I believe that homophobia, hate, and prejudice are sown in the home and in the hallowed halls of worship, where children live and go for nurturing and guidance, and I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) bears substantial responsibility for the current blight of homophobic bullying in the United States. It’s true that they are but one culprit in the ongoing siege on LGBT (read: human) rights, but they’re a doozy.
The following excerpt is from “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” published in 1995:
“God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. . . . We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”
Also:
• Utah (the Mormons) gave forty-five percent of the out-of-state funding for Prop. 8 in California (declaring legal marriage to be between one man and one woman, and eliminating the right of same-sex couples to wed)—which since 2008 has created a legal and social morass and ongoing discrimination against LGBTs in that state. The Mormons announced their support for the proposition in a letter intended to be read in every congregation in California, which enjoined church members to “do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time.”
• The major engine behind Prop. 8, Protect Marriage, was well supported by the Mormon church and thousands of Mormon volunteers; nearly ninety percent of the precinct walkers who went door to door promoting the measure were members of the church. After the fateful election in which the ballot measure passed with 52 percent of the vote in November 2008, Michael Otterson, managing director of public affairs for the church, said, “We’ve spoken out on other issues, we’ve spoken out on abortion, we’ve spoken out on those other kinds of things. But we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this.”
• In Maryland the local Mormon church is actively organizing to overturn the marriage equality law passed by both houses of the legislature and signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley on March 1 of this year.
It is against this backdrop of rejection and condemnation that some of the estimated 1800 LGBT students at Mormon Brigham Young University (BYU) have in the past few months joined in an unofficial group, Understanding Same-Gender Attraction (USGA), to create “It Gets Better at Brigham Young University.” Like more than forty thousand other videos, this one has been produced for the effective It Gets Better Project, which was founded by Dan Savage, in response to the startling increase in harassment and bullying and an alarming wave of LGBT teen suicides. The project’s mission is to encourage LGBT teenagers to endure the hell they’re experiencing now, in anticipation of happier years to come.
Here are some excerpts from the BYU video:
“I thought that eventually maybe . . . maybe it would be better if I died.” ~Kevin Northrup
“I just felt that I needed to just kill myself, because the heartbreak of me dying would be less than the heartbreak my parents would experience if I came out to them.” ~Erikka Beam
“It wasn’t too long ago that I was in the hospital, in the psychiatric ward, silent, not willing to talk to anyone, believing that no one could love me.” ~Mark
“74% of LGBT students at BYU have contemplated suicide. 24% percent have attempted suicide.” ~Displayed graphic
Wait. Seventy-four percent have contemplated suicide? Twenty-four percent have attempted it? By any standard, even in the 15- to 24-year-old population (among which suicide is the third-leading cause of death), these statistics are stunning.
Brigham Young University has an egregious history in its treatment of homosexuals, which has historically included shock treatments and other aversion therapies. As well, according to one gay student, “Most gays I know went to BYU initially with an undying desire to change,” and were encouraged to enroll there to rid themselves of homosexuality. When the desired change didn’t come, confusion, shame, and self-loathing often ensued.
This indictment of the Mormons and BYU is not intended for the growing number of devout members of the fold who have been able to reconcile their religious faith with a sense of justice and support for equality; there are exceptions to every rule. It’s also good that the university has allowed this unofficial group to exist on campus and that the USGA students in the video express relief that prayer and reaching out have helped them to realize that they are not alone, and that God does love them even though they are gay.
But note the university’s official position about this video, which is that although the students will not be punished for making it, they would be disciplined for acting on their sexual attractions, as this would be a breach of the “honor code,” which all students entering BYU are compelled to sign. This code prohibits premarital sex, and breaking the code carries penalties as severe as being expelled from the university. In part, the code reads, “Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the honor code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.”
Let’s be clear. Bigotry can never be justified by codifying it. The Mormons have polished institutionalized bigotry to a high shine, and they have a particular affinity for political causes that promote legislating discrimination and inequality.
And one last thing. Governor Mitt Romney, a practicing Mormon and the presumptive nominee as the Republican candidate for U.S. president, said this in August 2011: “I believe we should have a federal amendment in the constitution that defines marriage as a relationship between a man and woman, because I believe the ideal place to raise a child is in a home with a mom and a dad.” On Wednesday, April 11, the National Organization for Marriage, the nation’s number one opponent of same-sex marriage, put the full force of its antigay agenda and clout in an endorsement of Romney’s campaign.
The election of a president who adheres to the punishing positions of the Mormon church would set in motion untenable and dangerous regression at a time when so many positive strides are being made in the quest for LGBT equality. Make no mistake. Hate speech—especially from the mouths of authority and religion—is nothing short of deadly.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow more from this author, Rachel Hockett, on Facebook here ————> The Equality Mantra
The Book on Mormon,
Jesika
12 Apr 2012I’m mormon, and i love gay people. if asked if i think being gay is right, i answer…not for me. 🙂
being gay is their business, not mine. But i love them no matter what, gay, striaght, lesbian, bisexual, transgender…etc. i have tons of lesbian, and gay friends. and i love them all! :))
Susan
12 Apr 2012And do you also believe they’ll go to heaven just like you believe you yourself will, Jesika!?
Jesika
12 Apr 2012@susan,…yes i do actually. not many members think so, but i do. i know what it says in the Bible and the book of Mormon. but God loves everybody. I dont see why they wouldn’t… 🙂
Bethany
12 Apr 2012@Jesika – Actually (and I’m both LDS and fully supportive of equal rights, too) the Book of Mormon is totally silent on the matter of Homosexuality. Which has always made me wonder: if it’s such a horrible sin, why was it not mentioned ONCE in the book that’s supposed to be the “truest book on Earth”?
