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Show 7 experience for the young man can easily be miscontrued as the beginning of his homosexuality. The seduction could never have occurred however, without the underlying disposition for it. If the young man is not able to accept his homosexuality, or if he is caught in the act, he often blames the otgher parfty who 'introduced' him to it. Society reinforces this notion of seduction causing his homosexuality, and the young man never has to face the fact that he held strong, persistent, and specific desires for the act before it occured. It is much, easier and requires little personal responsibility to say "I became a homosexual at such and such a point when so and so introduced me to the homosexual experience." The heterosecual young man who engages in sex with one of his buddies does not experience himself as homosexual, is not threatened by the homophobic elements in our society and, therefore never attributes anyh 'causal' factors to his first or subsequent sexual experiences. He comes away from the experience as thoroughly heterosexual as before, and his partner is never blamed for anything. It is the homosexual who is. more apt to have difficulty with his first homosexual experience. Now the fulfillment of his long-hel- d desires make him acutely aware of his homosexuality and, therefore, he is confronted more directly with the taboos against it. Until now, he has been able to hold these considerations at a distance, but the experience not catapults him into the thick of a tains a very interesting article by a homosexual. This man was trangically molested as a boy and feels that this is possibly the cause of his homosexuality. Of course I can't question this man, so I will accept his evaluation of his own experience. It is possible that such an experience could cause homosexuality, but it is more plaiusible, particularly in this case that foe result of molestation would be a strong aversion to it. I would like to talk to this man as there are some very telling omissions in his account of this episode. I have known several cases of young boys who were molested. In each case, he has grown up to be a heterosexual. This is in no way ignoring the serious after affects of molest-ing.(Ndo I want this minor question to detract from the poignant and perplexing Solus article. I kr only others would come forth with their experiences as forthrightly and per- ceptively as this man so that we can begin to shed somne light on what the experience of being Mormon and homosexual really Statistical studies show that an extremely low percentage of homosexuals engage in child molesting. Far and away the greatest occurrence of child molesting is by heterosexuals on young girls, not by homosexuals on y oung boys. Like heterosexuals, homosexuals typically prefer a partner close to their own age and in a relationship t hat is mutually expressive of the affection for and interest in the other person. One of the main reasons for outlawing homosexuality in the past has been this child molesting concern as reflected in the emotional campaign now under way to save Our Children' (from homosexuality). By the same logic, should not heterosexuality be well-adjust- very perilous position of being held responsible for the experi ience and unjustly blamed for sexual desires which existed years before the. two men ever For many homosexmet. uals, their first sexual experience is wi th a h eterosexual buddy which raises the annoyshould the heting question erosexual buddy be held responsible for causing his partners homosexuality ? A MORMON RAPE outlawed since heterosexual child molesting occurs much more frequently? homosexuality are gradually falling as the public becomes more informed 371, 1973( Criminal statutes against about sexual matters generally. The National Mental Health Task Force on homosexuality concluded The extreme approbrium that our society has attached to homosexual behavior by way of criminal statutes and restrictive employment practices has done more social harm than good..." It is unlikely that Utah, with itschurch influenced politics will follow suit of other states and decriminalize homosexuality. It is easier in this culture-boun- d society to resort to eloquent ed moralizing than reflection of the rationalityh and actual consequences of the law. It would take unusual courage for a social, political or church sober-minde- - d leader to take an informed and reasoned approach that might be in opposition to a tradition so firmly inured to an emotional set. President Oaks, in his Commissioner's Lecture on The Popular Muth of the Vic- timless Crime' articulated the philosophical and moral basis for the criminal statutes against such things as drug abuse, prostitution, adultery, abortion, pornography, gambling, Child molesting is not homoThe difference sexuality. two is the same as the difference between heterosexuality and child molesting, and as Paul Harvey puts it, in both .In the .fall 1976 issue of Dialogue takes up the problem of Mormon sexuality. It con- - cases, it is the difference between love and rape. ("Gays : va- grancy, etc. 