Color me “underwhelmed” with a slight shade of “hopeful”
Salt Lake City adopts pro-gay statutes — with LDS Church support – Salt Lake Tribune.
Given the recent firesides that Guy and I attended our own area and I wrote about here (understanding my own anger) and here (Sitting by the fire with Mormons), this would seem to be a part of a larger move and a positive step. Though I can understand those that feel it is a PR step including the makers of 8: a Mormon Proposition who think its to blunt the negative impact they have been and will be getting. Andrew Sullivan is more hopeful than I: The Mormon Move – The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan . He makes a point, but still, I’m taking a wait and see attitude. I’m somewhere in between. Why?
The LDS Church has done huge damage spiritually and emotionally to gays and lesbians through it’s rhetoric, support of aversion therapy, public pronouncements and teachings about the evils of homosexuality, and so much more.
The LDS Church did huge legal damage to our families with it’s support of Prop 8 and that campaign.
The LDS Church had a chance to support state legislation to help gay and lesbian citizens, legislation crafted specifically to address the things the church _said_ it would support, and then passed on that chance.
So, that the LDS Church helped and supported this Salt Lake City ordinance aimed at protecting gay and transgender residents from discrimination in housing and employment, is surprising and welcome.
But, compared to where they are, it’s a very minor baby step (though I’d think the analogy of a baby lifting it’s head for the first time would be more fitting).
I applaud the Church, tentatively.
I am not quite nearly as effusive as some. Jim Dabakis, who helped found Equality Utah (great organization btw) and the Pride Center (and who we know tangentially) said:
“They are really trying to put some of the Prop 8 stuff behind them,” Dabakis said. “The discussions we have had over the last several months have shown what a caring, loving, concerned institution [the LDS Church] is.”
I hope he was misquoted, because though I have seen the caring, loving and concerned part at times, I wouldn’t use those words when it comes to the institution’s treatment of it’s gay brothers and sisters. After all the damage, this doesn’t turn it into a ‘caring, loving, concerned institution’. And saying so is a bit premature.
So, I am hopeful that the Church has lifted it’s baby head here and recently in our own area. But it has a long way to go till it can even just pull itself up.
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Trey, I appreciate your ‘wait and see’ stance on this issue. As a mom who’s childrens’ ‘fair and reasonable rights’ have been less than supported by and even taken away by the LDS church, I tend to side with the makers of 8: The Mormon Proposition in believing it is a PR stunt. Perhaps it is that “Mother Bear” in me that feels I need to stay poised to defend and protect. So your more level-headed approach is helpful for me to consider.
I too felt like Jim certainly had to have been misquoted, as you said ” because though I have seen the caring, loving and concerned part at times, I wouldn’t use those words when it comes to the institution’s treatment of it’s gay brothers and sisters. After all the damage, this doesn’t turn it into a ‘caring, loving, concerned institution’. And saying so is a bit premature.”
I am hoping as Dustin Lance Black said in his interview today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcF7FDxm-Gw
that there is a piece of that good Mormon heart that is softening.
Thank you again for your perspective. It is appreciated. Linda
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