- because I think it's likely more relevant to opinions I post over here, and
- because I got an interesting response that I'd like to respond to here.
According to a story just published on Fox 13's website which you can read here...
SALT LAKE CITY - The anti-Mormon backlash after California voters overturned gay marriage last fall is similar to the intimidation of Southern blacks during the civil rights movement, a high-ranking Mormon says in a speech to be delivered Tuesday. Elder Dallin H. Oaks refers to gay marriage as an "alleged civil right" in remarks prepared for delivery at Brigham Young University- Idaho, a speech church officials describe as a significant commentary on current threats to religious freedom.
WTF MAN!! Mormons aren't the victims here! Prop 8 was about taking rights away from same sex couples, not persecuting Mormons. Just because you don't agree with the the orientation of someone does not mean they're coming after you. Taking away your religious rights?!? If anything, you tried to take away their rights, and they're justifiably upset.
The article also touches on the Churches history with Blacks.
You see, up until 1978, black men could join the LDS Church, but could not receive the 'priesthood'. The Doctrine (and it was taught as doctrine, and still is by some) was that Blacks bore the mark of Cain, as a result of unrighteousness in a prior life. This doctrine came into being because Brigham Young, somehow confused his racist bigotry with revelation from God. It also meant Black men could not marry in LDS Temples, and was supposed to help prevent miscegeny. Miscegeny was actually punishable by death according to Young, and at least one man was murdered when caught meeting with a white woman in the early days of Salt Lake City.
So with that tradition of racism, somehow now Mormons can compare themselves to the unjust persecution levied at Southern blacks during the Civil rights movement?
Freakin' Hell Man!!!
In many ways this is similar to the LDS Church joining forces with the Catholic Church to try and promote Prop 8. In the past the LDS Church has referred to the Catholic Church as the Whore of all the Earth and the Great and Abominable Church referred to in scripture... And now these guys are your allies in the cause for morality?!
I still maintain the homophobic policies of the LDS Church are a marketing scheme to try and recruit more of the conservative, zealot types who are disenfranchised with acceptance of the LGBT community of other Churches.
Ugh! I can't believe that! It's like the church can stomp around and be as vitriolic as they want to gays and as soon as there is a back lash then they call the "persecution" card. Have they stopped to consider that maybe gays felt persecuted when they reached out from another state to take their marriage rights away?! How sick and twisted!
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is that the Church has objectified Gay people, same as it did the blacks in a bygone error.
ReplyDeleteIf they're not really human, they don't have feelings, and so it's OK to treat them badly.
I suspect this may be why the biggest proponents for Gay Rights from within the LDS Community are those with gay friends and family members.
I was going to quote someone, but I've forgotten who or exactly what they said. What I got from it was... The change in attitude towards the Gay Community will come from the individual stories of those who are gay and those who associate with them.
Did you see the comment made on this over at Living with Mormons though... Nailed it!!
I'm going to hold off on my response to the person on my other blog though... I'm still trying to figure out the motives behind the person who sent it...
ReplyDeleteI think you mean miscegeny not misogyny. Yup, the talk by Elder Oaks ticked me off too. People protesting at LDS temples is a lot different than the lynching,bombings and murders of blacks during civil rights. I don't remeber seeing anybody carrying a yes on 8 sign being hit with a firehose. -A.J.
ReplyDeleteOops! Thanks A.J. I shall correct that ASAP!!
ReplyDelete