Pro-Gay Protest Downtown SLC Oct 7th, 2010

Okay...  I have to find where to start.

I've been hearing SO many things that have offended me today that I'm about to lose my mind.  I cannot believe how close-minded people can be.

Before I go on, I must point out that I have not read Boyd K. Packer's speech from the LDS Fall 2010 General Conference in its entirety.  I have, however, read excerpts from it.  If anyone that reads this knows where I can get the entire speech, I would be much appreciative.

From what I have heard of the talk, Boyd K. Packer stated that being gay is “impure and unnatural”.  There have been several examples of homosexual behavior in the wild.  Let me list a few locations I have found information just by doing a simple search in Google:

·         Homosexual behavior in wild Sumatran orangutans

·         Same Sex Couples Common in the Wild

·         List of animals displaying homosexual behavior

Should I go on?

If homosexual behavior can be found so commonly in the wild, how then, can it possibly be “impure and unnatural”?

Now, let’s move on to another point.

“There are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God’s laws and nature,” Boyd K. Packer, president of the church’s Quorum of Twelve Apostles, said in a strongly worded sermon about the dangers of pornography and same-sex marriage. “A law against nature would be impossible to enforce. Do you think a vote to repeal the law of gravity would do any good?”  Some argue that “they were pre-set and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural,” he said. “Not so! Why would our Heavenly Father do that to anyone? Remember he is our father.”
            -Salt Lake Tribune

I cannot say as a matter of fact if sexual orientation is decided or inborn as there have not been any conclusive studies that I can find to site, however, I can give my opinion.

There are people out there that decide which orientation they prefer.  I also know that there are many people out there that cannot decide.  They are hard-wired that way.  The only reason I believe this with such certainty is the amount of criticism homosexual and bisexual people face.  Who would choose that?  I know I wouldn’t.  Would you?  Why would someone choose to be ridiculed their entire lives if they had any other choice?  There are people that hide it so as to not be tormented.  These are the people that marry the opposite sex and later tell their spouse that they are unhappy because they cannot be attracted to them.  Or the young LDS boys that go on missions only to come home early because they know they are living a lie.  These young men often leave the church completely or end their lives rather than live a lie.

Who are we to tell these young men and women they are evil and unnatural for what they are naturally drawn to?  Why can they not be happy?  What right do we have to take that away from them?

There are multitudes of people that have tried to change their behavior and tried to not be attracted to the same sex.  This almost always fails.  Can you imagine why?  If this was something that one COULD change, why would this fail?

Let’s look at this from another angle.

It has been said that human beings are hard wired to be attracted to the most suitable partner.  The same thing happens in the wild.  If this were not the case, can you explain to me why one woman or man is attractive to you and another is not?  Or why one woman or man is attractive or not attractive to you, but is the opposite for someone else?

My point is, we cannot help who we are attracted to in the heterosexual world, so why would it be any different with homosexuality?  I am bisexual.  I find men and women attractive.  This is not to say that I see women and can appreciate them.  Both men and women generate feelings of desire, just as to any heterosexual, one member of the opposite sex will generate feelings of desire, where another will not.

We do not pair up with someone that we do not have feelings of desire for.  Otherwise, what would be the point?

I have so much I would like to say on this point, but I’m getting off topic.  I originally started this particular installment of my blog to talk about the protest that happened last night (October 7^th, 2010) and the comments I have been hearing or reading today in response to that protest.

“Gay rights activists staged a silent protest Thursday evening outside the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City in response to a Church leader's remarks that homosexuality is an immoral condition that can and should be overcome.”
            -KSL

I am not going to quote any specific comments I have heard or read today.  I am only speaking generally about this.

No one was there to start a fight.  No one was violent.  They were there to make a point.

That point was simple.  Millions of people commit suicide or are hurt in one way or another by anti-gay activists preaching intolerance.  Boyd K. Packer may not have meant to hurt anyone directly.  However, in saying what he said during his speech, he may be misinterpreted and some listeners may lash out towards those that are different.

I do not blame the protesters.  I would have been there if I were in different circumstances.  I have been to a protest against something the LDS religion has done or said in the past and I very much enjoyed it.  No, the church will never change their views.  We don’t expect them to.  All pro-gay activists want is acceptance.  Tolerance.  Most gays and lesbians do not force their views on others (there are some radicals out there, but they do not – despite what some might think – make up the majority).  Why do others feel it necessary to force their views on them?

Who are they hurting?  I keep reading, seeing, hearing people say that to give homosexuals the right to marry, they are threatening traditional marriage.  How is that?  I have never heard a single soul utter the words “We want the right to marry and we want your rights stripped!”  Have you?

All the gay community wants is the same rights as anyone else.  African-Americans received those rights, although they were thought for so long to not deserve those rights.  Women received the right to vote, although they were perceived for a long time to not deserve that right.  Where is it written in stone that homosexuals should never be allowed the same rights as heterosexuals?

I have so much more I want to say, but that will have to wait.

In closing, I simply ask that you open your mind and heart to those different from you.  Don’t turn them away, criticize, or hurt those people.  No one chooses to be different.  Love thy neighbor, right?  Try to be more tolerant of people in general.  Especially anyone different from what you may see as “normal”.

Thank you for reading my blog today.  If you like what you’ve read, become a follower.  I guarantee I will have more entries like this.  And please, leave me a comment.  Let me know what you really thought of what I had to say.

Thank you.