{"id":6577,"date":"2020-05-15T16:33:39","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T21:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/?p=6577"},"modified":"2020-05-24T15:01:25","modified_gmt":"2020-05-24T20:01:25","slug":"6577","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2020\/05\/6577.html","title":{"rendered":"Protecting LGBT+ Members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Tireless work by this papa dragon.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s guest post is written by Thomas Montgomery.\u00a0<\/i>Opinions shared on guest posts may not completely reflect the positions of the blog\u2019s author.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Thomas Montgomery is a father of a gay son who has done much work within the LDS church<\/a> to bring awareness to issues facing LGBT+ members. His family was featured in the documentary Families are Forever<\/a>, part of the work of the\u00a0Family Acceptance Project<\/a>. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Meridian Magazine has once again published an article protecting the LDS Church in \"\"any\/every way possible regarding harm the LDS Church causes its own LGBTQ youth and adult members. The article meanders through many arguments without actually presenting anything new and attempting to put out many fires.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/latterdaysaintmag.com\/is-latter-day-saint-theolog\u2026\/\u2026<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It challenges John Dehlin<\/a>\u2018s study saying that \u201cmost studies\u201d say something else \u2013 except for the fact that there are no \u201cother studies\u201d that either contradict or challenge John\u2019s study. John\u2019s study is published and peer-reviewed.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0MxCXjfAunk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It ignores that John\u2019s study is fully consistent with Brian Simmons<\/a>\u2018s study on PTSD
\namong LDS-LGBTQ Mormons<\/a>. Brian\u2019s study is published and peer-reviewed.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/athenaeum.libs.uga.edu\/handle\/10724\/38227<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It ignores that John\u2019s study is fully consistent with the Family Acceptance Project\u2019s research on the harm of rejection from orthodox religiosity. The Family Acceptance Project is published and peer-reviewed.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/familyproject.sfsu.edu\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It ignores the spike of suicides from 2008- in Utah while saying Utah is comparable to other states in the region. Except for the past twelve years\u2026..years in which the LDS Church\u2019s political activism against LGBTQ people also spiked. From Prop 8 in California onward, the LDS Church has been actively, politically hostile to LGBTQ people. The only notable exception is the Utah work and housing bill extending rights to LGBTQ persons (with the notable exemption of the LDS Church to the rights outlined in the bill.) To think that this doesn\u2019t seep into the minds of LDS members is significantly naive \u2013 even if they were not homophobic to begin with.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/rationalfaiths.com\/utahs-escalating-suicide-crisis\u2026\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Saying that suicide is complex and multi-faceted, which is true, does not remove the demonstrable fact that several of those facets are (1) exclusively heterosexual\/patriarchal theology, (2) Mormon anti-LGBTQ culture, (3) homophobic members and leaders, (4) continuous political activism against LGBTQ people, and (5) extensive history of harmful rhetoric and actions from LDS Church leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n

For active members, ignorance is a shield, and articles (like this one) are taken as fact in the vacuum of that ignorance. In order to maintain this ignorance, no mention can be made of Greg Prince<\/a>\u2018s comprehensive book \u201cGay Rights and the Mormon Church: Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences.\u201d You can\u2019t read this book and remain ignorant. Its final chapter is about the current suicide epidemic in Utah.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Gay-Rights-Mormon-Chur\u2026\/\u2026\/ref=sr_1_1\u2026<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

To all this, I would add my own writing on the subject. Eight years immersed in the pain and harm the LDS Church causes its LGBTQ members and through its political activism, the LGBTQ community at large.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can\u2019t Be Said (November 2018) \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/what-cant-be-said\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Safe Way (September 2018) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/the-safe-way\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Sacred Spaces (October 2017) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/sacred-spaces\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Grace (July 2017) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/grace\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Rejection and the Family (March 2017) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/rejection-and-the-family\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Anger (November 2016) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/anger\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

A Tale of Two Weddings (September 2016) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/a-tale-of-two-weddings\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Clarity (July 2016) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/clarity\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Emotional Distance (May 2016) \u2013 http:\/\/www.nomorestrangers.org\/emotional-distance\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Scarlet Letter: Apostasy (December 2015) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/the-scarlet-letter-apos\u2026\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Sadness (October 2015) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/sadness\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Trust (August 2015) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/trust\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing Through My Tears (January 2015) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/seeing-through-my-tears\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Doctrine of Celibacy (October 2014) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/the-doctrine-of-celibacy\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What Words Can\u2019t Define (August 2014) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/what-words-cant-define\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

A Difference of Opinion (June 2014) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/a-difference-of-opinion\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Shame and Affirmation (June 2014) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/shame-and-affirmation\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Cool Tolerance (March 2013) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/cool-tolerance\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s Complex (August 2013) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/its-complex\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Christmas Cards (January 2014) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/christmas-cards\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What the Heck is Traditional Marriage? (July 2013) \u2013http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/what-the-heck-is-tradit\u2026\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Defending Marriage (May 2013) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/defending-marriage\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Why Does the Lord Allow His Covenant People to Err? (April 2013) \u2013http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/why-does-the-lord-allow\u2026\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Catalyst (January 2013) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/the-catalyst\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Victoria Theater (June 2013) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/the-victoria-theater\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Of Pain and the Journey (September 2013) \u2013 http:\/\/nomorestranger.wpengine.com\/of-pain-and-the-journey\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I See the Image of Christ in My Gay Son, Lord (August 2012) \u2013http:\/\/mitchmayne.blogspot.com\/\u2026\/a-fathers-poem-to-his-gay-\u2026<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It is odd that the author of the Meridian article cites his own study, but doesn\u2019t source his study. The LDS Church\u2019s theology and culture harm LGBTQ youth and members. It may not harm every LDS\/LGBTQ member, but it harms enough of them to be demonstrable. I think I have provided ample sources.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/i>Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS\u00a0<\/i><\/i>can be reached at\u00a0<\/i>natashaparker.org<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and runs an online practice,\u00a0<\/i>Symmetry Solutions<\/i><\/b><\/a>, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the\u00a0<\/i>Mormon Mental Health<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and Mormon Sex Info<\/a><\/strong>Podcasts, is the current past president of the\u00a0<\/i>Mormon Mental Health Association<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and runs a sex education program,\u00a0<\/i>Sex Talk with Natasha<\/i><\/b><\/a>. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS\/Mormon clientele.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tireless work by this papa dragon. Today\u2019s guest post is written by Thomas Montgomery.\u00a0Opinions shared on guest posts may not completely reflect the positions of the blog\u2019s author.\u00a0 Thomas Montgomery is a father of a gay son who has done much work within the LDS church to bring awareness to issues facing LGBT+ members. His […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":766,"featured_media":6583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,57,45,214,48,138,72,43,93],"tags":[202,211,92,139,167,237,99],"class_list":["post-6577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-emotional-abuse","category-faith-crisisfaith-transition","category-gospel-teachings","category-lgbtq-2","category-mental-health","category-mindfulness","category-ptsd","category-temple-issues","category-trauma","tag-faith-crisis","tag-lgbtq","tag-mental-health","tag-mindfulness","tag-ptsd","tag-temple-issues","tag-trauma"],"yoast_head":"\nProtecting LGBT+ Members<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tireless work by this papa dragon. 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