence we were all told that we would have trials and weaknesses that we would have to overcome. They would come in many forms. For 3%+ of the population that weakness is being attracted to the same sex. It is again a thing that must be overcome and can be with the help of the Savior.
you said:
AS far as the suicide rate the point is that it doesn't matter what statistically is going on as a whole what matters here is that locally, close to you and I, young and old people are killing themselves because a society that we belong to is not unconditionally loving and accepting them like Jesus would.
Jesus does love all his children unconditionally as we should. He does not accept all of his children unconditionally because he has set the boundaries by his gospel. Nowhere in Christian Doctrine does it teach about accepting the sins of others... It says to love one another and to forgive one antoher, but it does not say accept the sins of one another. In fact we are taught that God cannot look upon sin, "any sin", big or small with the least amount of acceptance. You are trying to tie love to acceptance. I love my children but I don't always accept their behavior. Otherwise there would be not order or peace it would all be Chaos.
you said:
AS far as the suicide rate the point is that it doesn't matter what statistically is going on as a whole what matters here is that locally, close to you and I, young and old people are killing themselves because a society that we belong to is not unconditionally loving and accepting them like Jesus would. Same with the Mormon church it practices and preaches about unconditional love and acceptance and love your neighbor as yourself, but when they send their followers out into the real word it seems to be a hard thing for it's follower to accomplish.
Firstly, the suicide rate was important to the original post because it was used as an argument point. I think it is tragic when anyone takes their life. What I was alluding to for arguments sake is that I believe that a larger percentage of heterosexual Mormons commit suicide then does homosexual Mormons due. Therefore the number used to make a point while dramatic is statistically inconsequential. Again any time someone takes there life it is a great loss.
Secondly,
As I said before, Christ never taught to unconditionally accept everything and everyone. He said you should unconditionally love everyone and you will fail at it and that is why you need to repent everyday. He did not say, accept what the harlot, theif, heathan, murderer, adulterer, blasphemer, Fornicator, liar, abuser does or says. It isn't even inferred in the scriptures to accept the sins of others. If you don't think it is a sin then you don't have to worry about this doctrince. I believe homosexual activity is a sin so I cannot accept that behavior. I can love the person who commits the sin, but I can't accept the sinful behavior. If my child lies to me I still love him, but I do not accept his behavior.
The Church does not teach to unconditionally accept everyone's behavior and actions. What the church does teach is hard to follow as it is and takes a lifetime of faith and practice to achieve, which we don't, but hopefully when we leave this world we are progressing in the right direction.
We are taught that we should not judge others and that we should love all our neighbors. We are also taught to stand up for those things which we believe to be true. This topic is so divisive that when we as members of the church express our beliefs it is immediately associated with hate. Love and acceptance are two completely and infinitely different things.
you said:
I guess a true test. What's inside is what counts and that is bottom line, the church cares too much about the tithing they would lose, the way they would look in other peoples eyes, rather than swallowing it's "pride" and stand up for the soul rather than what is on the outside.
Tithing? I am not sure what you mean by that? losing tithing because they accept practicing homosexuals as temple worthy member? First of all if you know anything about the church tithing is rarely preached to at the pulpit. I have gone years at a time and not paid my tithing and never made to feel bad about it or condemned by my fellow memebers. (granted I don't live in Utah. It may be different there. That's another blog) One thing that should be recognized about the church is that it does whatever it is commanded by the Lord Through his Prophet. The reason you will never see an acceptance of Homosexual lifestyle and activity in the Mormon Church is because it goes againts the very teachings of its foundational principles and ordinances. The tithing comments is benteth comment and is a cheap tactic to move away from the very simple fact that this church is moved upon faith and love. And that its members are flawed as much as the next faith. It's teachings our sound, true and full of love. The execution by its members is continually flawed. Hey, we're human too you know. People who are not surrounded by homosexuals do not always know how to react around them. Loving the sinner, and not the sin is an extremely difficult surgery.