How can bridges be built out of “Trash?”
Neon Trees lead singer, Tyler Glenn, expressed his new feelings toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day-Saints with his new song and music video, “Trash,” three weeks ago.
This video shows the anger and betrayal Tyler Glenn felt during his faith crisis. This was his outlet in expressing his feelings about his faith crisis, which caused him to leave the church. Many of these emotions are in response to the church’s November LGBTQ policy change, which furthered the division between the LGBTQ community and the LDS church.
Tyler Glenn exhibited his rights by expressing about his faith crisis in an artful, creative fashion, to reach and connect with those who also felt the same betrayal. Due to the policy change, he felt alienated by his own religion and community and left. While he wants to let LGBTQ Mormons to know that they are not alone, this music video pushes away and alienates the LDS church in a similar fashion.
How can bridges be built between the former and current Mormons when this video is a blatant expression against the Church? How is the Church supposed to react to this music video? How easy is it to dismiss this as an attack on their belief system and cast it aside, without delving into the real issue it portrays that the policy change caused a lot of damage.
This is a complicated situation in finding the balance between respect, religion, and how one fits into that religion. This is an emotionally charged topic that requires more healing than just back-lashing between the Mormon church and this former-Mormon community. How can agreement be found? How will this open up the discussion of the treatment of children and adults who struggle with religion and identity who still ascribe to this faith (and/or other faiths)?
The LDS church has a right to conduct their own affairs. They are well-meaning in trying to establish harmony in household to protect and maintain relationships. However, the consequences of the policy change caused further division between its own members and former members alike, whether they are apart of the LGBTQ community or not. The consequences here led Tyler Glenn, along with about 3,000 people, to leave the church. It was also followed by a spike in suicides and suicide attempts among members of the LGBTQ community.
Unfortunately, there’s no simple solution. There is a lot of strong emotions being conveyed on both sides, because of how deep the scars are with the policy change, particularly with the spike of suicides, it will take a long time for this division to be fixed. However, this subject–although uncomfortable discuss can bring the differing perspectives together to create a better understanding of the needs of everyone to build a stronger, loving community.
Our society is built on sharing ideas and holding our own beliefs. In order to share those beliefs and stances, we also need to tolerate and respect others who have differing ideas. The consequences of not having an open dialogue will only cause more pain. Either through further discussion of this policy change or by reaching out in kindness to this religious institution in other creative ways, a solution can be found. My hope is that all parties can reach a better agreement and start healing these wounds on more common ground.
Deonna Edgar is a creative writing major with a journalism minor and is in Slytherin house. She also writes for Aggie Radio Theatre’s sitcom, “On the Quad.” She grew up in Cache Valley and is a lover of Netflix binges. She is currently reading Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me.
-deonna.edgar@aggiemail.usu.edu