tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post2830299226684140844..comments2023-06-26T07:03:26.219-07:00Comments on I am Mitch Mayne. I am an openly gay, active Latter-day Saint.: All Are Enlisted: The Mission of the LGBT MormonMitch Maynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01581529961840637683noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-5572826770690284132014-08-15T13:23:39.471-07:002014-08-15T13:23:39.471-07:00This is one of the most amazing articles I've ...This is one of the most amazing articles I've ever read. THANK YOU! Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16306159902139299691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-79678995735857195102013-06-12T11:25:16.239-07:002013-06-12T11:25:16.239-07:00I am Mormon and straight. I recently wrote an arti...I am Mormon and straight. I recently wrote an article on my blog in an attempt to put myself in the shoes of someone who is Mormon and gay. I hope that this article is not offensive, but enlightening. My goal is to inspire introspection, understanding, and dialogue. The article is located here <a href="http://notsomaladroit.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-straight-mormon-comes-out-full-article.html" rel="nofollow">A Straight Mormon Comes Out</a>.<br /><br />I hope that someone can find my thoughts useful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313913033277653488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-48934251042932789372013-04-30T02:30:30.595-07:002013-04-30T02:30:30.595-07:00Mitch, I was very much like your mother when my be...Mitch, I was very much like your mother when my beautiful son Benjamin came to me when he was 14 to tell me he was gay. I know I was afraid for him, and I know I was grieving for the boy I wanted him to be, and I was terrified that this meant I would lose him forever. I remember sitting his 8 year old sister, at the time, down to explain to her about her brother. I asked if Tia knew what being "gay" meant. She told me she did. She said it was when a boy loved a boy, or a girl loved a girl. I confirmed she was right. THen I went on to tell her that Ben was gay. These siblings are 6 years apart in age. Tia was in third grade and Ben was a freshmen. I tried to explain that as more people knew that Ben is gay, there might be some who wouldn't be his friend anymore, or some who's parents might forbid them to associate with Ben because of the way they were raised and what they believed about Gay anad Lesbian people. I went on to say, that maybe some of her own friend's parents might not want her friends to be friends with TIa, or might not allow their children over our house. I remember the look in TIa's eyes as I told her these things. THe sadness there, not for herself, not for Ben, but for the people who would deprive themselves of the blessings that would come from the friendship and compassion my son Benjamin could have brought into their lives. This feeling was expressed in the following sage words from my then 8 year old daughter (I now understand completely why 8 years old is such a significant age in the lives of our children) "But mommy, just because Ben is gay doesn't mean he is a bad person." Out of the mouths of babes, if only we all saw each other in the same spirit with which my 8 year old daughter saw her brother.<br /><br />It pained me at that time to also try to explain that even our church shared similar teachings. This has been something that I have struggled with for a long time, extending much further back than before Ben's coming out to me. I know with every fiber of my being that my son Benjamin is a choice spirit, a valiant son of God. I know that unfathomable as it seems to me, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love Ben even more than I do. I know that God would not bring Benjamin into my life to love and nurture, just to take him away from me in the eternities. <br /><br />Ben's older sister Ashley is his champion. She was living in California during the whole Prop 8 debacle, and it has left some bitterness in her heart. To Ashley, standing beside her brother and being an active member of the church are mutually exclusive events, and she has made the choice to stand by her brother. I am at a loss at how to explain to her that these two situations do not have to be viewed the way she sees them. Given your leadership position in the church, i suppose you have had the opportunity to counsel many people on this precise issue. I would love to hear what you would say to my son and my daughter. I know that through them I have learned great and marvelous lessons of life, particularly regarding tolerance, love and acceptance. I am so proud to be my children's mother. I know I am uniquely blessed by my posterity. I have shared this blog with ll of my facebook friends, and others. I am deeply grateful for my friend David you thought to share this blog with me. I would love to have a personal response from you if that is at all possible. With sincere respect and appreciation for your amazing words. Sincerely, Beth Patel bethpatel@gmail.compatelpresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02539925211829920042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-19108553425216932942013-04-28T23:44:01.362-07:002013-04-28T23:44:01.362-07:00Lovely and wise. Thank you for accepting to serve ...Lovely and wise. Thank you for accepting to serve your unique and extremely important mission. May the Lord continue to bless and guide you on this path as you educate and inspire others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-19555470803594304022013-04-28T22:10:04.983-07:002013-04-28T22:10:04.983-07:00So beautiful! I loved everything about this! So beautiful! I loved everything about this! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001452471563528695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-55181952471489729392013-04-28T17:21:56.669-07:002013-04-28T17:21:56.669-07:00Thought-provoking as usual, and very well said. I ...Thought-provoking as usual, and very well said. I especially thought your last two paragraphs were POWERFUL! Thank you for sharing with us.ionamin-W8FW8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06596975411397863125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-72787590176686455222013-04-27T23:44:20.241-07:002013-04-27T23:44:20.241-07:00Oh Mitch! That was just beautiful! Love you broth...Oh Mitch! That was just beautiful! Love you brother!Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14421504929236349633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-31458609635635765322013-04-27T19:59:58.668-07:002013-04-27T19:59:58.668-07:00Thanks, Mitch. I hope LGBTQ Mormons in AZ realize...Thanks, Mitch. I hope LGBTQ Mormons in AZ realize they are fortunate to have a community with each other. I appreciate the people - gay and straight - who organized this conference.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848197238675003339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835564038959249094.post-86939544560594552772013-04-27T17:47:51.980-07:002013-04-27T17:47:51.980-07:00Just wonderful, Mitch! You constantly inspire me, ...Just wonderful, Mitch! You constantly inspire me, and I'm sure others as well. Thank you!Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03943975175380497835noreply@blogger.com