Mourn with Me
by Drew Stelter
Submitted to Affirmation following The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s reversal of their November 2015 policy changes that prohibited children of LGBTQ parents from being blessed and baptized and characterized members of the church entering into same-sex marriages as apostates. These changes became known within the LGBTQ Mormon community as the “exclusion policy,” “policy of exclusion,” or “PoX.” The day after the reversal of this policy was announced, Nathan Kitchen, President of Affirmation, invited anyone willing to and share their authentic feelings and all their stories of grief, anger, relief, sadness, happiness, confusion, whatever they may be that surround the rescinding this policy. “As President of Affirmation, I want to be sure Affirmation does not hide you or your stories as we move forward,” wrote Kitchen in his invitation. If you have reactions or a story to share about the reversal of the exclusion policy, please send to [email protected]. You can also read other stories and reactions to the reversal of the exclusion policy.
You say that a simple “I’m sorry” can invite forgiveness, foster love, and invite healing.
Yet you cannot – or will not – look me in the eyes and utter the words, “I’m sorry for hurting you. I was wrong.”
Why do you keep me distant from you even as you speak of ministering with love?
Sit with me. And listen. And mourn with me.
Invite me in.
I am a Child of God, too.
Yes, you are, we all are and we all deserve to be loved. I see you…I hear you…I love you.