After reading Gregory A. Clark’s opinion feature “Broken Bridge” [June 7, City Weekly], I am writing to share my experience with Clark at the Pride Parade.
I marched with the Mormons Building Bridges group and was approached by Clark to answer some questions. What followed was not in any way an “interview,” or even anything remotely resembling a conversation. Clark simply told me that as a Mormon, I must support killing gays. Since the Bible condoned killing gays, I must either believe the Bible or believe that God was wrong.
When I tried to explain that I believe that God loves everyone and that fallible humans sometimes do horrible things in God’s name, I was quickly cut off with a rant about how I, again, must support killing gays because I am a religious person. Nuance must be something lost on Clark, who seems to see the world only through the lens of his own black & white paradigm (Mormons = gay killers).
I found myself listening to what I assumed was a madman ranting about my desire to murder gays. When I tried to correct him, I was again interrupted. I was disturbed to see that Clark seemed to be writing down “believes the Bible was correct about killing gays” next to my name as if he were quoting me instead of his own incoherent ramblings.
I was horrified that my name could be associated with something I do not believe or support. I can only imagine how Erika Munson and Kendall Wilcox must feel after reading their “quotes” in Clark’s article. If their experience was remotely similar to mine, they were misquoted and misrepresented.
After a few more minutes of listening to Clark argue with himself about organized religion, each moment stepping closer and closer to me while aggressively waving his arms, I noticed a police officer moving toward me. I assume the officer saw Clark as a potential threat to my safety. Clark must have noticed him as well, since he abruptly ended our “interview” and scuttled off.
If Clark had taken a few moments to listen to me instead of lecturing me, he would have learned that despite our religious differences, we share considerable common ground. I, too, believe that simply marching in a parade and pledging to love members of the LGBT community is not enough. I support legalizing marriage for all members of society and providing equal rights for all. However, to use a familiar cliché, I do not believe that Rome was built in a day. I saw my participation in the Pride Parade as a steppingstone leading to equal rights for all citizens. We start with love and acceptance, and use those as a guiding force in our fight for equality.
The bridge isn’t broken—it simply isn’t finished yet. I can believe that change will happen within society, and I can believe that my church is capable of change, as well. People do horrible things in the name of religion, but they also do wonderful things. I sincerely hope that all religious people, regardless of creed, can come to the conclusion that supporting equality is the best way to live their religion. At the Pride Parade, I did my best to show the LGBT community that I support them. Clark was busy harassing people and writing a disingenuous article. Who did more to improve the human condition?
I am disappointed that a publication I admire and respect would publish the work of such a shoddy writer. To quote another religious leader who believed in equality: “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Stephanie Lauritzen
Murray
My, my, my. Looks like Sister Lauritzen of Mormon Building Bridges wants her own interview added to the public record, too.
Especially the part about God's command that gay lovers be killed. You know, as He spake in Leviticus 20:13, which the Mormon Church cites as a "basic belief" about homosexuality--"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
And just what did Lauritzen say about that?
She spake, "I don't think God was wrong."
Yup, yup, she really did.
Sounds like a fun topic to write about more fully. With appropriate extra nuance, of course.
In the meantime, folks can visit "Deceptions, Devils, and Delusions: Mormons Building Bridges, 2" found at UtahfreethinkersDOTcom (sorry, the City Weekly comments board doesn't routinely allow live links).
Granted, I wrote and posted "Deceptions, Devils, and Delusions" before reading Ms. Lauritzen's City Weekly letter. But, no surprise, many of the points therein apply to her as well. The shepherd's sheep oft look and act much alike, and their plaintive bleatings sound much the same.
You do know that by publishing this article you are no longer eligible for a Temple Reccomend, don't you?
I am happy to see Mormons marching in support of equality. I hope your church recieves the revelation soon, before it is threatened with loosing it's tax exempt again. It is great that you can support something that is explicitly sinful according to your proffessed gospel.
If you really stand for LGBTQ rights and respect them, i do suggest that you stop giving an organization that doesn't 10% of your income.
Being part of the mormon church AND being for basic civil rights of LGBTQ people is a bit like being a vegetarian who works at a slaughter house, really.
You wrote, "I can believe that change will happen within society, and I can believe that my church is capable of change, as well."
Your church has a long history of bigotry and is supposedly based on the word of God. As Boyd K. Packer puts it, being homesexual is "basically wrong or evil" and "impure and unnatural."
So, who is wrong? Your church leaders supposedly receive revelation direct from God and are his mouthpieces on earth. Are LDS church leaders wrong in what they're saying? Are they lying to their congregations? Has God told them it's OK to be gay, and they're refusing to disclose such revelation?
You want to know how you can REALLY help the LGBTQ community? Stop giving 10% of your income to a church that has institutionalized bigotry and uses your money to legislate its views of morality on the rest of us.
Thanks for adding your voice, Stephanie. I think many of us saw through the sensationalism of that "guest editorial" and recognized it for what it was. Dehumanizing, destructively simplistic rhetoric and action comes from human error and ignorance found in all circles, whether religious or antireligious.
Many people will never understand what that march meant and what it accomplished, but as I stood on the sidelines and watched the cheers and wet eyes of both onlookers and marchers, I couldn't deny the impact.
Hopefully, common respect and appreciation for the dignity and humanity of individuals, and the value of truly listening for understanding, needn't wait for agreement or endorsement of specific beliefs or actions, whether we're talking about Mormons, or LGBT people, or those who are both.