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Modern-day Pioneers: Advocates for reconciliation leave This Is the Place Heritage Park on their handcart trek to LDS Church headquarters
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Mormon Group Petitions LDS Church to Reconcile with LGBT Community
Cheryl Nunn: “It’s time to bring in our gay and transgender brothers and sisters from the plains!”
A group of Mormons pulled and followed a handcart through the streets of Salt Lake City today to place documents and symbols of the lost or harmed gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Mormons on the steps of the headquarters of the Mormon Church. Leaders from the Foundation for Reconciliation led this trek from the famous Mormon monument, “This is the Place,” to the steps of the LDS headquarters to challenge the Mormon hierarchy to reconsider policies and practices that have been harmful to its gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members.
The five-mile trek marked the anniversary of California’s Proposition 8 which was very painful for Mormons concerned about the persecution of LGBT individuals. Massive LDS funding of Proposition 8 stripped same-sex couples of the right to marry in California. Speakers expressed disappointment at the vote in Maine stripping same gender couples of their civil rights.
Cheryl Lee Nunn, the Foundation’s executive director said, “I would not be surprised at all if we find that Mormon money is behind the efforts to take away the right to marry from loving couples in Maine. Our basic rights are to be protected by our courts and our laws, not put to a popular vote.”
The handcart trek also invoked a seminal moment in Mormon history when pioneers with handcarts were trapped in a blizzard before they could reach Utah. Brigham Young’s historic cry to save the stranded pioneers was, “Bring them in from the Plains!”
“It’s time to bring in our gay and transgender brothers and sisters from the plains!” said Cheryl Lee Nunn. “Even if we are straight and support equality, the church wants to leave us out in the cold. Some of us have lost our callings or been pressured out of the Mormon Church. This is what gay and transgender people experience all the time. It is so sad and some people do not survive the rejection of church and family. Too many people take their own lives because of the double condemnation of church and family. This must stop. All of our family members count. As a straight woman and a grandmother, I realized it was time for me to stand up and speak out.”
Peter Danzig, communications director for the Foundation said, “Today’s event is meant to highlight the fact that we are not some other people. We are Mormons, both culturally and by religious affiliation. We share pioneer ancestry, love of our families, and a belief in the innate worth of every human being. We are holding an important conversation about how to deal with these issues, and as Mormons, including the LDS leadership in that conversation is very important to us.”
Marchers used a hand cart modeled on those belonging to Mormons rescued from the snows on the plains. They delivered a Plea for Reconciliation signed by thousands, a Book of Remembrance for those lost to suicide because of church rejection, and symbols of the astonishing amount tithes and service LGBT individuals have contributed to the church.
Clergy and people of faith from several traditions participated and delivered a response to LDS Apostle Elder Dallin H. Oaks comments in a speech last month. Clergy made clear that, contrary to Elder Oaks’ assertions, they feel free exercise of religion is best served by extending rights associated with marriage to LGBT individuals.
Psychologists and counselors of the LGBTQ-Affirmative Therapist Guild of Utah delivered a statement expressing concern that LDS General Authority Bruce C. Hafen’s speech at a recent Evergreen International conference could actually increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in some individuals.
“Our greatest hope is to open up channels for dialogue and opportunities for reconciliation with leaders of the LDS Church and others working on this issue in our community,” said Peter Danzig. Although general authorities of the LDS Church declined to accept the materials in person the Foundation was told they should schedule a meeting directly with the leaders they wanted to speak to. The Foundation will submit a formal request for a meeting later this week.
Additional information is available at the Foundation for Reconciliation’s website www.LDSapology.org.
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© 2010 Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
www.affirmation.org |
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