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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
T
For Immediate
Release: 10/16/2009
Media
Contact: Peter Danzig, 801-865-9029
Four Mormon
Groups Release A Joint Statement Cautioning that Mormon Political
Involvement May Lead to Restrictions on Free Expression of Religion.
Four Mormon
groups advocating for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)
members of their faith released a joint statement today disagreeing
with the views of one of their leading Apostles. Elder Dallin H.
Oaks of the quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints (LDS) gave a speech earlier this week stating
that the free exercise of religion is threatened by "the newly
alleged 'civil right' of same-gender couples to enjoy the privileges
of marriage." He also compared the protests held near LDS buildings
following the passage of Proposition 8 in California to the
intimidation of Southern blacks during the civil rights movement.
Citing their
own faith as the motivation behind their opposition, members of
these four groups worry their Church’s involvement in political
campaigns to restrict or remove the rights of LGBT individuals may
actually harm the free exercise of religion. “We have always been
taught that it is not ‘just to mingle religious influence with civil
government’” said Cheryl Nunn, the executive director of the
Foundation for Reconciliation/LDSapology.org. She continued, “How
can I face my friends in other faiths if I stand by and do nothing?”
Other groups signing the statement are Mormons for Marriage,
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, and the LDS Safe Space
Coalition.
The groups are
also gathering signatures of support from Clergy of other faiths and
have already had several clergy from different faith groups agree to
sign the statement.
The groups
have requested that Elder Dallin H. Oaks accept their statement in
person at a petition delivery via Handcart that the Foundation for
Reconciliation/LDSapology has organized on November 4, 2009, the
anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. The event
is meant to highlight the fact that it is their Mormon faith and
heritage that has motivated their stance on these issues. “The Pew
Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 48% of Mormons would
prefer their church stay out of politics, and 24% of Mormons feel
homosexuality should be accepted by society” said Peter Danzig, the
Foundations Communications Director.
The full text
of their statement and the letter of support for clergy of other
faiths to sign are included below. Clergy or other individuals who
wish to sign in support may do so by emailing
ForReligiousFreedom@gmail.com.
Click Here
to Read Full
Joint
Statement
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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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