[JustLovelyJenn]

I have been really upset for the last day or so. I didn't really put together why until this morning. I woke up and there were two things on my mind. The one thing that is always on my mind when I wake these days... and an article I read from the New York Times yesterday.

It seems that some people continue to move backwards even as the world moves forwards. The Mormon church has set new guidelines on how to deal with "the gays" and now they are going against their OWN teachings to do it. Its no longer enough to shun our community, to spend large amounts of money to try and rid us of our rights, or to excommunicate their own members just for supporting us. NOW, they have to attack our children.

New LDS standards state that all same sex couples are to be excommunicated from the church AND that their children MAY NOT JOIN the church until they are 18 years old, and then only if they no longer live with their same sex parents. SO... let me get this right... shall I quote the scriptures that are in opposition to this? (maybe just one)

Deuteronomy 24:16 - The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

BUT... don't even get me started on what this does for LGBT people who were born into the church, who have tried for so long to live as they were taught. How do you come out as a mother when you are told that if you do not only will YOU be punished, but your CHILDREN will suffer? You don't. This is going to take us back DECADES. A lesbian mom who is just now realizing after 5 or 10 years of marriage who she is will not leave. She will not embrace who she is. She will stay in that unhealthy marriage. She will lie to her husband and her family. She may even have an affair. This will lead to depression, self loathing, and even suicide.

This is not a solution, it doesn't help anyone. Not the church, and certainly not the LGBT population that they have already admitted don't have a choice about who they are. I am so angry, so disturbed, and so sad. This outdated view of love and family is outrageous. They do not punish the children of unwed mothers, or drug abusers, or even divorcees. All of whom, by their own admission, have more choice in their sins then I do.... BUT, my daughter... will not be allowed to go to church with her grandmother... as she has for years... because I love differently then them.