New booklet seeks to reconcile Mormon faith with gay youth

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

New booklet seeks to reconcile Mormon faith with gay youth

By Jennifer Dobner
SALT LAKE CITY | Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:15pm EDT

(Reuters) - Lori's son was 9 years old when he first told her that he had crushes on other boys - a revelation that brought considerable heartache and worry to the Mormon mom in conservative Utah.

"In our church, (homosexuality) is considered a sin," said the mother of four. "Marriage is between a man and a woman and gender identity, the mother's role and father's role, are such a huge part of our church.

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Lori said she found church-based resources for coping with the challenges of raising her son, who is now 13, to be unsatisfactory. But a newly published guidebook, co-written by a former church bishop with input from Mormon families and congregational leaders, may offer families like hers new hope and support for reconciling their faith's teachings with needs of their children.

"Supportive Families, Healthy Children: Helping Latter-day Saint Families with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Children," is the first faith-based volume to emerge from a series of similar publications produced by the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/15/us-usa-mormon-gays-idUSBRE85E00G20120615

[msongs]

1. superstition and myth for the parent versus reality for the kid nt

[Scootaloo]

2. Yup

"How to secure your delusions at the expense of your child in seven easy steps!"

[FreeState]

3. Actually it looks like this is calling for accepting the child as is

from the article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/15/us-usa-mormon-gays-idUSBRE85E00G20120615

The guide blends Mormon scripture and statements on family from church presidents with research that shows family support and acceptance to be critical to the health and well-being of gay youths.

"Many parents have believed that if they came from a faith that was at odds with having a gay child that they had to choose between their child and their faith," said Ryan, who has been working on health issues in the gay and transgender community for nearly 40 years. "Our approach is really that even families that are struggling can modify their behavior and keep their family together."

According to Ryan's findings, gay youths who feel highly rejected are eight times more likely others to attempt suicide, six times more likely to have high levels of depression and three times more likely to use illegal drugs and engage in risky sexual behaviors.

Rejected youth also are more likely to withdraw from their families, lose their faith and leave their church, the research found.

[MADem]

5. Am I missing something, or does that guidance appear to say something along the lines of

'Put up with the little sinner' or 'TOLERATE (not the nice meaning of the word) the lost sheep--hold your nose and put up with it because the alternative is worse..." or something on those lines...?

And then there's the money quote:

The booklet is not endorsed by the Utah-based church

...

Surprise, surprise!

[Plantaganet]

4. Why wouldn't their children be healthy?

It's not like their entire community has poured millions into legislating bigotry. Right?

Ooops.

It seems our actions do have consequences.