I’ve been out of the loop for a couple of days and have been catching up on LGBT news for LGBT Perspectives Magazine. I’ve done a slew of posts there today.

I thought I would share some thoughts about one particular issue here, too:

Some people in the LGBT community are upset, apparently, because the Mormon church has reaffirmed its position about same-sex relationships: it’s against them, and being in one is grounds for you to be booted from the faith. As well, if you are in a same-sex relationship and your kids go to the Mormon church, they cannot be baptized until after the age of 18, at which point they have to disassociate themselves from their gay parents and renounce that sort of lifestyle.

According to an Associated Press report, “The revisions (to their handbook) triggered a wave of anger, confusion and sadness for a growing faction of LGBT-supportive Mormons who were buoyed in recent years by church leaders’ calls for more love and understanding for LGBT members.”

So, here’s my problem with all of this:  Now that the church has reminded everybody that it won’t tolerate same-sex couples, why don’t LGBT people and their supporters simply leave the church? No fuss, no bother. Bonjour la visite!, as we might say in Quebec.

Or, happy trails to you.

Or, “fuck you (and the horse you rode in on).”

Or . . . you get the point. The latter quote, by the way, comes from a lesbian who responded to my question. That’s what she would tell Mormon church officials, if she were a (departing) member.

Personally, the religion is too moronic for my spiritual development. Its level of spirituality is elementary at best, and its motives are questionable, i.e. tithing its members.

I’m surprised any members of the diverse LGBT community would be interested in such an organization, especially now. But many are, indeed, “devastated” by the church’s reminder that it excludes same-sex couples, the Associated Press report says.

Go figure.

If anything, the Mormons’ announcement should be seen as liberation for LGBT people, who can now move on from that organization entirely.

— Jillian