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A special light came into the eyes of men and women who had once been close to the church but had distanced themselves because of the pain, when they read our sign and realized who we were. It was beautiful to listen to their stories, share ours, and express our love for them.
I was able to arm myself with some tools to tackle some of the hard things I am dealing with thanks to the wonderful people I was able to meet and hear speak.
A recording of Salt Lake City’s June 22nd Affirmation FHE, “Finding our Spiritual Footing,” is provided here by the Affirmation Podcast.
For many of us this was a completely unexpected journey we embarked upon when our children came out; one with a steep learning curve that has put us through the classic stages of grieving and brought us into the light of unconditional love and unequivocal acceptance of these children with a core identity different from our own.
My son said, “If anyone knew who I really was, they would hate me.” These were the same thoughts he had regarding us before he had come out to us. So Wendy and I took on the task of liberating him of that shame.
Thankfully, I have been able to accept that being a lesbian was somehow part of the plan, and in many ways I am thankful this is part of my experience in my daily life.
While stopped at an intersection, he quietly said, in a concerned voice, “Dad, I just wanted you and Rick to know that you are gay.” I asked him, “What makes you think that?” He said, “Because you are two men that love each other.”
“Your coming out has become a wonderful journey for us. So, thanks.”
For the third consecutive year, Mormons will be participating in LGBT Pride celebrations to show their support for their LGBT neighbors, friends, and family. Come join the celebration!
There are a lot of groups out there, but this one will be particularly safe for parents who are new to LGBT/SSA issues. It will be monitored carefully, and remain a place for parents who are learning to affirm their LGBT children without losing their religion.