music, books, love and kindness

I try to stick to music, books and movies, but (as I have before) am taking a detour....saw this article and while no one (on other side of the issue) will be breaking out champagne and wine glasses to celebrate, it's a bit more unexpected and open-minded than I would have imagined the Mormon Church to be. They are by no means advocating that acting on same sex attraction is acceptable to their Church, but at least (in my mind, it seems) anyone who is gay and Mormon and already vulnerable to self-hating thought may be a bit relieved that their thoughts alone aren't necessarily going to land them in Hell.

It's one thing to tell someone gay that their actions are "sinful," but another to tell them their thoughts and feelings (things they can't help as much as they can their actions) is heartbreaking when they are already facing a (more times than not) homophobic society, especially in their church or small town where anti-gay sentiment is usually stronger.

I do think "attraction" is not the best word choice. "Attraction" implies physical feelings or sex, when being gay is about so much more. The romantic and emotional aspects (caring for someone else of the same gender, enjoying their company and talking with them) are so complex and complicated. I think it makes it easier for people who hate gay people to think it's tied in to nothing more than simple sex acts...which is far from the truth as anything can be....