TresSugar

Mormons Petition Church to Change Gay Marriage Stance

TresSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0700

A group of Mormons have urged the church to change its position on gay marriage for the sake of Mormon families and gay individuals who have lost rights because of the church's actions. A petition going around urges both sides of the debate to be open to understanding, forgiveness, and apology.

The group's organizer says:

"We would like the church to recognize the harm that's been done to people in the gay community, in general, but specifically to LDS gays who have tried to change their orientation to live up to the church's expectations. The effects can be really devastating to them and their families."

Supporters of the petition also point out that the Mormon teachings have made it hard for followers with gay family members to reconcile their support of their loved ones with their faith. Marie Osmond offers one high profile example of someone that did make it work - Marie doesn't think her Mormon faith should keep her from loving her gay daughter because Christ, she said "loved everyone."

Do you find it admirable that these Mormons are trying to change the ways of their religion?

Pro Gay Marriage Ad: The Mormons Are Coming!

TresSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:59:04 -0700

California taught East Coast supporters of same-sex marriage a valuable lesson: the Mormon church is a force to be reckoned with. The organized and well-funded church did a good job mobilizing voters in favor of "traditional marriage" to successfully pass Prop. 8. Hoping to mobilize themselves for the battles in other states, one marriage equality group placed ads on newspaper websites warning that "The Mormons are coming! The Mormons are coming!"

The group has been told that its ads were insulting and denigrating to a set of people based on their religion. The founder of the group says he thinks Mormons are the nicest people and that his "single goal is to get them out of the same-sex marriage business and back to helping hurricane victims."

I would imagine that Mormons would get a lot of heat for running ads claiming that the "The gays are coming! The gays are coming!" Should people fighting for marriage rights be more respectful of their opponents, or do they have no obligation to be tolerant of those who want to infringe on their rights?

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Marie Osmond Supports Gay Daughter, Despite Mormon Faith

TresSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Occasionally, something a person knows is right in her heart makes her question the teachings of her religion. Marie Osmond doesn't think her Mormon faith should keep her from accepting her daughter Jessica, who happens to be a lesbian. Last night Marie told Entertainment Tonight:

"It's so sad that we even have to segregate all these things. The thing that I want is love. I'm a Christian you know (and) Christ was that way, he loved everyone."

Marie said earlier this month that she supports same-sex marriage because marriage is a civil right. She also suggested that the Mormon Church, which was a big supporter of Prop. 8, might have misinterpreted the Bible: "I do believe in the Bible. My daughter understands my beliefs. And, you know, God said to be married and be productive with your children."

It sounds like Marie is trying to be a good mother and a good Christian. Are you surprised Marie, a longtime and very public member of the Mormon Church, is so supportive of her daughter?

To see the interview, read more.

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HBO to Air Controversial Big Love Episode Despite LDS Outcry

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:12 -0700

Thank goodness the show will go on, because I could not take one less of the two Big Love episodes left this season. What's the problem? Sunday's episode will feature a ceremony sacred (and kind of secret) to the mainstream Mormon church.

In the episode, Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, notorious do-gooder and wishy-washy polygamist Barb, goes through an endowment ceremony when she's threatened with excommunication. I hesitate to describe what endowment is because I'll probably get it wrong. But it's like an adult baptism with the water and the oil, and unlike it in that participants are taught gospel laws, given key words they'll need in the afterlife, and tested afterward.

Probably the most accurate depiction you'll find outside a Mormon temple is Sunday's episode. An adviser who is familiar (yet nameless?) with temple ceremonies advised Big Love's producers so they could get every detail right. He even remained on set during filming. HBO has half-heartedly apologized, saying, "Obviously, it was not our intention to do anything disrespectful to the church but to those who may be offended, we offer our sincere apology."

From the church's point of view, HBO is breaking its earlier promise to focus on polygamy and stay away from mainstream Mormonism. But the only legal promise HBO ever made was a one-time disclaimer that aired in the series premiere, stating the modern-day church did not support polygamy.

