Homosexuality: A Straight BYU Student’s Perspective Brad Carmack 1 Credits Inasmuch as this book is of good report or praiseworthy, I credit: Kenneth Miller, whose book Just a Theory provided a structural prototype for chapter 2. My parents, David and Becci Carmack, for teaching me moral courage. BYU and my BYU professors, who have educated and helped me develop the skill of critical thinking. Many of my friends, from whose examples I have learned compassion. My LDS upbringing, for teaching me to seek for and cleave to truth. My Heavenly Father, who has encouraged and inspired me along the way. Inasmuch as the book is erroneous (and I would be deeply surprised if it does not have many faults), I take full blame. Disclaimer The views expressed in this book are those alone of the author and do not represent the views of the LDS church or BYU. Neither this book nor its believing LDS author opposes any official doctrine or policy of the LDS church. Copyright The messages in this book are intended for everyone. Copy it, post it, link it, paste it, and share it at will. 1 Table of Contents Part I: Homosexual Orientation 1. A Case for Compassion 2. Causation a. Sex Determination b. Parking Lot Test 3. Mutability a. Agency b. Atonement Part II: Same-sex Marriage 4. Why Homosexuals can reproduce 5. A moral case for LDS same-sex marriage 6. Rebuttals to common anti same-sex marriage arguments 7. In Re Proposition 8: Perry v. ScHwarzenegger 1 Introduction The average person on this earth has a twelve-fold better chance of having strong homosexual tendencies than of having membership in the LDS church. At 14 million members, the LDS church constitutes about .21% of the world’s 6.8 billion people. At even the most conservative consensus figures estimating the prevalence of homosexual orientation (3% of men and 2% of women1), that means about 170 million homosexually oriented people worldwide—which is 12 times the number of church members. Even within the church, at that same prevalence, a very conservative estimate is that there are roughly 350,000 homosexually oriented members of the LDS church. Given the number of church units (wards and branches), the likelihood that at least a handful of homosexually oriented church members or ex-members live in your boundaries is extremely high. Bottom line? Homosexuality is neither rare nor insignificant. Who is my audience? Like the LDS author of the well-known No More Goodbyes, I would answer: “I write primarily of the Mormon experience, but I don't write only to Mormons. I write to all who find themselves walking that challenging territory where religion and sexuality collide. We are an interesting bunch, we Latter-day Saints. Politically we hold a significant place on the national scene, and I think we offer a fine microcosm of all conservative religions as they address this unavoidable subject. Everyone can learn a lot from our pain, our confusion, our failures, our learning, and our successes.2” (in writing this book I have noticed parallels between Muslim, Catholic, and Mormon responses to homosexuality3) Though I intend this book to be a mildly apologetic, faith-based response from a seventh- generation Latter-day Saint, in it I will reach some tentative conclusions that the reader may as of right now disagree with. I invite all readers to suspend present views long enough to openly consider the support I will give for the conclusions herein. This reading will be worth little unless you do, because if one’s conclusions are already set, presented evidence is likely to result only in polarizing further the stance already taken4. If, when you finish the last page, you have found none of my arguments persuasive—no harm done, just return to the views you held before picking up the book. In exchange for your commitment to openness, I commit to a robust, well- researched inquiry. I hope to emulate the ideal of the editors of Understanding Same-sex Attraction: LDS Edition: “We need all of the understanding we can get from the three pillars of wisdom: religion, science, and human experience. To this end we should spare no effort.5” 1 Penultimate request: please consider the chapters of this book independently. If, for example, you are moved by chapter 1’s call for compassion, please do not reject that emotion because you find a later argument about the causes of homosexuality wanting. Last introductory request: hold this book in suspicion. I am no less susceptible to bias than the reader, and though I have sought to be fair in my approach, please be on guard against my prejudices. 2 Chapter 1: A Case For Compassion I've thought a lot on this topic over the past few years ever since one of my cousins came home from his mission, came "out of the closet," and subsequently left the church. I've always thought of homosexuality to be one of the toughest challenges anyone could be faced with when simultaneously believing in the gospel of Christ where a heterosexual marriage and resulting family are so resoundingly central. - Sara Johnson* Though the statements below bear on related issues (such as causation, mutability, and same-sex marriage), my purpose in this chapter is only to argue that LDS members should have compassion on homosexually oriented people in and out of the church; I intend to discuss related issues in other chapters. If your heart is touched by the plight of many homosexually oriented people, my purpose for this chapter is accomplished. My argument is two-fold: LDS members should have compassion on homosexually oriented people in and out of the church because 1) church doctrine compels it and 2) homosexually oriented people often have it rough. 1) Church Doctrine Compels Compassion: “Religion’s power lies not so much in the sermon as it does in the believers capacity to bring to fruition through ethical and moral action the spoken or written word of God.6” From the Church’s pamphlet, God Loveth His Children, written for homosexually oriented members: “God does indeed love all His children. Many questions, however, including some related to same-gender attractions, must await a future answer, even in the next life. But… He loves all His children, and because He loves you, you can trust Him.7” Irrespective of one’s conclusions as to the sinfulness of homosexual orientation and/or behavior, it is clear that the LDS church should be a hospital for sinners rather than a mansion for perfected saints. In addition to the above reminder of God’s love, I could provide several more authoritative quotes. However, though abundant, they don't depart significantly from this clearly articulated one by member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Oaks: “All should understand that persons (and their family members) struggling with the burden of same-sex attraction are in special need of the love and encouragement that is a clear 1 responsibility of church members, who have signified by covenant their willingness to bear one another's burden and so fulfill the law of Christ.8" I add to these two excerpts a third quote from a previous mission president, former BYU biology professor, and current active Latter-day Saint, Bill Bradshaw- "Greater sensitivity and a reduction in hurtful disapproval might also be achieved as we review and evaluate pertinent LDS doctrines. I would like to suggest that it is appropriate for members of the Church to withhold judgment about the implications of some religious principles in humble recognition of the uncertainty that accompanies our relative ignorance. The ideals we espouse provide wonderful general guidelines for the heterosexual majority in their quest for exaltation, without ruling out the possibility that there will be equivalent eternal possibilities for the homosexual minority… it would seem most appropriate to love and support our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in their efforts in this mortal sphere to acquire as much as they can of godliness. It is also my belief that our Heavenly Father has in store special blessings for his homosexual children in recognition of the successes they have made of their mortal lives in the face of undeserved hostility.9" In response to a petition from the Human Rights Campaign, the church responded: “This past week we have all witnessed tragic deaths across the country as a result of bullying or intimidation of gay young men. We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different - whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason. Such actions simply have no place in our society. This Church has felt the bitter sting of persecution and marginalization early in our history, when we were too few in numbers to adequately protect ourselves and when society's leaders often seemed disinclined to help. Our parents, young adults, teens and children should therefore, of all people, be especially sensitive to the vulnerable in society and be willing to speak out against bullying or intimidation whenever it occurs, including unkindness toward those who are attracted to others of the same sex. This is particularly so in our own Latter-day Saint congregations. Each Latter-day Saint family and individual should carefully consider whether their attitudes and actions toward others properly reflect Jesus Christ's second great commandment - to love one another.10” Last, I quote LDS poet, author, and playwright Carol Lynn Pearson, whose words apply especially to this chapter: “What if we are in that archery class, all of us, practicing for perfection, rehearsing for heaven? And what is the bull’s eye, that desired point for which we aim? No secret there.