PFLAG

Gary & Millie Watts

Washington DC, September 30, 2003 -- A Mormon, a prominent member of PFLAG, and father of two gay children is reaching out to the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to ask for acceptance of the Church's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members.

In a September 30 letter to Mormon president Gordon B. Hinckley, Utah-based Dr. Gary Watts-a highly respected physician and national board member of PFLAG -writes of the "pain, isolation and disenfranchisement" felt by GLBT people feel upon hearing "expressions of disapproval and misunderstanding" from the pulpit. On the eve of the Church's 173rd Semi-Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Watts urged president Hinckley to promote understanding and acceptance of GBLT people and their families.

Dr. Watts and his wife Millie are life-long Mormons and award-winning human rights activists. When they learned that two of their six children are gay, they rejected the Church's position that homosexuality is a sin and chose to accept and love their children for who they are. They also joined PFLAG and became Salt Lake City's charter members.

It is estimated that over 500,000 Mormons identify as GLBT, yet the Church remains strongly opposed to equal rights, recognition or even tolerance for its gay members. It maintains that homosexuality is a choice and a result of poor parenting. In fact, in 1994 Church leaders issued statements condemning same-sex unions and urging members to actively oppose the extension of equal marriage rights to gays and lesbians. Currently, the official Church policy is to accept GLBT people as members only if they remain celibate and try to become heterosexual.

This position is extremely hurtful to all GLBT Mormons and their families. It does nothing to support the hundreds of thousands of people in the Church who are struggling to deal with these issues and is in direct contradiction of the Mormon belief in the sanctity and unity of the family. As the Church prepares for its conference, PFLAG whole-heartedly supports Dr. Watt's for his brave stance, his love for his children, and his tireless efforts to make the world a more just, tolerant and compassionate place for all GLBT people.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the nation's foremost family-based organization committed to the civil rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender persons. Founded in 1973 by mothers and fathers, PFLAG has 250,000 members and supporters in almost 500 chapters throughout the United States.

Press Office: Alice Leeds, PFLAG Communications
917-523-5029

President Gordon B. Hinckley
47 East South Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 82150-1200

Dear President Hinckley,

As you prepare to welcome members to the 173rd Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints next month, PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) is hopeful you will be particularly cognizant of members and their families who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) persons. Reliable estimates suggest over 500,000 of your members are in this category. Multiply that number by their parents and family members and you will see that significant numbers of your membership are dealing with these issues on a first hand basis. I know from personal experience - as someone raised in the Mormon Church and the father of a gay son and a lesbian daughter - that the Church's leadership is particularly crucial in promoting understanding and acceptance of GLBT persons and their families.

PFLAG promotes the health and well being of these individuals. Our vision is one that celebrates diversity and envisions a society and culture that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity, and equality for all can we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively.

GLBT individuals have been the subjects of overt and subtle discrimination for many years. We are acutely aware of the pain, isolation and disenfranchisement felt by many members upon their discovery of their own same-sex attraction or that of a loved family member. Expressions of disapproval and misunderstanding from the pulpit are particularly painful at conference time. We encourage you to do everything in your power to help these individuals and their family members feel welcome and included. Sincerely,

Gary Watts, M.D.
National Board Member, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)