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Show 10 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN OPEN DOOR Letters Cont. (Continued from Page 3) to force myself to be heterosexual. I did not look forward to the hypocrisy this experience demanded of Possible New Gay Group For Logan; Odgen me. BYU -- The Salt Lake City Gay Coalition has lately met with a representative from the gay community of Logan, with inquiries how to set up a conscious-raisingroup at USU. of is this Prospect encouraging and g any University community abounds with a higher percentage of gays, than does the usual community. We are delighted here in Salt lake to do what we can to see this group prosper and function, and serve a viable purpose to gays in the northern communities. Presently the Monday meetings here in Salt Lake have a good sized attendance coming from Odgen. Perhaps a group similar to ours could be started there too. Welcome aboard to all of you, and let us help you in your organization.Any-on- e from Provo? You might not be able to meet an the BYU campus, but there's got to be someplace there where you can meet. Give us a ring. to i entered and onnff.gay'. friends who made me aware 'of the paranoia existing thre for homosexuals. I desparately needed friends but they were so frantic, paranoid and, acting it out that I was more alone than before. . I have a sexual experience with a 19 year old boy who felt mutually attracted to me, but felt compelled to speak to his Bishop. I was expelled then asked to withdraw officially from the University, but not before my Bishop examined me as a curious specimen and President Kimball pleaded for names of other people he could help. I expected through the president, apostolic counseling, communication or therapy for the whole group to get to the truth of the matter, then maybe I could understand my burden I in life. Ironically when the list was given, of being due to the finanical no from work, no school, expelled me Kimball loaned President money. dollars. thirty Then the hell began: excommunication, degrees denied, careers interrupted and ruined, and perhaps lives ended. I understood help would come, set-bac- k but no counseling came, no Bishops' cocern. Nothing. I was conspicuously m not excommunicated. I did not sleep. I still do not sleep, wondering about these lives with which I selfishly interrupted. Years passed. I married, fathered children as the church counseled me. becoming extremely active in the program." to busy to sin. I have had many spiritual experiences in the Temple and in my private chamber. I love my wife, but I am not her lover. Both of our personal problems drove us even from friendship until she read the Payne Papers from a student and peace came over BYU our household. I need my family but I need to love and be loved biologically and emo- tionally in the way my hormones and my heart leads me. I feel no desire for women. I cannot force this any longer. I wish I could sit down within the bonds of the church, the ward, and talk with the other gay members of the ward without hiding from I wish the brethren would call a solemn assembly for us. I believe the occasion would be solemn enough to keep us in the bounds of propriety. Maybe a few lives would be saved. There are other groups to which the church bends to keep the open door. Who in the church can I trust now. who can I talk to without fear of spiritual annihiliation? Am I to play the game of getting my wrist slapped (excommunciation),then maybe a year If salor two to be vation and exaltation are so import- - ant to the Lords Church, why doesnt instead the church open a door to us of slapping our bloody knuckles? I am forced I have no choice now. I do not fit to live in hypocrisy. into the plan. I am lost for eternity to live with murderers in a tefctlaj kingdom. Otherwise, I will build on my own I will from what is left in the world. raise my children with understanding, work with my wife in open communication and become all that I am of the capable of becoming, in spite I am happy about discomfort to Zion. more than myself. I want to live now, no Shangra La, ever. This life is truly the Spirit with now but I am at peace of mine. inside this body Signed, Seldom am I moved to tears, but your letter left me drained. Surely many who read your letter will see an echo in their very own lives, or in the lives of close triends. Surely it is evident to you that the church will do nothing to accept you or make your burden lighter, since it is dogma to uphold those tenants. You are left with the dregs of whatever lile you can make lor yourself, and it would appear you were stronger than they had expected, for you have found happiness without their blessing. If it is any comfort to you, please believe you are not alone in this, and it is a pity that there are more like you, who have been made to believe they were an abomination and sin to society. still hold the power-positio- n , to teach your to tolerant be and children and to resist casting that first stone, and Instill In them the love of life and appreciation for hucreed manity, regardless of though, that being life-styl- or shade of skin. ful experience could be more universally done. It Is too much to expect a divine, revelation from on high to make the gay person suddenly acceptable , fo the church: However slowly, genifaifbri by geneatidn, We can hope for increased understanding and less criticism. If we can help, were here to listen more. LML DearL.M.L. You been pained Is a great accomplishment Would that this most meaning- To teach others to never be guilty of bringing pain to another as you have Singles Increase Sixty Percent In Seven Years The number of men living alone has increased 60 percent in the last seven years and the number of women living by themselves is up 35 percent, the Census Bureau reported. ' Among persons under 35, the number of men living alone tripled since 1970 - from 274,000 to 752,000 and the number of women doubled from 282,000 to 588,000. There were 15.5 million persons maintaining households who were living alone in 197. the Bureau said. The Census Bureau said that while the most rapid increase i.n single households was among people under 25, they still total only 1.3 million, or 9 percent of all those living alone. SPECIALIZING IN SOUTH AMERICAN HANDCRAFT AND ART. JUSTIN: NEW FALL LINE. 104 - ' f. ' j 4 s again. (South of Ice Cream Store) 875 E. 9th So. Open Tuesday thru Saturday ... 4 Mothers Earth Things draws a great deal of their clothing, jewelry and other merchandise from local craftsmen. You will rarely 'see anything in their shop common to any of the other stores in Salt Lake City. The friendly people at Mother's Earth s Things want you to be ari individual ' V 322-50- 12 11 am. to 6 p.m. 364 -7696 t v r iseessiM - - j wm , i ..... Yii , mm - '.'idirvv .mij vrh; wr |