 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Affirmation Responds to President Hinckley January 2005
As gay and lesbian Mormons, we are confused by recent statements made by Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a recent CNN interview with Larry King, President Hinckley claimed he is not anti-gay, but rather pro-family. This claim seems inconsistent with the Church's support, including extensive political fund-raising, for initiatives which would ensure that gay and lesbian couples can not be legally recognized as families. The laws which the Church supports would allow hospitals to deny visitation rights for partners and children of gay and lesbian patients, and could allow or even require the State to forcibly separate families and place the children of gay or lesbian partners into foster care upon the death of the biological parent. The laws that make such circumstances possible do not protect families. They single out gay households and punish both parents and children. The question is not whether or not there will be gay and lesbian families. Such families are already a reality. The question is whether President Hinckley and the Church will find the charity in their hearts to allow these families to peacefully co-exist with other types of families. In another interview with Larry King, in September of 1998, President Hinckley was asked about another type of family that was in the news in Utah at the time --the polygamous one. His response to Larry King was "It's a matter of civil procedure. The church can't do anything. We have no authority in this matter, none whatever." If polygamy, which the Latter-day Saints believe is now expressly forbidden by revelation, is not the Church's business but a civil matter, why would same-sex civil marriage be such a concern to the Church? For years President Hinckley has said that he feels love and compassion for gays and lesbians. One way to show that would be to not oppose gay families, the vast majority of whom are not even Mormon, allowing them to have the same protection under law that his own family has enjoyed. Would President Hinckley have Justice remove her blind fold and judge who is worthy of her protection? We encourage him to let Justice's blindfold stay in place. It would be better for all of us that way. Olin Thomas, Alyson Bolles, James Morris, and Hugo Salinas Executive Committee Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
|
www.affirmation.org