COLUMN: Homos and Momos have right to be heard
I applaud the locals who have been attending the regular Tabernacle-side peace vigils each Friday evening. To those budding liberals out there, go out and make your voice heard, at either this or some similar event. Now, it’s not mandatory, it isn’t extra credit – it’s good for your soul, so do it.
Speaking of soul … Twice a year Mormons converge upon the Conference Center for their special semi-annual dose of soul-nourishing instruction, long talks and (you guessed it) protesters.
Each year, I was guaranteed to witness each conference session, since my parents saw to it, being the Mormon enthusiasts they were. Maybe it was my whole not-going-to-church thing, or maybe it was because I told my parents that I liked other dudes – whatever it was, we aren’t that close anymore.
My parents and I have since come to something of an understanding. They still think I made a bad, bad decision for going after guys, but they understand that I had no control over my attractions.
I do have a point.
I still identify with the Mormon culture. The religion fascinates me. I spent six months out of the state, and as fun as warm winters are, I don’t plan on leaving Cache Valley again any time soon. I get a lot of joy in participating in discussions about the Church, its history, its doctrine and its teachings. And when I see someone stand in protest against people’s beliefs, spewing hatred with that holier-than-thou attitude, it boils my blood. And according to those protesters on temple square, as both a homo and a Momo, that puts me in the hottest, lowest (and gayest) corner of Hell.
A person has the right to spew whatever he or she wishes within certain constraints. You cannot, for example, walk into a synagogue brandishing the swastika or calling for the death of all Jews. But demonstrating with the KKK is perfectly legal. As unpopular, backwards, infuriating and offensive as these viewpoints may be, people must retain their personal liberties, even if we must come in to defend our opinions.
To the less-than-liberal: just because I support a person’s freedom of speech does not mean I support his message, and just because I am in favor of gay marriage doesn’t mean I want to marry a gay man in your church. If God wants to smite me for my evil Starbucks ways, then fine; I’ll get what I deserve. I also eat bacon. You should be working for a society that allows a man to live by the dictates of his own conscience, so long as he does not trespass upon another.
I feel very strongly that the Mormon church and all churches could use gay members and leadership. In a perfect world, I could marry a man in the temple. I understand that that will not happen, at least in the foreseeable future. I am fine with that; your religion is your religion, but my life is my life.
Think that gambling is a vice? Don’t gamble. Is smoking against your code of conduct? Don’t smoke. Does gay marriage or premarital sexual intercourse run contrary to your values? Then don’t marry if you’re gay, and wait until your honeymoon. Essentially, if your doctrine commands obedience to one law, obey it, don’t legislate it. Mormonism is doctrinally all about free agency; don’t run a campaign against that. I do not meddle in your affairs; be a good neighbor and do not meddle in mine.
Class dismissed.
Matthew Blackham is a junior majoring in sociology. Comments can be sent to matblackham@cc.usu.edu