When Did You Choose to be Straight?

This post is courtesy of Austin. If you would like to take a look at his blog here is the link.




And here is a lovely questionnaire made in the 70's to give straights a little perspective on what it's like to be gay.

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?

2. When and where did you decide you were a heterosexual?

3. Is it possible this is just a phase and you will out grow it?

4. Is it possible that your sexual orientation has stemmed from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?

5. Do your parents know you are straight? Do your friends know- how did they react?

6. If you have never slept with a person of the same sex, is it just possible that all you need is a good gay lover?

7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality... can’t you just be who you are and keep it quiet?

8. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?

9. Why do heterosexuals try to recruit others into this lifestyle?

10. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual... Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual teachers?

11. Just what do men and women do in bed together? How can they truly know how to please each other, being so anatomically different?

12. With all the societal support marriage receives, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?

13. How can you become a whole person if you limit yourself to compulsive, exclusive heterosexuality?

14. Considering the menace of overpopulation how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?

15. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don't you feel that he or she might be inclined to influence you in the direction of his or her leanings?

16. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to.

17. Have you considered trying aversion therapy?

British Ruling Against Anti-Gay Foster Parents

Here is an article about a religious couple who is no longer allowed to be foster parents because of their religious views on homosexuality.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/01/uk-court-anti-gay-couple-foster-parents/?cmpid=cmty_email_Gigya_U.K._Court:_Anti-Gay_Couple_Can't_Be_Foster_Parents

There is a problem here. Because, we are trying to achieve a greater equality. We want more equal opportunity. But this ruling only says that a government gets to dictate what individual parents can believe. Taking away the chance for religious people to be foster parents is not helping the LGBT community in any way.

What do you think about the ruling? Post your comments.

Defense of Marriage Act ??

Here is an article about a case that supposedly changed Obama's view on the defense of marriage act.
This is a similar scenario that Erik talked about during the Breaking the Silence Panel last week. If he and his partner were to be together another 50 years and one of them got sick and couldn't work and then the other died, then the one remaining would get no compensation because same-gender marriage is not legal.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110228/us_yblog_thelookout/the-case-that-changed-obamas-mind-on-defense-of-marriage-act

What exactly is marriage? Who defines it? And what makes a marriage a marriage?
If you have any ideas, leave a comment.

National Self-Injury Awareness Day

Today is national self-injury awareness day.
Self-injury is a very common means of coping with difficult emotions and situations, but it doesn't have to be.
Aside from the many LGBT individuals who harm themselves because of issues with their identities, there are so many others who resort to hurting themselves instead of seeking help in a different way.

Today is your day to do something about those you love. The best thing anyone can do for someone going through a difficult time is to listen. Put away all the judgment and the great advice and just lend a loving ear. Open your ears and your heart and let your loved ones feel safe enough to talk.

Check out this website for more information on National Self-Injury Awareness Day

Standing Room Only

Breaking The Silence: a discussion panel on understanding same-gender attraction was held this evening, Thursday February 24th, at the Provo City Library. There was over 100 people in the audience, which filled the room.

Debbie, straight LDS Church member, acted as moderator for the event. The panel was composed of Brent, who is a temple recommend holder of the LDS Church, and Eric, a bisexual living with his partner, a lesbian couple: Kerri and Bonnie, and Rebekah, an active LDS member who is the daughter of a lesbian.

Tiffany Demings, the organizer of Breaking the Silence,  opened the meeting with a quote about the importance of sharing stories. She said, "First of all, all of us matter. All of us have stories...and they all should be told...I forget that everyone is living out their own world. Their own tragedies, their own triumphs, their own everythings. We are so much alike. and different. But alike. We should be writing it down. We should be talking more. We should be telling more. So that we never feel alone. So that we aren't scared of people or assume things about people or discount people."

There was a wide range of perspectives, and the discussion touched on topics from political activism to homelessness, advice on coming out to sensitivity with word choice.

Here are a few highlights from the meeting:

Rebekah said, referencing her mother's coming out, "Just because someone identifies as one thing or other, it doesn't change anything about that person."

"What you think you know about a minority means nothing until you talk to one of us." --Eric

When the issue of expectations from other people and personal spirituality came up, Kerri said, "Fulfill within, not outwardly." And she talked about how she was never happy when she tried to please everyone around her.

"You're not alone. You don't have to figure out everything at once."--Brent

To members of the LDS Church, Rebekah said, "It's important to understand what the Church's stance is and what it isn't." She went on to say that Christ would not turn anyone away, and that members of the Church have a responsibility to help those in need no matter their sexual orientation or their position in life.

"Love: isn't that what everything is about?"

One woman in the audience stood up and talked about PFLAG (Parents Friends and Family of Lesbians And Gays). She said that homeless youth is at 47%. Anyone seeking to be involved in PFLAG is welcome to join the Salt Lake chapter every 2nd Tuesday of the month.
for more info click here: PFLAG Salt Lake City chapter

Eric is the founder of Pride in Utah
Kerri is an active participant of SWERVE

Tiffany is planning to hold another discussion panel at the end of March. Details are TBA.

 Photos are courtesy of Erik Westesen