By Jim Smithson This blog and accompanying handout were posted first on North Star’s blog on March 30, 2013. The blog, with a link to the handout, is now cross-posted on Circling the Wagons, No More Strangers, and Affirmation. My…
Category: Youth issues
lgbt youth issues
To Young Men Only: The Gay Version
By Joseph Broom For many of us older gay Mormon guys, the attitude of the LDS Church toward homosexuality was succinctly stated in a talk entitled “To Young Men Only,” given by Elder Boyd K. Packer in priesthood session of…
Let’s Talk About the Data
Chris Janousek lives and works in the Pacific Northwest. He is a professional ecologist and earned a PhD from the University of California, San Diego in 2005. Originally a convert to the LDS Church, he is no longer active and…
Cool Tolerance
My son came out to us (his parents) a little over a year ago. My wife and I, for some blessed reason, were able to rapidly traverse the landmine ridden, 180 degree, whiplash inducing evolution from Prop 8 campaigners to…
What Helps and What Hurts
This past year has been quite a journey for my family and me. Learning about our teenage son’s sexual orientation was life-changing. The heartache, questioning, and confusion was intense. But oh – the blessings that came! I feel my Savior’s…
Denial
When I was a teen I wasn’t gay. After all, how could I be gay? Gays were these people who were ugly and dressed funny and acted funny. I didn’t know anyone who was gay. Well, there was one guy…
Of Good Report
One of the greatest gifts we’re given as humans are our critical thinking skills—which, when developed, can aid us in the necessary capacity to form judgments about the value of ideas that come into our lives, regardless of their source.…
Still Straight after All These Years: The Boy Scouts of America
I never made it to First Class Scout! Reading this morning’s New York Times article on the Boy Scouts makes me think the Scouts haven’t made it to First Class either! After being so adamant about never changing their policy…
Blind Follower Or Active Seeker Of Truth?
I asked a lot of questions about the church growing up. I would ask my parents, my seminary teacher, my young women’s leaders, etc. If my question was one of those to which we don’t have answers, or falls in…
Ryan Andresen Is My Son (Boys Scouts, Mormons and Inclusion)
Having a teenager in the home is an always fascinating experience in parenting. I heard one parent describe it as having a movie or food critic living in your own home! But I find it a source of fun and…