Show Pearson speaks on faith caring and her latest play Conder Opinion Edit Editor r Carol Lynn Pearson is best known for her memoir Goodbye I Love You The writers writer's heartfelt play Facing East is returning to Plan-B Plan Theatre after its initial November run before making its debut in New York City and San Francisco Pearson has had hada a long powerful journey to bring her herto to place where she is now facing east Pearsons Pearson's life has not been an easy one as she told the world over 20 years ago Pearsons Pearson's Web site describes Goodbye I Love You published in 1986 as the story of my life with my husband Gerald a homosexual man our year twelve-year Mormon temple marriage our four children our divorce our ongoing friendship and my caring for him in my home as he died of AIDS Many people might assume that Pearson would have to choose religion or her husband ex-husband that in fact choosing to take care of her homosexual ex- ex husband would make her an outcast with members of her faith This was not the case for Pearson Pearson is still touched by the memories of her ward and especially of her visiting teacher I received only kindness from the members of my ward and from other people Pearson said in an interview with the Globe My visiting teacher called and told me to put by the phone a list of things that needed to be done and every morning at nine she would call and I would read her the list and the things would be done Pearson is still active in inthe inthe inthe the church chUIch but views herself as a maverick and anda a pioneer sent here to help people understand gay issues Since I published Goodbye I Love You I have heard from many hundreds of gay people and their families and just those who wanted to thank me for helping them better betterto to understand a difficult subject I also have gay friends of my own from I long ago Certainly my I experiences with all of these people have let me know that we are not yet I where we need to be on gay issues There is still too much misinformation lack of compassion and fear Pearson said Pearsons Pearson's inspiration for Facing East was writing what you know The play is about a Mormon couple trying to cope and understand their gay sons son's suicide Stuck between their undying faith and their new reality they meet their sons son's partner Marcus Pearson feels very strongly about the chasm between religion and homosexuality Along with Facing East Pearson has written a new book No More Goodbyes Circling the Wagons Around Our Gay Loved Ones The book discusses this fallout between religion and homosexuality Like the play it takes on the serious issue of suicide among gay Mormons Pearson believes that the church along with most conservative churches could be more understanding and loving toward the gay community Like other conservative churches people have very mixed emotions about relating to gay people But what I have found is that most people who know someone who is gay would like to find a way for forus forus forus us to be more inclusive Pearson said I sat at a dinner with a man a very active prominent Mormon man who told me he prays that we as a community will become so loving and embracing of our gay brothers and sisters that policy changes will result Its a terrific playa play i J a moving drama but mostly 6 because it illuminates a subject we have kept too long in the dark Utah has the highest suicide rate in the t 1 nation for young men one third of those likely being gay This should horrify us usall usall usall all Pearson said Pearson said she hopes viewers will take away with them a a commitment to do something say something be part of the process of making the world and churches safer for our gay brothers and sisters Facing East plays at the Studio Theatre at the Rose Wagner Center through May 6 |