'I admire his position generally and the process by which he reaches his conclusions. It is 'unfortunate that he threw homosexuality into his argument where'Wegal CHILD MOLESTING mosexuality as immoral; if the law fails to support that notion, disrespect for the law and a general loosening of the bonds of society must follow.. a majority of the people of Missouri regard homosexuality as disgusting, degrading, degenerate, and a threat to society. Whether this is rational or not, so long as the felling persists, the majority will insist that its condemnation be reflected in a positive manner in the criminal code even if it is unenforceable. (Richardson, 'Sexual Offenses Under the Proposed Missouri Criminal Code, "38 Mo.Lrev. MISSOURI'S VIEW or difficult reality. His partner, whether one of his good buddies or an older friend, is often in a i take Rap for Criminals" Provo Herald, May 23,1977, p.15) Those incidents of hetrerosexual child molesting, torture and murder which makes the news are never an indictment against heterosexuality, but if they are of a homosexual nature, such as thetexas tragedy, society generally condemns all homosexHomosexuals are as uality. opposed to child molesting as heterosexuals are. dis- course is moral discourse." It is precisely for moral reasons that he ought to have omitted homosexuality from his lecture. The ony direct reference he gives to maintaining the statutes against homosexuality is a quote from a Missouri judge. "Rightly or wrongly, most Missourians today regard ho- '"1 extremely ridiculous and unchristian position. Many heterosexuals have become ardent advocates of the homosexual movement after hearing her personal revelations from God. . . UN u 1 homnosexual who ironically wil rise in moral indignation. for al his legal acumen, President Oaks neglected to consider the truly moral law: "Judge not les' ye be judged. Mormon Polygamists The heterosexual trying to decide what Is morally right and wrong for the homosexual Is like a Quaker deciding the moral standards for a Mormon polygamist. Attempting to apply theological dogma to a complex human condition often does violence to both the theology and the condition. It is ironic that many who cam- paign against homosexuals In the name of religion violate the most basic principles Jesus taught.A classical example is Anita Bryant's current campaign which, when examined closely, is not really against President Oaks ironically backs his 'moral' position with an argument founded principally on a consideration of what is popular (m ost Missourians) and what is practical (disrespect will follow), even when the impracticality of the law (even if it is unenforceable) is frankly admitted. Surely, President Oaks has not forgotten that there was a time when most homosexuality but against human sexuality, calling Immoral particular expressions of affection between married het- erosexuals. These expres-- ' sions, though entirely acceptable by official Mormon standards, disgust her. Married heterosexuals who express love in these ways are, according to her, worse than homosexuals. Those who are opposed to homosexuality should discreetly avoid being taken in by this woman's ability to disguise her personal disturbance in the name of religion. Her 'Holy War' is replete with hatred, ugliness, Ignorance and deception. It Is unfortunate that she has made a public forum of her emotional problem victimizing not only the homosexual, but society generally. Unwittingly, she has made a positive contribution to the gay movement, focusing national attention on the plight of the homosexual, by taking such an extremely Missourians considered the Mormons, because of their abnormal sexual practices, to be immoral, disgusting, degrading and a threat-tsociety. Does he condone the persecution of the Mormons on the same grounds as he now condones the persecution of the homosexual-be-causemo- sts . o people think it is the correct thing to do? . There is a higher morality not accounted for in his Ironic "popular morality" argument. It is the respect for another human being and his genuine experience of self and of love and tenderness for another person. At present, the homosexual is in the thick of a Kafka-lik- e experience where the love and affection he holds for another person are grounds for his arrent and imprisonment on a "morals" charge. Through laws endorsed by President Oaks, the homosexual is divested ol the reight to understand himself, dehumanized, oppressed, Is persecuted and banished. this moral? "On the day when crime dons the apparel of Innocena curious trance-through sposition peculiar to our times-- it is Innocence that is called upon to justify itself. (Camus, The Rebel). Now it is the . . ridiculous and unchristian , position. Many heretofore disinterested heterosexuals have become ardent advocates of the homosexual movement after hearing her personal 'revelations' from God condemning the homosexual. We should not forget that a similar religious campaign was waged against the sexually abnormal Mormons with an amazing parallel of rhetoric. She claims that homosexuals are out to recruit children into homosexuality.' self-righteo- us , |