Mormon Church agrees to meet with Gay Mormon Group

[Ian David]

Mormon church agrees to meet with gay group
by Jennifer Dobner
Associated Press
Monday Apr 7, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY -- After decades of silence, Mormon church officials have agreed to meet with a gay Mormon support group that has sought to forge understanding between the faith’s leaders and its gay members.

In a letter received last week, leaders of Affirmation were invited to meet with Fred M. Riley, commissioner of Family Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Harold C. Brown, the agency’s past commissioner.

"We’re pleased the church is opening up the possibility for dialogue," said Dave Melson, Affirmation’s assistant executive director. "Affirmation has tried 5 or 6 times over the past 31 years to meet with church leaders. This is their second response."

Affirmation has repeatedly invited church leaders to meet or attend the group’s annual conference, but the only response was a letter last year declining the conference invitation, Melson said.

<snip>

Among the specifics Affirmation wants to address: the historical treatment of gays by the church, including recommendations for aversion therapies to "cure" homosexuality; recommendations for more effective counseling methods; ways to avoid family break-ups; and a change in the honor code at church-owned Brigham Young University that can result in expulsion for sexually active gay students. The same standard applies to straight students.

More:
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72676

[seasat]

1. Gay polygamists

Now there's something that will scare the bejezus out most religious right wing nuts. Good for them though, I hope they get some inroads or some acceptance.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Mormons have not been (officially) polygamous for more than a century

Polygamy was officially denounced and removed as a requirement for salvation in 1890, with the publication of the 1890 Manifesto.

[ZombieHorde]

3. It's a start. nt