Are there gay mormons
The Mormon state is seen as deeply homophobic. Yet, from polygamy to parade, Mormons themselves are a distinctly lgbtq+ lot
‘Salt Lake is a very gender non-conforming place,’ said the historian J Seth Anderson after he and his husband became the first gay couple to be married in Utah, in 2013. When most non-Utahns think of the state, probably the last thing that comes to consciousness is ‘gay’. Instead, they might consider of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, aka Mormons), whose members constitute 42 per cent of the population. Or maybe they think of Republicans, who outnumber Democrats nearly four to one.
While counterintuitive, Anderson’s statement about Salt Lake City’s queerness is true in most senses of the word. First, Utah defies norms and boundaries. For many who analyze queer theory, queerness isn’t just about who you romance or your sexual identity. It’s also a lens for understanding how culture defines what’s considered normal or distinct, and how these definitions affect distinct behaviours and groups of people. In that sense, Utah can be seen as queer because it defies or ‘queers’ normative society in the Merged States. Second, Salt Lake is simply home to a lot of gay people
As a gay Mormon, I make my home in the borderlands. In a theology that says every man must be married to a woman in order to be with God and progress in heaven, gay Mormons are anomalies. No one quite knows what to do with us.
For a while, the answer was to serve a full-time mission, join a woman, say no one, and let things perform themselves out.
When that approach led to tragedy and broken families, the answer became celibacy, which is less of an respond and more of a holding pattern in a religion that declares the family to be “the most crucial unit in day and in eternity.”
Every question, from “How can I be happy with no possibility of discovery a companion?” to “Will I still be gay after this life?” seems to be met with official answers amounting to “Have faith. It will work out in the end.” And, yet, despite these difficult and unanswered questions, I decide to continue to participate in my Latter-day Saint congregation and community.
So if I don’t relate, why stay? There are plenty of affirming faith communities where queer people and their families have a place at the table as equals. But Mormonism is part of me
Same-Sex Attraction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a sensitive issue that requires kindness, caring and understanding. The “Same-Sex Attraction” section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org reinforces the reality that, in the words of one Latter-day Saint scripture, God “loveth his children” (1 Nephi 11:17), and seeks to help everyone better understand queer attraction from a gospel perspective.
The Church does not take a position on the cause of same-sex attraction. In 2006, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “The Church does not have a position on the causes of any of these susceptibilities or inclinations, including those related to same-gender attraction.”
Feelings of same-sex attraction are not a sin. President M. Russell Ballard said: “Let us be clear: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that ‘the encounter of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to hold such attractions, they do decide how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God’s children, incl
'Even though I still don't understand everything, I recognize that I don't hold to. All I am asked to do is love as God would love.'
This comment, and many others like it, is included in an updated version of 'Mormon and Gay,” an official website from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The site reinforces the reality that, in the words of one Mormon scripture, God “…loveth his children;…” (1 Nephi 11:17), and seeks to support everyone better understand lgbtq+ attraction from a gospel perspective.
Laurie’s Story-A Flicker of Light That Brought Me Back to the Saviour
The first version of this website launched in December 2012 under the title 'Mormons and Gays.' The new appellation, 'Mormon and Gay,' reflects the existence that a person doesn’t need to choose between these two identities — one can, in evidence, be gay and reside faithful to the teachings of Christ.
The Church acknowledges that Latter-day Saints experience same-sex attraction in a variety of ways. Some strive to remain celibate and others marry. Some identify as gay or lesbian while others do not.
Personal Accounts and Comments from Church Leaders
Mormonandgay.lds.org features five personal