Downtown Salt Lake City was swarmed by General Conference this past weekend, where a leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints named Boyd K. Packer brought up "any relationship outside of heterosexuality", stating:
And this on the heels of the suicides of at least four teenagers over the past month, all victims of anti-gay bullying or harassment? Wow, Packer. The Human Rights Campaign released a statement in response,
It's unfortunate to me that this 86 year old man has an audience of 20,000 – and millions more watching via satellite transmission - to espouse words of fear and hatred that only serve to promote discrimination and exacerbate LGBQT youth homelessness, self-hate, suffering, isolation, and suicide; instead of using that influence to promote a message of compassion and conciliation.
Disappointing.
There's a protest this Thursday, October 7th, from 7pm - 8:30pm at City Creek Park (State Street and North Temple).
From the news here in Utah (VIDEO):
LDS Apostle declares church will 'stay on course' in opposing gay marriage
And from Pam's House Blend,
The homophobic bile of LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer
“There are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God's laws and nature. To legalize that which is basically wrong or evil will not prevent the pain and penalties that will follow as surely as night follows day."
"A law against nature would be impossible to enforce... Do you think a vote to repeal the law of gravity would do any good?"
And this on the heels of the suicides of at least four teenagers over the past month, all victims of anti-gay bullying or harassment? Wow, Packer. The Human Rights Campaign released a statement in response,
"When a faith leader tells gay people that they are a mistake because God would never have made them that way and they don’t deserve love, it sends a very powerful message that violence and/or discrimination against LGBT people is acceptable. It also emotionally devastates those who are LGBT or may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identify. His words were not only inaccurate, they were also dangerous."
It's unfortunate to me that this 86 year old man has an audience of 20,000 – and millions more watching via satellite transmission - to espouse words of fear and hatred that only serve to promote discrimination and exacerbate LGBQT youth homelessness, self-hate, suffering, isolation, and suicide; instead of using that influence to promote a message of compassion and conciliation.
Disappointing.
There's a protest this Thursday, October 7th, from 7pm - 8:30pm at City Creek Park (State Street and North Temple).
From the news here in Utah (VIDEO):
LDS Apostle declares church will 'stay on course' in opposing gay marriage
And from Pam's House Blend,
The homophobic bile of LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer
I don't think LDS would ever change their stand on this issue. They will continue to live in their black box devoid of any diversity and hopefully, watch their membership base shrink.
ReplyDeleteWe will always have to fight against narrow minded people and organizations.
what an unfortunate speech he gave.
ReplyDelete