Intervention show--gay LDS guy

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Let's be pragmatic. A practicing gay person is at odds with the principles which allow one full fellowship of the community.

As long as full fellowship is denied, I don't see the value, and prior to 78, I can see that same argument holding more or less true for blacks.

Why would you want somebody to continue to fight the ostracizing from members?

Hopefully, there is something in Christ's atonement which makes up for these circumstances, but I wouldn't recommend the practicing gay stick it out. That is heretical I know, but it seems more pragmatic to me.

First, I think the ostracizing described here is overplayed. Certainly there are some members with loud opinions and no tact, but the church is not full of provincial anti-gay bigots, excepting the enlightened few who deign to post on Cougarguard.

Second, if (repeat, IF) a gay person were to come to terms with the church's stance on homosexuality, there are still lots of wonderful teachings about faith, charity, service, etc. that said person could benefit from--things that have no more direct bearing on sexual orientation than they do on a whole host of other sins and/or weaknesses.

[BYU71]

What if I was living with a girl and not married. What if children in the ward were aware of it along with the adults. What if I never got up and bore my testimony and advocated in church that living together unmarried was an acceptable alternative to marriage.

Would I and my partner be welcome. I suggest it would be a mixed response. Some would gladly welcome us in hopes of a conversion to marriage. Some would be afraid of the example it was setting for their children and rather we not attend.

[RC Vikings]

Originally Posted by BYU71

What if I was living with a girl and not married. What if children in the ward were aware of it along with the adults. What if I never got up and bore my testimony and advocated in church that living together unmarried was an acceptable alternative to marriage.

Would I and my partner be welcome. I suggest it would be a mixed response. Some would gladly welcome us in hopes of a conversion to marriage. Some would be afraid of the example it was setting for their children and rather we not attend.

At least it would stop those gay rumors.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by RC Vikings

At least it would stop those gay rumors.

But probably not the gerbil ones.

[SoCalCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

If you had a gay relative who was out of the closet, would you encourage him to attend church, even if he had no intention of giving up sexual relationships with the same sex?

Not while the anti-gay marriage amendment is pending. There's bound to be a lot of talk about that from the pulpit in the months leading up to November.

[Flystripper]

Originally Posted by Tex

First, I think the ostracizing described here is overplayed. Certainly there are some members with loud opinions and no tact, but the church is not full of provincial anti-gay bigots, excepting the enlightened few who deign to post on Cougarguard.

Second, if (repeat, IF) a gay person were to come to terms with the church's stance on homosexuality, there are still lots of wonderful teachings about faith, charity, service, etc. that said person could benefit from--things that have no more direct bearing on sexual orientation than they do on a whole host of other sins and/or weaknesses.

The ostracizing is more subtle. My in laws are moving due in large part to their ostracizing in the ward. Prior to their son coming out of the closet, they were in the stake relief society and high counsel and were a pillar in the ward. Soon after it became common knowledge that their son was gay they were both released and have been without a calling for nearly 4 years and have been the 100 lb gorilla in the room that nobody knows how to interact with. People that were friends for 20 years now will barely look at them in the eye. They are moving in large part because of how uncomfortable they feel in a ward and stake that they have been a part of for 30 years.

Something is not right about that.

[BYU71]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

The ostracizing is more subtle. My in laws are moving due in large part to their ostracizing in the ward. Prior to their son coming out of the closet, they were in the stake relief society and high counsel and were a pillar in the ward. Soon after it became common knowledge that their son was gay they were both relseaed and have been without a calling for nearly 4 years and have been the 100 lb gorilla in the room that nobody knows how to interact with. People that were friends for 20 years now will barely look at them in the eye. They are moving in large part because of how uncomfortable they feel in a ward and stake that they have been a part of for 30 years.

Something is not right about that.

That sure isn't right. I guess it depends on where you are at. I know of a person who was a Bishop. After he was released his son came out of the closet. He was called as a Bishop again later in his life.

I also know of a Stake President somewhere whose son has pretty much come out of the closet.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

The ostracizing is more subtle. My in laws are moving due in large part to their ostracizing in the ward. Prior to their son coming out of the closet, they were in the stake relief society and high counsel and were a pillar in the ward. Soon after it became common knowledge that their son was gay they were both relseaed and have been without a calling for nearly 4 years and have been the 100 lb gorilla in the room that nobody knows how to interact with. People that were friends for 20 years now will barely look at them in the eye. They are moving in large part because of how uncomfortable they feel in a ward and stake that they have been a part of for 30 years.

Something is not right about that.

How vocal have your in-laws been about homosexuality and how the church handles the issue? Has their ostracism come despite them being quiet on the subject, or are they being vocal and that is causing issues in the ward?

[Flystripper]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

How vocal have your in-laws been about homosexuality and how the church handles the issue? Has their ostracism come despite them being quiet on the subject, or are they being vocal and that is causing issues in the ward?

Not sure. They live in Utah and I live in CA. I would guess that they don't really say much unless asked. I think they probably give their opinion when asked though. The thing is, is that people are very uncomfortable around them which in turn makes them feel uncomfortable.

[scottie]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

Not sure. They live in Utah and I live in CA. I would guess that they don't really say much unless asked. I think they probably give their opinion when asked though. The thing is, is that people are very uncomfortable around them which in turn makes them feel uncomfortable.

I'm not suggesting that what you're saying isn't true Flystripper, but how do you or your in-laws know that people are very uncomfortable around your in-laws?