Kara
12 Apr 2012If they came knocking at my door and said “Have you found Jesus?” I would say “Yea, he was in my closet this morning then just came out and said ‘TODAY IS SO FABULOUS!!’ then we had some tea and gabbed. It was totally awesome!!”
Wonder what they would say to that…
Stacey
12 Apr 2012You cant change religion, it is there right to have what they call moral conduct. In the bible sexual sin is a big one. I amnot saying that I believe in this, but in this country it is freedom of religion and freedom from religion.
Mathew
12 Apr 2012I’ve attended their church a bit, and love my Mormon friends, and can attest this is 100% accurate.
Chris
12 Apr 2012Tooldom personified, hatred spewed forth!
Stacey
12 Apr 2012If you dont like the way mormon, chritianity etc treats you stay away from them…
Christoph
12 Apr 2012Unfortunatley mormons don’t Stay away from other People.
Brandyextravaganza
12 Apr 2012How can you stay away from people who pursue you? Who would ostracize you and make you an outcast if given the right audience? Did you read any of the article and the stats given? They’re staggering and many of these kids grew up in Mormon homes where they couldn’t stay away from the religion they’re taught.
Talking points for happy christian slogans: God is Love. God doesn’t make junk. Jesus loves you.
Which is it? Are there exceptions because if there are, well, I call foul.
Grace
12 Apr 2012They have a right to there beliefs and indivdules have the right to vote and be involved in politics but ici church gets involved in
Kevin
12 Apr 2012here is a great idea… do they still send this book to you, lol we should ALL request a copy and bankrupt em a little lol
Vanessa
12 Apr 2012I agree that everyone has the freedom of religion and can believe in whatever they want to. but they shouldn’t force their belief on others in any way (including their children! when they grow older they should always be able to choose their own beliefs) and secondly, there must be a clear separation of state and religion because not everyone is christian, or mormon, any other confession, or even religious at all. So whoever wants to can still believe it’s wrong, the state though should guarantee everyone the same equal rights. I think the best weapon against bigotry like that is to educate the children in middle and high school, objectively and regardless of any religious beliefs. unfortunately this is not possible everywhere, which makes young kids think sth is wrong with them. we need to show them perspective, outside their families and outside religion.
Becky
12 Apr 2012I dont push my non religious views on everyone and Ill never understand why some think its ok to push their religious views on everyone. Religion and those beliefs or non beliefs are personal and you cant make others think like you do. If we were all the same it would be a boring place.
Kathy
12 Apr 2012I am one of the Mormons that support gay rights. I have many friends that are GLBT and are more open and accepting than anyone else I know. And before anyone asks, yes, I think some will go to heaven. I think how you treat people and live up to your religions beliefs are what get you to heaven or not.
Byron
12 Apr 2012Mormons as individuals, Religion is not the issue. It is their Cultist ideology. That is true of most Religions, their dogmatic ideology. Being spiritual, abiding by ones beliefs is perfectly just. The injustice, is when any individual or organization, attempts to impose their religious values on others through oppression. That is why no individual or group of religious ideologues, should be allowed to impose their ideology on other Americans.!!!
Desiree
12 Apr 2012I’m gay…and I love straight people. Bethany, you are right on! Also, the Bible states, do not add anything and do not take away. I believe The Book of Mormon is adding to the Bible. I was raised in Utah in an all Mormon family. It was a hard upbringing, to say the least.
Gen
12 Apr 2012Kevin John, no, do NOT request a copy of the book, they don’t just mail it to you, they will come to your door and preach to you, and they will keep coming back until you have asked them several times NOT to ever come back. It was funny, years ago I was dialing my now ex gf number to call her and switched a few numbers around by accident, and got the mormon church. Well, they asked if I wanted a certain movie they had and I thought, what harm would there be in getting one. Little did I know, they only make house calls. 🙁
Laura
12 Apr 2012I absolutely support Freedom of/from Religion as a human right. I have a deep skepticism of ANYTHING which claims to be the “One True…” because I suspect with over 6 billion people on this planet there is One True “____” for each of us. So much arrogance to think you know what is best for someone else. Remove your own speck, Judge not, vengeance is mine, etc. At least the Bible is CLEAR about that…
Melina
12 Apr 2012I’m gay & Mormon and proud to be both! We aren’t a cult! Educate yourselves on the religion! We aren’t polygamists and we aren’t a cult!
Julianne
12 Apr 2012Believe, don’t believe, for that is why we are here. No one likes to be called to repentance. If you truly believe in a loving Father in Heaven who establishes His laws to show us the way to everlasting happiness, then you will earnestly and honestly seek Him and His counsel in your life. As you do, He will let you know if there is something amiss, some imperfection that needs to be refined and give you the strength to let Him help you refine it. If you don’t believe in a God with laws, then remember that even Satan and his angels believe! And I pray that as I receive a portion of His mercy at my judgement day for my imperfections, that you will receive His mercy for yours. We are not commanded to love only those who believe as we believe, choose as we choose, or love us in return. We are commanded to “love one another”…and for this commandment, we too shall be judged!
Rob
12 Apr 2012I am really offended by this article and in particular the use of Mitt Romney picture. I am a Christian and support gay rights. many churches are changing their attitudes towards LGBT’s. This article is a political piece of crap aimed solely at Mitt Romney.
By the way, The Mormon church is one of only a hand full of religions that does pay taxes.
Pingback: Calling All Campuses