First Class Discussion: Same Sex Couples

     This was a topic that really hit home for me. Growing up closeted had a huge impact on my life and the way I view the church. But I was pleasantly surprised by the way our professor handled this discussion. There were no opinions of what should and should not be, just data and statistics. I do wish that we could spend more time on this topic because I want there to be understanding between members of the LGBTQ+ community and the church. As I had mentioned before I used to be closeted, but I'm not entirely out of the closet just yet, especially on a platform like this. I will only come forward to say I'm part of the LGBTQ+ community because I am still affected by these types of issues, and I feel like what I have to say about it is important. Not only as someone who is in the community but as a member of the church as well. 

    I think that oftentimes, members of the church are way too quick to judge on topics like this, especially if they have no real connection to these issues. I had an instance where I was outed to my ward by a kid who now not only attends BYUI but is also now getting ready to serve a mission. Life in the church was not made easy after that. I wasn't allowed to be unsupervised with any other girl in our ward, and I had a Sunday school teacher say very homophobic things in front of me during a lesson. Needless to say, my perspective on how members of the church handle this kind of stuff is skewed. I've always had a difficult relationship with the church because of this. 

    Now I understand that there are people who don't have any real experience with handling a conversation about same-sex couples, before I knew my identity I was in the same boat. But it hurts me to see when I see negative reactions to this topic, especially when the first reaction is hate or disgust. I want this blog to be an educational point of view and a sort of bridge between the LGBTQ+ community and the church. 

    When the discussion was brought up in class, I knew it was going to be a hot topic, but I think everyone did. We talked about how the term 'marriage' was completely redefined by the US supreme court when a gay couple demanded that the state of California recognize their marriage. While we talked about it, every fiber of my being was screaming at me saying "it's valid" over and over in my head. The thing is, is that when we talk about marriage, oftentimes people in the church think of it as a religious ceremony. A union of two people has to take place in order to fulfill god's commandments to multiply and replenish the Earth. But the way I see it, that point of view is limiting and inconsiderate not only to gay couples but to other cultures as well. Because if we go off of the idea that marriage was invented by god to unionize Adam and Eve, we leave out the hundreds of other religions and their beliefs on marriage. Even to those who only see marriage as a legal union, that point of view still matters. Now all views on marriage are valid and important, but we also need to be considerate of others' views and opinions, which means that so long as there are other people being affected by any laws passed regarding the topic, then we need to let people decide for themselves what they want to do with the topic. So long as it is two consenting adults, that should be the end of the discussion. Because another persons marriage, does not affect other people. Everyone deserves to be able to have the choice, and if we as members of the church take that choice away or actively prevent them from having a choice in the first place, then we are not loving and Christ-like. To members of the church, we need to allow people to have as much agency as we can, so long as that agency does not lead to direct harm. Because Christ is the one who presented the plan of happiness, and if we stand to take away the agency of others, then we don't stand with Christ.