Oaks doubl down on LDS Church posn on gay marriage, genr inty

Contents:

• CHURCH UPDAT OFFICIAL ‘MORMON AND GAY’ WEBSE
• CHURCH UPDAT OFFICIAL ‘MORMON AND GAY’ WEBSE
• POLICY CHANG ANNOUNCED FOR MEMBERS GAY MARRIAG, CHILDREN OF LGBT PARENTS
• RETOOLED LDS WEBSE SAYS PEOPLE N BE ‘MORMON AND GAY’ — BUT THEY NEED TO STAY CELIBATE
• OAKS DOUBL DOWN ON LDS CHURCH POSN ON GAY MARRIAGE, GENR INTY
• HOW TO SUPPORT GAY MEMBERS YOUR LDS WARD – PART 1

CHURCH UPDAT OFFICIAL ‘MORMON AND GAY’ WEBSE

This ment, and many others like , is clud an updated versn of "Mormon and Gay, ” an official webse om The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats. The first versn of this webse lnched December 2012 unr the tle "Mormons and Gays. " The new appellatn, "Mormon and Gay, " reflects the realy that a person don’t need to choose between the two inti — one n, fact, be gay and live fahful to the teachgs of Christ.

Speakg directly to Latter-day Sats who experience same-sex attractn or intify as gay, lbian or bisexual, Elr Clayton says, “We want you to know we love you. One qutn addrs the e of “same-sex attractn” stead of “gay. Church lears have typilly ed this term to be clive of people who are not fortable g a label, not to ny the existence of gay, lbian, or bisexual inty.

This ment, and many others like , is clud an updated versn of 'Mormon and Gay, ” an official webse om The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats. The first versn of this webse lnched December 2012 unr the tle 'Mormons and Gays.

CHURCH UPDAT OFFICIAL ‘MORMON AND GAY’ WEBSE

' The new appellatn, 'Mormon and Gay, ' reflects the realy that a person don’t need to choose between the two inti — one n, fact, be gay and live fahful to the teachgs of Christ. Some intify as gay or lbian while others do not. Materials on make clear that is possible to be both gay and Mormon and that God lov those who are.

POLICY CHANG ANNOUNCED FOR MEMBERS GAY MARRIAG, CHILDREN OF LGBT PARENTS

Rourc clu helpful answers to equently asked qutns, tips for parents, new vios, and firsthand acunts om gay members, spo, fay, and eccliastil lears. Children of parents who intify themselv as lbian, gay, bisexual, or transgenr may now be blsed as fants and baptized The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats whout First Princy approval, Print Dall H.

Children of parents who intify themselv as lbian, gay, bisexual, or transgenr may be baptized, if the ctodial parents give permissn for the baptism and unrstand both the doctre that a baptized child will be tght and the venants he or she will be expected to make, said Print Oaks.

RETOOLED LDS WEBSE SAYS PEOPLE N BE ‘MORMON AND GAY’ — BUT THEY NEED TO STAY CELIBATE

Instead the “immoral nduct heterosexual and homosexual relatnship will be treated the same way, ” he said. “I want anyone who is a member of the Church who is gay or lbian to know I believe you have a place the kgdom and I regnize that sometim may be difficult for you to see where you f the Lord’s Church, but you do. “There are many polil, legal, and social prsur for chang that would change the fn of marriage or -emphasize s importance, nfe genr, or homogenize the differenc between men and women that are sential to acplish God’s great Plan of Happs.

Today, the LDS Church has relnched s webse to help gay members of the church and their fai, and there are number of key chang.

It aimed to promote “greater sensivy and better unrstandg” about lbian and gay members. You n be both “Mormon and gay.

OAKS DOUBL DOWN ON LDS CHURCH POSN ON GAY MARRIAGE, GENR INTY

What a difference mak to remove two small letters: Instead of ptg “Mormons and gays” agast one another as if there were no overlap between those groups, the revamped se stak a claim that the inti don’t have to be mutually exclive. You n be Mormon and gay.

The Church’s posn is still that a) any sexual behavr outsi of marriage is sful and that b) same-sex marriage is morally wrong, meang therefore that c) all homosexual behavr is wrong. The Church also reerat that we don’t know what homosexualy and that experiencg is not a s. Most of the have a happy endg (parents who accept their gay children, a bishop who lls a celibate gay man to serve an elrs quom princy), but they also don’t hi nflict.

I saw this the story of Elizabeth, whose hband Rirdo me out durg their marriage as gay. The se is rrect assertg that beg transgenr is not the same as beg gay (which is not language the Church se generally ; that’s also addrsed the FAQ).

HOW TO SUPPORT GAY MEMBERS YOUR LDS WARD – PART 1

Whereas the Church’s language has evolved signifintly om regardg homosexual orientatn as a dangero disorr (see Spencer W. Nowhere did I fd evince that the Church is still tryg to ph gay people to marryg members of the oppose sex orr to “cure” them of their orientatn. I was particularly glad to see the Church emphasize how much needs active gay members and how important is to give them ward llgs.