RECONCILIATION

PETITION REQUEST TO

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH OF

JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. " -Jesus Christ

Petition Home Page

Gay & Lesbian Member Suicide List

We Can Change History For Gay LDS

Lifetime Celibacy or Excommunication Policy

Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics

Mormons for Marriage supports marriage equality for all, and stands in respectful opposition to California Proposition 8.

Mormon Politics & Member Opinion

ABC News- Gay Mormons Face Excommunication  

RESPONSE TO ELDER HAFEN’S EVERGREEN ADDRESS FROM THE

FOUNDATION FOR RECONCILIATION

 

In response to Elder Bruce C. Hafen’s recent speech at Evergreen International Conference, the Foundation for Reconciliation at www.ldsapology.org offers the following resources as rebuttal to his non-scientific assertions that have caused much anguish and despair among LDS LGBT members. 

Brief summary: Elder Hafen stated, namely, that being gay is "not in your DNA"; that homosexuality should still be considered a mental disorder; that therapy can make you straight; and that "if you are faithful, on resurrection morning — and maybe even before then — you will rise with normal attractions for the opposite sex”; the devil tries to convince you that you are hopelessly 'that way'; and only children from heterosexual marriages are mentally healthy.  The speech is posted in its entirety at:  http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/elder-bruce-c-hafen-speaks-on-same-sex-attraction.

In order to counter the emotionally damaging effects of this address, and to provide more accurate & current scientific information, we provide this "First Aid Kit"-- a set of hyperlinks to information that will help repair the harm that many of his misstatements have caused members of the LGBT community who are part of the Mormon faith or culture.

The following links reflect the most recent and generally accepted research by experts and their colleagues in the fields of science and psychology on these topics.

We have requested a meeting with Elder Hafen to share our information and experiences with him.

EVIDENCE THAT SETS THE

RECORD STRAIGHT

 

 

1) INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT SEXUAL ORIENTATION CHANGE EFFORTS WORK, SAYS APA.

Practitioners Should Avoid Telling Clients They Can Change from Gay to Straight. http://www.apa.org/releases/therapeutic.html

2) A full copy of the task force report may be obtained from APA's Public Affairs Office or  http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/therapeutic-response.pdf

As part of its report, the task force identified that some clients seeking to change their sexual orientation may be in distress because of a conflict between their sexual orientation and religious beliefs. The task force recommended that licensed mental health care providers treating such clients help them "explore possible life paths that address the reality of their sexual orientation, reduce the stigma associated with homosexuality, respect the client's religious beliefs, and consider possibilities for a religiously and spiritually meaningful and rewarding life."

"In other words," Glassgold said, "we recommend that psychologists be completely honest about the likelihood of sexual orientation change, and that they help clients explore their assumptions and goals with respect to both religion and sexuality."

3) "(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?", co-authored with Timothy Biblarz American Sociological Review 66, n.2 (April 2001):159-83. http://www.soc.iastate.edu/soc522a/PDF%20readings/Stacey.pdf

4)New Evidence of Genetic Factors Influencing Sexual Orientation in Men: Female Fecundity Increase in the Maternal Line. http://www.springerlink.com/content/l6104277w82137x4/

5)Fact Sheet on Marriage Equality and LGBT Health http://www.apa.org/ppo/issues/marriage-lgbt-health.pdf

 

Commentary on Facts, Studies

& Elder Hafen's Statements

 

 

Answers to Your Questions: For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality http://www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.pdf

 

Challenging ex-gay ministries: An information packet (Such as the Church's Evergreen)

The growing prominence of the ex-gay movement is the result of a strategic shift within the Christian Right: the new packaging of an old message. The claim that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people can be “cured” has more to do with the Right’s political objectives and its bitter opposition to equal rights than with genuine caring. This information packet provides useful information about how the Christian Right has adopted the ex-gay movement in response to increasing pressure to soften its homophobic rhetoric. Download the information packet here http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/resources_and_tools/ChallengingExGay.pdf

 

Bruce C. Hafen Speaks at Evergreen

http://dissentinginpart.blogspot.com/2009/09/bruce-c-hafen-speaks-to-evergreen.html

 

Elder Hafen needs to correct his citations.

http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=2657

 

Shaking My Head In Disappointment and Disbelief http://scrumcentral.blogspot.com/2009/09/shaking-my-head-in-disappointment-and.html

 

Biblical Evidence

http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_evidence.html

Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/resolution-resp.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Please take time to read this petition, as well as read the stories and links provided, and pass this information on to your friends and link to us if you have a website or blog.

By doing so, you will be sending a message to the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that it is time for reconciliation between the Church and its gay and lesbian members. More importantly, you will be showing support for those who have been hurt by Church policies and practices because of their sexual orientation.

"Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens and young adults have one of the highest rates of suicide attempts — and some other health and mental health problems, including substance abuse. A new study suggests that parental acceptance, and even neutrality, with regard to a child's sexual orientation could have a big impact in reducing this rate."-NPR, All Things Considered, December 29, 2008

"I implore the students at BYU to re-assess their homophobic feelings," wrote Stuart Matis in The Daily Universe shortly before committing suicide. "Seek to understand first before you make comments. We have the same needs as you. We desire to love and be loved. We desire to live our lives with happiness. We are not a threat to you or your families."

"Thank you, Carol Lynn Pearson, for reminding us that the task of any religion is to teach us whom we're required to love, not whom we're entitled to hate." - Rabbi Harold Kushner

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