www.gay-sd.com
upbringing. As we continued talking,
Carl stressed the importance of procreation in the Mormon Church, how people are called to populate the planet (hence the church’s controversial view on polygamy, which it has largely denouced). This calling extends to the afterlife, where Mormons are expected to continue creating spiritual beings on the individual planets they rule upon death. When you consider this
FINDINGSOLACE JOSHUA ROMERO
A couple months ago, During
the monthly political committee meeting for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) San Diego, I learned about Reed Cowan’s film, “8: The Mormon Proposition.” The documentary is an exposé on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its involve- ment in the Yes on 8 campaign, which effectively revoked same-sex marriage rights for Californians. Since the film dealt with marriage equality issues—a primary motivation for my joining HRC—I knew I had to see it. While I waited for my sched-
ule to accommodate a screening, I had the opportunity to talk with a couple friends raised in the Mormon Church about LGBT and same-sex marriage issues. When I accepted an invitation
from my friend Travis to go over to his place for game night. Sat- urday nights off work are a rare occasion for me, so I welcomed the opportunity to socialize. As the small group of us sat around the Scrabble board discussing our frustration over the game’s new, lax rules, it was revealed that Carl used to belong to the Mormon Church. “What was that like?” I asked. Carl asked if I’d ever seen the
movie “Latter Days.” Of course I had! It’s one of my all-time favorite gay romantic comedies, although I’m not sure how much comedy is involved. “Well, that’s what it’s like,”
he said. Instantly, my mind was
flooded with images of shock therapy, secret meetings with Elders, family abandonment and attempted suicide—a very differ- ent experience from my Christian
strict theological view of sex as a means of living out a faith-based purpose, it’s no wonder that there is no room for same-sex marriage in the Mormon Church. It also explains why Carl and countless others have walked away from the Mormon Church. Straight men and women also
find themselves distancing from the church because of its views on same-sex marriage. My friend Emily was a practic-
COMMENTARY
the “dangers” of same-sex mar- riage to public education, child welfare and the family. When Prop 8 passed, Emily hurt.
The Church she had known and loved as a child had betrayed her gay and lesbian friends. Her support for our community all but killed her relationship with her parents. Hearing Carl and Emily’s
stories and watching “8: The Mor- mon Proposition,” it is easy to be upset at the Mormon Church. But in these stories I see great hope. I see hope that people like
Carl can survive the experience and come out happy and healthy. I see hope that friends like Emily can move past the traditional beliefs of the Mormon Church to show love and acceptance for all. In the movie, viewers see two ex- Mormon men providing a beauti- ful image of what gay marriage can be. There is hope in the work of groups like Affirmation that provide a place for Mormons and
When Prop 8 passed, Emily hurt. The Church she had known and loved as a child had betrayed her gay and les- bian friends.
ing Mormon once upon a time. As she struggled to understand some of the church’s beliefs she came to understand that its views on same-sex marriage were counter to its message of love and acceptance. In the aftermath of the pass-
ing of Prop. 8, Emily participated in a rally with some of her friends from Missiongathering Christian Church. As gays and lesbians in San Diego took to the streets mourning what had been lost, she carried a sign apologizing for the rights churches had taken from them in the name of God. For Emily, floating in the
sea of hurting, angry gays and lesbians was painful. Her family had given money to the Mormon Church to support Prop 8. They were part of the efforts that, according to “8: The Mormon Proposition,” raised as much as $511,000 a day to fund the Yes on 8 Campaign. In the week leading up to the historic 2008 vote, $3 million in donations secured Prop. 8’s success at the voting booth. Emily’s family was vocal about
its support for Prop 8. They were part of the 25,000 people who knocked on doors each Saturday leading up to the vote, warning of
former Mormons to support each other in their LGBT identities. And where there is hope, we
will see change.☭ —Joshua P. Romero is the
founder and director of Solace, a peer support group for LGBTQ Christians in the coming out pro- cess. He serves as the Faith Issues Representative for HRC San Diego and is involved in the ministry of Missiongathering Christian Church in North Park. Romero also speaks at conferences on issues of faith and sexual orientation. Read the Experience Solace blog at
www.experiencesolace.org.
FROM PAGE 6 BRIEFS
The “Jazz in North Park”
series continues through Novem- ber on the first Wednesday of every month. Next up, Holly Hof- mann and Four Women Only hit the stage on Sept. 1. For more information about the series, call (619) 239-8836 or visit lyricoper-
asandiego.org.
Old Town celebrates ‘Stage- coach Days’ Every Saturday in July and
August, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will celebrate Stagecoach Days with a focus on travel and transportation in the era of real “horse” power. In addition to the permanent collection of historic wagons on display at See- ley Stable museum, coaches and wagons will be in the plaza. Each week offers a different
theme and activities, such as “Women and the West” on July 24 and “Trades That Shaped West- ward Expansion” on August 7. Festivalgoers can participate
in 19th century games, take the reins and learn to handle a horse, watch demonstrations and listen to stories and songs. All activities are free and open
to the public. For more informa- tion, go to
parks.ca.gov/oldtown- sandiego or call (619) 220-5422.
Show King/Queen contes- tants sought The Imperial Court de San
Diego will host its “Show Queen and King 2010 Contest” Sunday,
July 30-August 12, 2010 GAY SAN DIEGO
7
August 22 at The Flame, 3789 Park Blvd. in Hillcrest. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the contest begins at 7 p.m. The reigning 2009 “Show
Queen,” Coral Jones, will pass the crown on to a new empress, and for the first time a “Show King” will be crowned at the end of the contest. The evening will also include a 50/50 oppor- tunity drawing and fundraising auction. Proceeds will benefit the various charitable programs of the Imperial Court. As part of their royal duties, the 2010 Show Queen and King will be required to take part in fundraising activi- ties throughout the year. Contestants are still being
sought. For more information or to enter the contest call Regina at (619) 288-1183 or e-mail em-
press38sd@yahoo.com.
LBGT life planning workshop, Aug. 26 The LGBT Center and
members of the Modern Wealth Group Estate Planning Team will hold a free work- shop called “The Truth About LGBT Life Planning,” Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. The workshop will cover
the basics of LGBT life plan- ning, including: the minimum legally-required documents that all LGBT individuals should have in place as part of a basic estate plan, a three- step strategy to building and maintaining a plan, informa- tion on basic asset titling and more. The event will take place in The Center’s library, 3909 Centre Street in Hillcrest. For more information, call (619) 692-2077, ext. 212.☭
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