Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Denise Hamblen (left) with niece Kimmee

Elliott Davidson

Steve Thomas

Ben Jarvis (right) with partner Pat

Bruce Bastian

Gay.com Features LGBT Mormons
“I make decisions based on what I know to be right, not out of fear of losing my place in God’s kingdom or disappointing my church leaders”

June 2010

People of LDS background are being featured by Gay.com in the website’s “Mormon from My Eyes” series, running June 11-21 in honor of the release of the movie 8: The Mormon Proposition.

Denise Hamblen says she served an LDS mission because she was told that through her service she would “wash away her sins,” but as soon as she returned, she realized her same-sex attraction had not changed. Elliott Davidson recounts the attempts he made, after his LDS mission, to “become straight” by undergoing therapy—only to find out that the therapist used bogus theories. Steve Thomas says his Mormon parents placed him in a hospital for “family problems” when he was sixteen, but that they eventually became more accepting.

“Shortly before the 2008 election, my mother awoke early one morning, looked out the window, and saw someone from the LDS church placing a ‘YES on 8’ sign on the front lawn of her Southern California home,” Thomas writes. “Dressed only in a nightgown (and with just one good knee), she immediately ran down two flights of stairs and outside to pick up that sign and toss it in the trash. When she told me and my father (a Midwest-born steelworker and general contractor) what she had done, he agreed with her actions. I don't think I can remember a time when I was more proud of her.”

Affirmation member Ben Jarvis writes about finding Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons and discovering that he wasn’t alone after all. “I volunteer my time to help other gay Mormons because I know that they are hurting,” Ben writes, “and am now one of the outreach contacts for Affirmation—the organization that helped me in the past. Someone was there for me and I would be remiss if I did not try to return the favor. I make decisions based on what I know to be right, not out of fear of losing my place in God’s kingdom or disappointing my church leaders.”

Philanthropist Bruce Bastian wrote about serving a mission, attending BYU, being called to a bishopric, and the difficult journey which led him to resign his membership from the LDS Church. “I learned good things as a Mormon,” writes Bastian. “I have an ex-wife who is one of my best friends, and four wonderful sons. However, the Mormon Church caused me a lot of grief and depression, and their teachings caused my family a lot of pain that I don’t believe is justified.”

“I don’t believe any church that teaches to cast out or hate others who are different from you has any true relationship with God,” Bastian concludes. “Being a spiritual person has nothing to do with going to church. Following ‘God’ is more about personal honesty, respect, kindness, and unconditional love.”

Full List of Stories:

Jarom Rowland

Bruce Bastian

Ben Jarvis

Steve Thomas

Elliott Davidson

Denise Hamblen