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Florist delivers carnations

Duane Jennings, Kay Packard, and Ted Packard at the flower shop

Mormon Coalition Sends 900 Flowers to Pres. Hinckley
"LDS Church Can Be a Safe Space”

By Jason Clark
October 2004

On October 1, a grassroots coalition of LDS members delivered more than 900 pink carnations to the office of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Concerned with the treatment of gays and lesbian in the Church, the coalition members organized the Safe Space Campaign.

Kay and Ted Packard, the LDS parents of a gay son, participated in a press conference held at a flower shop in Sandy. Said Kay Packard, "I believe [the LDS Church] can be a beacon of hope for all people, a Church that opens its doors to all as a safe space, a tolerant and embracing place, where a homosexual member's options are not limited to eternal silence, repression, excommunication, or suicide."

"God makes no mistakes in the creation of his children," added Packard. "All humans are endowed with both the desire and the right to form lasting, nurturing relationships built on honesty and love" (see Safe Space Declaration).

"There are no rational, legal, or moral justifications for excluding gay individuals from full participation in our society," echoed her husband Ted Packard. "No less than all members of the human race, gay individuals deserve our understanding, acceptance, and unconditional support."

Duane Jennings, who also participated in the press conference, explained the meaning of the pink carnations: "The color pink has been embraced worldwide as a symbol of 'Safe Space,' a reminder of the prejudices and torture of the past, and a commitment to creating safe spaces for all of God's children to progress together as equals. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represents the highest of the ideals of the Enlightenment as a society based firmly on mutual respect, tolerance, and equality. The Church we believe in embodies the safest of all spaces, built firmly on the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" (see Safe Space Declaration).

In 1999 Mac Madsen, the Mormon father of lesbian, prepared a petition that he sent to the general authorities of the Church. The online version of the petition was signed by some 180 people, who also raised funds to publish the petition in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Remarks by Duane Jennings

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, family and friends:

We have learned through experience, as well as through scientific research, that homosexuality is not simply a changeable lifestyle choice, but a deeply ingrained element of a person's created nature. We do not believe that God intends for some of his children to be treated differently than others, especially in the most significant matters of the heart.

The Safe Space Campaign stands up for our knowledge that God makes no mistakes in the creation of his children. He taught us in the scriptures that each one of us has a unique and cherished place in the Kingdom of God. All humans are endowed with both the desire and the right to form lasting, nurturing relationships built on honesty and love.

We stand for a Church that is a beacon of hope for all people, a Church that opens its doors to all as a "safe space," a tolerant and embracing place. We are committed to fostering the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a society where a homosexual member's options are not limited to eternal silence, repression, excommunication, or suicide.

We stand for the principle that love is not a sin. We believe that the focus on sexual orientation obscures the real underlying issues of sexual sin, which are founded on lust, greed, and sexual exploitation, found among both heterosexuals and homosexuals everywhere.

We stand for the institution of the family as the embodiment of love and commitment. The presence of a father, mother, and children living together is no guarantee of family success. The presence of true love and commitment within a family is a much better indicator. We believe that all families, regardless of the gender of those involved, should receive wholehearted sanction from our Church in establishing and nurturing eternal bonds.

The gift we present today:

The color pink has been embraced worldwide as a symbol of "Safe Space," a reminder of the prejudices and torture of the past, and a commitment to creating safe spaces for all of God's children to progress together as equals. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represents the highest of the ideals of the Enlightenment as a society based firmly on mutual respect, tolerance, and equality. The Church we believe in embodies the safest of all spaces, built firmly on the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We emphasize President Hinckley's statement from April 1997, when he said, "We have gays in the Church. Good People. We take no action against such people . . ."

The Campaign is about creating greater understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity. It's about growing in Christ-like love and more fully serving each other and administering the gospel to all of God's children.

The Safe Space Campaign's purpose is to share the message of love for GLBT Mormons. It is also a message of love to family members and members of the Church from the least in our ward and branch units to the top of leadership.

In this politically charged time it has become apparent to stop and loudly proclaim a message of love and concern.

I will hand out my own printed letter of faith and call to dialogue, and why a greater dialogue is necessary.

We will now hear from a couple members of the Church who will share a little about their understanding and hope.

Thank you.

Kay and Ted Packard

Remarks by Kay Packard:

I come to the Safe Space Campaign first because of being invited by Hugo Salinas. Second , my oldest son is gay and left Utah for Columbia in New York City in August of 1981. He recently described growing up gay in Utah as being like "eating broken glass every day of his life". Thus he seldom visits Utah, and when he does, it is a short holiday weekend trip. Third, I come to "Safe Space" because of being an individual, Couple and Family Counselor. After having worked with a variety of individuals, couples and families where homosexuality was an issue, I know of the emotional pain our gay brothers and sisters experience when there is no Safe Space for them.

I believe in principles of truth and righteousness. I believe that "God makes no mistakes in the creation of his children. He taught us in the scriptures that each one of us has a unique and cherished place in the Kingdom of God. All humans are endowed with both the desire and the right to form lasting, nurturing relationships built on honesty and love." I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be "a beacon of hope for all people, a Church that opens its doors to all as a Safe Space, a tolerant and embracing place, where a homosexual member's options are not limited to eternal silence, repression, excommunication, or suicide."

It is my hope and dream that each family, and each congregation can embrace their homosexual brothers and sisters with love and caring, including them with acceptance, mutual respect, tolerance and equality.

Remarks by Ted Packard

Gay people have an inherent right to equal treatment before the law and to inclusion rather than exclusion from our society.

Despite recent increased awareness and greater tolerance by segments of our society, many gay individuals are still stigmatized, treated unequally, and suffer in ways that "majority" individuals do not.

There are three widespread beliefs concerning homosexuality and close same-sex relationships that maintain the current repressive status quo, and these misconceptions are as follows:
1. Homosexuality is an unnatural, sinful, and volitional state.
2. Homosexuality and same-sex attraction is reversible through effort, faith, and "conversion" treatments.
3. Society must not accept and sanction close same-sex relationships because to do so would represent a major threat to the institution of marriage and to our culture in general.

These three beliefs are based primarily on ignorance, fear, and centuries of cumulative prejudice and are not supported factually or by the available scientific evidence.

Reason, logic, and the preponderance of the available evidence lead to the following conclusions about the approximate 4-6% of the human species who are "gay:"
1. Homosexuality is a normal biological variation and neither sinful nor volitional. It is a phenomenon that occurs in all societies and cultures and even in other species.
2. Same sex attraction is irreversible, and despite continual effort, faith, and "conversion" treatments, the basic attraction to the same sex remains. (Note: It is important to distinguish between sexual attraction and sexual behavior, the latter being highly malleable unlike basic sexual attraction.)
3. Close same-sex relationships are not a threat to the institution of marriage or to the welfare of our society. Same-sex relationships are present, currently and historically, in all societies and cultures. Many relevant professional organizations have recognized this fact (e.g., American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, Academy of Family Medicine, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, National Association of Social Workers, etc.).

There are no rational, legal, or moral justifications for excluding gay individuals from full participation in our society. No less than all members of the human race, gay individuals deserve our understanding, acceptance, and unconditional support.