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Briefing Book! Mormon Church Investigated For Role in Prop. 8

LibertySugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:40:33 -0800

Prop. 8: Did Mormon leaders conceal their role in California's same-sex marriage ban? Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate the LDS Church and its work in supporting Proposition 8. - SFist
Palin: Will she help? Sarah Palin goes back on the campaign trail in Georgia. - Huffington Post
Conservatives: Democratic party unity to fade after inauguration? A new conservative agenda can trump the Democrats' three agendas. - Townhall
Economy: State corporatism doesn't equal free markets? Why you shouldn't blame the "free market" for the current economic crisis. - Donklephant

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Mormons Leave Church Over Stance on Same-Sex Marriage

CitizenSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:30:45 -0800

People were enraged last week when California passed Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage, but now opponents are lashing out at the Mormon church for its well-funded campaign against it. And Mormons themselves are speaking up.

OK, so they're not saying this (warning! NSFW profanity), but they are mad enough to resign from the church and post letters of disappointment on Signing For Something. Their reasons? Hatred, bigotry, and discrimination are cited the most, and claims are backed up with LDS doctrine, which says "We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government."

How can Mormons be blamed for a statewide vote? Besides misdirected anger, it didn't help that church authorities asked members to "do all [they] can to support the proposed constitutional amendment." And with that righteous request came millions of donated dollars to fund a campaign against Prop. 8 and produce what are clearly well-funded videos.

I've also heard some rumblings about straight people boycotting marriage. Would you ever leave your religion or not get married because gay people cannot?

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BYU Yanks Degree From Men on a Mission Calendar Maker

CitizenSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:00:40 -0700

Ding-dong! And that's in the metaphorical and literal sense, I suppose. A whole calendar of Mormon missionaries shirtless? Yes - though the hotness of the bell-ringing men depicted has landed its creator in some hot water with his alma mater, Brigham Young University.

Chad Hardy graduated from BYU and created the calendar called "Men on a Mission" aimed at shaking up the boring or cookie-cutter stereotype of the LDS lads. After selling more than 11,000 copies featuring the missionaries in shirtless beefcake poses, last month Hardy received a letter saying that there had been a nonacademic hold placed on his degree. He'd been excommunicated from the church, and that "If in the future you are reinstated as a member of the church in good standing, you are invited to contact my office regarding your possible eligibility for the awarding of a degree." He plans to fight the decision "tooth and nail."

Reasons for the excommunication include the calendar as well as failure to pay tithing and other religious obligations. The 2009 version is on sale now. The controversy is all well and good, but want to see the missionaries sans shirts? Then without further ado, read more.

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Front Page: Mormons Help Bring Gay Rights to Salt Lake City

TresSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:10 -0800

After the Mormon Church backed Salt Lake City ordinances that would bar housing and employment discrimination against gays, the laws passed unanimously last night. - AP
The American Medical Association is urging the federal government to loosen the classification of marijuana so the drug can be used for clinical research. - LA Times
Some victims said they still didn't feel closure after watching DC sniper John Allen Muhammad die last night of lethal injection. - CNN
Germany is in shock after a star soccer player committed suicide.- AP
Baseball great Sammy Sosa says a skin cream made his skin appear white in recent photos. - New York Daily News

Grab Bag: Get Over Your Ex With the Help of Craigslist!

TresSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0700

How to get over your ex with Craigslist. - Lemondrop
Woman thinks she'll never hook up with a woman. (Never say never!) - The Frisky
Who gets to keep the ring after a broken engagement? - Em & Lo
Five ways a guy can suck in bed. - Your Tango
There's a Mormon fetish industry? - Jezebel
Author Joyce Maynard's daughter speaks out about being subject of mom's book. - Double X
Is it possible to change the way a guy kisses?- Glamour
Why did the chicken cross the road? Maybe this compendium of YouTube videos will answer your question. - Urlesque

Guides Hope Public Will Have Big Love For Polygamy Tours

TresSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:10:00 -0700

Has Big Love only intensified your curiosity about the mysterious lives of polygamists? Perhaps you should book your next vacation to Arizona, where former fundamentalist Mormons have launched a tour of a polygamous colony.

Starting next weekend, outsiders will get an inside look with "The Polygamy Experience: A Guided Tour of Colorado City." The tour is not for the passingly curious, as it lasts four hours and involves meetings with people who have been exiled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Even so, it promises to be respectful. The guides will educate tourists on the history of fundamentalist Mormonism and explain why they take more than one wife in the first place. Paying customers will also learn what's behind the prairie dresses and long braids.

The tour costs $70 for adults and $60 for children (children, really?). Would you shell out the money to see polygamy up close?

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