I spoke with my mom this morning and she told me how a friend of my younger brother/family friend, who has been married for several years, was "found out" (I don't know the details) by his wife/her family to be gay. As a result they were quickly divorced and he is not allowed to speak to or see his daughter, his ex-wife's family has basically cut him off entirely. She then told me how the treatment he'd received, for just being who he really was, absolutely sickened her. Frankly, I feel the same way about it.
In order to survive politically and socially eventually the Mormon religion is going to have to evolve, change with the times, as it were. The war they're waging against homosexuality is silly and pointless, and only drives people away. Like every other issue they've taken a heavy stance against in the past, and then suddenly chosen to accept, eventually they will have to come to terms with the reality that being gay isn't really a personal choice that one can suppress (and be legitimately happy), nor is it a terrible evil that needs to be scourged from society.
More frustrating is the simple and close-minded view that the average mormon has towards gays as a result of the heavy indoctrination that they are a threat. Verbal gay bashing is common in church, I'm embarrassed to say. Completely innocuous and unrelated topics are sometimes inexplicably turned towards laying blame on gays for whatever problem is currently discussed. Issues with family, sexuality, doctrine, all are inside the cross hairs of the gay demons just lurking outside the church walls, while they roller stake outside wearing too short jean shorts, a plaid tied off at the belly work shirt, and for seemingly no reason, a construction workers hat, a direct insult to the American blue-collar conservative. Nothing is safe from these interlopers.
I'm not sure what inspired me to rant about this morning, honestly I think it's because if I made the same arguments while in church I'd probably get thrown out. At least here I know I'll get some balanced feedback.
In order to survive politically and socially eventually the Mormon religion is going to have to evolve, change with the times, as it were. The war they're waging against homosexuality is silly and pointless, and only drives people away. Like every other issue they've taken a heavy stance against in the past, and then suddenly chosen to accept, eventually they will have to come to terms with the reality that being gay isn't really a personal choice that one can suppress (and be legitimately happy), nor is it a terrible evil that needs to be scourged from society.
More frustrating is the simple and close-minded view that the average mormon has towards gays as a result of the heavy indoctrination that they are a threat. Verbal gay bashing is common in church, I'm embarrassed to say. Completely innocuous and unrelated topics are sometimes inexplicably turned towards laying blame on gays for whatever problem is currently discussed. Issues with family, sexuality, doctrine, all are inside the cross hairs of the gay demons just lurking outside the church walls, while they roller stake outside wearing too short jean shorts, a plaid tied off at the belly work shirt, and for seemingly no reason, a construction workers hat, a direct insult to the American blue-collar conservative. Nothing is safe from these interlopers.
I'm not sure what inspired me to rant about this morning, honestly I think it's because if I made the same arguments while in church I'd probably get thrown out. At least here I know I'll get some balanced feedback.