Posted by Jerry Maneker at 12:15 AM

A CHRISTIAN VOICE FOR GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

QuoteWhen the David's of the LDS Church, just like the other David's residing in most all congregations of the institutional Church, say they are remaining in these oppressive, discriminatory institutions, because they seemingly love the music, and who provide all kinds of other rationalizations for remaining in the arms of their oppressor, and remaining in the demeaning capacity of a supplicant worshipping at the feet of a sadist, we are not necessarily to believe them.

Anyone with a sense of dignity and self-worth will flee anyone or any religious institution that doesn't respect his or her humanity, and doesn't afford him or her full equality with others in that religious institution! To do otherwise is a pathetic display of masochism that can only serve to further repress and alienate that person, further drive that person to even greater depths of despair and disappointment, all the while conferring credibility on that oppressor who, in turn, therefore views him/her/itself free to maintain that culture of oppression that is also visited upon others.

Mr. Maneker makes some very good points. TBH, I don't know enough about the LDS to have any idea whether or not change is possible from within.

My guess is that like most top-down organizations, from IBM to the RC church, that it will be a very hard road to traverse. Institutional bias runs deep.

I hope Cindi comments on this. I know from her writings that she was raised in that church and probably knows more and has a better idea about it than most of us do.

But, a "five" for the post, Karen. Thanks.

Nichole