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Petition Home Page
Below are links to church history and
personal stories of those who have experienced the pain that
comes from endeavoring to change their sexual orientation in
order to comply with church teachings and policy.
Personal stories,
Rocky, Drew, Val & Ray
Gay & Lesbian Member Suicide List
We Can Change History For Gay LDS
Lifetime
Celibacy or Excommunication
Policy
The Etiology of
Homosexuality from Authoritative Latter-day Saint Perspectives,
1879-2006
A Revised
History of Homosexuality & Mormonism, 1840-1980
Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics
Mormons for Marriage
supports marriage equality for all, and stands in respectful
opposition to California Proposition 8.
Mormon Politics & Member Opinion
ABC News- Gay Mormons Face Excommunication
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Foundation for
Reconciliation
Guilty, Your Honor
"When I was
closeted in the Army and stationed in Monterey (abt. 1983), I met an
older Gay civilian in Carmel who asked me out on a date. I was
horrified. I didn't know about Gaydar and had no clue how he knew I
was Gay. I was also riddled with guilt and shame. As we talked, I
confessed how terrible I felt about being Gay, how much I hated it
and wanted to be straight. That God hated my desires and feelings
so I could never express them with another man, or I'd go to hell.
As I revealed more and more of my self-loathing, he quietly,
sympathetically listened for awhile.
Finally, he
took my hand and said, "Honey, with all that guilt burdened on your
shoulders, you must be Roman Catholic." I shook my head tearily and
replied, "Oh much worse." He then said, "Well, the only thing worse
would be if you were Mormon." I broke down and cried for 10
minutes, in front of this stranger who had extended a hand of
acceptance to me. I'll never forget though, that at least "the
world" gets just how poorly the LDS church treats LGBT folks. (I
didn't go out with him and I never saw him again, but I can still
see his face as clear as if it had happened yesterday. "
-Connell
O'Donovan
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Please take time to read this petition, as well as read the stories and
links provided, and pass this information on to your friends and
link to us if you have a website or blog.
By
doing so, you will be sending a message to the leaders of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that it is time for
reconciliation between the Church and its gay and lesbian members.
More importantly, you will be showing support for those who have
been hurt by Church policies and practices because of their sexual
orientation.
"Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens and
young adults have one of the highest rates of suicide attempts — and
some other health and mental health problems, including substance
abuse. A new study suggests that parental acceptance, and even
neutrality, with regard to a child's sexual orientation could have a
big impact in reducing this rate."-NPR, All
Things Considered, December 29, 2008
"I
implore the students at BYU to re-assess their homophobic feelings,"
wrote Stuart Matis in The Daily Universe
shortly before
committing suicide. "Seek to understand first before you make
comments. We have the same needs as you. We desire to love and be
loved. We desire to live our lives with happiness. We are not a
threat to you or your families."
"Utah’s overall suicide rate is the 10th highest in the nation.
Unfortunately, it is the leading cause of death for Utah males ages
15 to 19, who die at a rate nearly double the national average. It
is the leading cause of death for adolescent males in Utah."-KUED.org
Voices of Hope Discussion Guide
"Thank
you,
Carol Lynn Pearson,
for reminding us that the task of any religion is to teach us whom
we're required to love, not whom we're entitled to hate." - Rabbi
Harold Kushner
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