http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/02/20/hes-mormon-and-hes-gay-and-hes-coming-out Comments On: He's Mormon and He's Gay and He's Coming Out by Dan Savage en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:45:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss I'll just point to a few that pop into my head
What is it about Christianity that makes being gay more than a biblical sin,sush that it becomes and obsesion. That and the ubiquitous abuse by male priests, elders etc of young men needs to be examined in the light of Christian theology, biblical studies and worship practices. (A good place to start answering some of these questions is Bishop Shelby Spongs 'The Sins of Scripture'.)
As to worship practices consider, for instance, the worship of an almost naked man, nailed to a cross often portrayed with and extatic expression on his face. Sadly political so called correctness forbids us criticising religion so we prattle on and on about the many 'evil' individuals, such as Catholic priests, who have betrayed out 'trust' yet we dare not ask what is it about that particular religion that consistently attracts peadophiles. And dont' get me started on Mormons seriously weird 'sacred' underpants.
As to the so called abominable sin of sodomy hasn't anyone noticed this isn't exclusively praciced by homosexuals?
I could go on and on but
Posted by Dissily Mordentroge]]> Sun, 12 May 2013 07:44:33 -0700 The Stranger Posted by lolorhone]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:24:09 -0800 The Stranger Posted by sniff]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:52:57 -0800 The Stranger Ha!

That's funny...

Posted by sniff]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:44:03 -0800 The Stranger Posted by _db_]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:33:44 -0800 The Stranger
Misery loves company
Posted by Fortunate]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:11:07 -0800 The Stranger

Posted by Clayton]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:57:45 -0800 The Stranger
As to people's reactions being too shocked (because the guy seems obviously gay), many... actually all of the Mormons I knew came across that way, too.

BTW, look at his sister's videos. Yes, they are really Mormon. Although I am suspicious that the whole family has access to the nice recording equipment.
Posted by lqtm]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:42:16 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Boything's Girl]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:25:15 -0800 The Stranger
However, after learning of the LDS involvement in Prop 8 I started to pay attention to them and their attitudes towards gay people, and I have read dozens of blogs from gay Mormons. Nothing in this video is anything I haven't heard before from other gay Mormons. So even if he isn't legit I doubt it is satire so much as a dramatization of the true attitudes and experiences of gay Mormons.

The thing about Mormons, and some other more aware religious groups, is that they have this idea that if you are being polite and calm you aren't being hateful. They think that it is only hate if you are foaming at the mouth, using bad words and basically saying you hate.

They don't get that you can hate with a smile on your face and polite words in your mouth. They have convinced themselves that putting enormous pressure on people to conform and toe the Mormon line no matter how miserable it makes their life isn't hate.

The insidious part of Mormon belief is the idea that a family stays together into the next life. That a family is sealed and goes through eternity together. So that if you decide to leave the church you aren't just hurting yourself (in their view) but hurting all your relatives because you will be breaking up the eternal family and leaving an "empty chair" at the eternal family feast.

The idea is "how can you be so selfish as to put your own, temporary, mortal pleasure over the good of your ETERNAL family?"

Most other religions don't pretend that life goes on as normal in the afterlife, with the same kinds of familial relationships holding the same place in the existence of the individuals. But Mormonism does. In their theology you still have a special and unique relationship with your family for all eternity, and if you interfere with keeping the whole family together you are hurting these people you love FOR ALL TIME.

Talk about a guilt trip. Even the Catholic church missed out on that line of guilting into obedience.

So even if this guy isn't for real, he is a representation of real people experiencing exactly what is being depicted. Being guilted into letting go of any real opportunity for happiness in this life for a pipe dream about the next.

And Mormons continue to convince themselves that they are so wonderful when they don't kick out a gay child or call gay people names, or basically act with the minimum decency we would expect from all people, even as they use guilt and pressure to convince their children to give up hope for love, companionship, and pleasure in exchange for the hope of being able to remain part of their oppressive family for ever, as they all pat themselves on the back over how progressive they are in how they express their hate.

Hate with a smile and a nice world. It's the LDS way.
Posted by Fortunate]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:53:09 -0800 The Stranger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_peop…

This is a good thing.
Posted by Dr.Duck]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:40:03 -0800 The Stranger Posted by issa]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:39:51 -0800 The Stranger Posted by j.utah]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:12:31 -0800 The Stranger
Gave me the sads. Also a boner, he's kind of hot. Do you think I could get him drunk? Oh, right, Mormons don't drink. :-)

Some religious communities are especially closed -- Mormons doubly so. Their own universities (BYU), no absolution (so he can't sin and then get back on the wagon, he'd face eternal consequences for a single blow job).

To decide against celibacy and try out being with a guy means he potentially cuts himself off from his family and all his friends. Seems like he puts his faith first, so I predict he will either be unhappy but stay alone, or more likely find a like-minded Mormon lesbian and they will together raise equally brainwashed Mormon kids. Maybe in a generation or two the Mormons will change their tune.

Still would like to get him drunk.
Posted by delta35]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:59:43 -0800 The Stranger Posted by roddy]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:36:06 -0800 The Stranger
/religion is a hoot
Posted by Urgutha Forka]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:32:36 -0800 The Stranger
What are to make of the masked man at 1:40?
Posted by Timothy]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:15:47 -0800 The Stranger
And I was doing ok reading his website until I came across the phrase "seized to exist." As in, "as soon as classes let out, my social life seized to exist." Buh bye.
Posted by EmilyTakesTokyo]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:08:25 -0800 The Stranger
Same thing here. None of them think they are bigots or sexist or racist. And, given the media and culture savvy of the Church and its membership, if you turn a video camera on them, waiting for their response, they know how to respond. They're totally cool, remember.

What this poor guy fails to realize is that by choosing to associate himself with the LDS philosophy and practice, he's part of the machine that creates bigotry and racism and sexism. He's the problem.

He likely holds the Priesthood, which is denied to his sister and mother, and thinks nothing of it. He's asking for acceptance of his homosexuality, while propping up a philosophy that denies equality.

Until he takes responsibility for the damage done by his perpetuation of a failed political philosophy (mormonism), he has no right asking for acceptance.
Posted by Timothy]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:58:07 -0800 The Stranger Posted by beccoid]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:44:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by JrzWrld]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:43:37 -0800 The Stranger
Posted by dirge]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:42:49 -0800 The Stranger Posted by kwodell]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:30:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Ms. D]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:25:54 -0800 The Stranger
Lack of sex doesn't actually kill people. If he feels like being celibate is his own idea, and especially if it actually is, it might not even hurt him.
Posted by DRF]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:10:44 -0800 The Stranger