Mormons for Marriage

til [they know] too many people have died?

I spent the evening remembering young gay Mormon men and women like Todd Ransom who have committed suicide. Three this month in Utah. And the list was already too, too long. Adding on to the toll was the accidental death of two matriarchs of the gay Mormon community, Ina Mae Murri and Stella Butler. While we cannot stop accidents, I hope and pray we can stop the suicides and the attempts .

For all the people who were upset about blacks not having access to priesthood and temples and even prayers during Sacrament Meetings, they didn’t kill themselves over it. For all the people who were upset about the Church’s support for the ERA or the banning of women praying in Sacrament Meeting or of mothers with children at home working in temples, they didn’t kill themselves over it. What is it about young gay Mormons? We must find a solution because too many lights are going out.

I’ve hesitated Continue Reading »

Just some notes to catch us all up on what’s been happening around the world and what’s coming up soon. We’ve got several conferences and events in the next few weeks/months some of you might enjoy attending.

First, in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case (aka the Prop 8 trial): We are anxiously awaiting the judgment Continue Reading »

About half way through 8:The Mormon Proposition, a handful of quotes attributed to Mormon church leaders fade on to and off of the screen.  Were the quotes accurate?  Were they taken in context? Were they recent or ancient?  You decide.  There are a couple of quotes missing, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging while I found time to grab the info on them: Continue Reading »

Folks watching 8:The Mormon Proposition for the first time this week have been coming up with questions and concerns about the movie’s claims.  Here’s a little bit of fact checking and contextualization for those of you looking for it.

Satellite Broadcast Training

Reed Cowan begins this movie with clips Continue Reading »

Last week I read this story about eight things straight people can do that gay people cannot do. And then I listened to this radio show about GLBT teens and surviving high school as a non-straight student or teacher. There are thousands of communities in the United States where people can be fired for being gay or where it’s illegal to say anything positive about homosexuality in a school situation. Both reminded me of the special place my corner of California is - a place where discrimination is, for the most part, illegal and where it’s easier to be openly gay.

Then, last night, I watched 8:The Mormon Proposition and rode the emotional rollercoaster one more time as I watched friends, acquaintances and strangers describe the elation they felt when they were able to marry and the despair that came when they realized their marriages were being voted on – and voted on negatively – by my friends and neighbors. And I wondered if California was really as nice as I’d been hoping.

The movie shares the now-familiar (to me) stories of Continue Reading »

The folks at the Foundation for Reconciliation want your stories. There’s a writing contest and the intent is to publish the stories in a book in 2011. As they say,

“We learn best – and change – through stories that build emotional connections.”

We are seeking stories from LDS or former LDS Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders or their families and loved ones. The purpose of these stories is to create an emotional connection to LDS members and to the public at large, so that greater empathy and Continue Reading »

Randy Butterfield works as an attorney in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lives with his wife and four kids. He is also trying desperately, largely without success, to beat an addiction to buying old Mormon books.

When I first saw the trailer for 8: The Mormon Proposition several months ago, my initial reaction was largely one of trepidation as it looked to be a decidedly one-sided portrayal of the events surrounding Prop 8. (Interestingly, the original version of the trailer is no longer up on the film’s website. You can catch the new trailer here.) Though it does not open in theaters until mid-June, I had a chance recently to see the film at the Atlanta Film Festival. While there are certainly some significant flaws, there is much to appreciate in 8:TMP.

The stars of the show are Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones, two gay Mormons who get married Continue Reading »

When Joseph Smith, Jr. died in 1844, his thousands of followers did not know what to do.  Who would their next prophet be?  Several people stepped up to fill the spot, and most Mormons at the time chose to follow Brigham Young who ended up leading many Saints across the country to the Great Salt Lake Valley to become The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).  Another chunk of Saints decided that the prophet’s successor should be his son, and those people, including Joseph Smith’s widow Emma, eventually became known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS).

Both groups share the same restorationist roots, both use the Book of Mormon to some extent, and both have an open canon of scripture, but their religious paths have diverged greatly in the 150+ years since Joseph’s death.   A quick examination of each church’s book of modern revelation, the Doctrine & Covenants, clearly traces the changes that began with differences of opinion on prophetic succession and polygamy and culminated today in the full recognition and acceptance of LGBT community members.

Yes, the Community of Christ (which was once called the RLDS church) added a new section of scripture to its Doctrine & Covenants this week, a section which opens the doors to full acceptance of LGBT members,  including Continue Reading »

Joshua is an active Latter-day Saint in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2009, he was sealed to his spouse in the Oakland temple and currently serves in his ward’s Elder’s Quorum Presidency.  In 2007, he came out as a gay Mormon.  He discusses the challenges of a mixed-orientation marriage in light of the fight for gay rights and suggests ways to  support both same-sex and mixed-orientation couples.

Life has a way of happening. Regardless of what you might plan for your life, there are always unexpected turns. Often, these turns are not what you would have chosen for yourself. Notwithstanding, I have learned that God has a much greater plan for me than I could ever imagine. If I only be patient and put my trust in God, He will direct my path and make more of my life than I could have done on my own.

One of the first unexpected turns was becoming an openly gay Mormon, fully dedicated to serving the Lord and following his prophets. I came out to my ward in a sacrament meeting talk over the pulpit. I had no role model to follow. For much of my life I had thought that gay people didn’t belong in the church. I pretended to be straight for many years, because Continue Reading »

Mitch Mayne is a gay Latter-day Saint living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He originally shared this story as part of a group of meetings in the Oakland and Walnut Creek, California Stakes. He is currently writing a book about his experiences growing up as a gay Mormon, and this writing will appear in his book.

You know who I am. You have sat next to me in meetings. You have greeted me with warmth when I’ve come to church. You have heard my voice in prayer.

Yet, I wonder how many of you would treat me less kindly if you knew the truth of who I really am. I wonder if you would judge me—however mildly, however inadvertently, however silently.

Being honest about who I am has seldom led to a positive outcome. In my home, my father told me that my being gay was his ultimate fear, and my ultimate failure. My mother told me it would have been better for her if I’d been born dead than gay. Growing up, I was scorned on the playground, and ridiculed and bullied in the classroom. I have been fired from jobs because I am gay. At times, even though I had done nothing that would have disqualified me, I have been told by Church leaders that I am unworthy of ever taking the Sacrament. I have been told Continue Reading »