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The Burden of Proof Reviews 307 It would have been helpful to have in- ber of minor editing errors. cluded a map showing other sites in In conclusion, it would be well for close proximity to the massacre, such as all authors who write about tragic Beckwith's camp in relation to the area events in history to understand that Fielding refers to as "the third leg of a there are always loose ends that seem to triangle, begun at Cedar Springs three defy explanation. The innocent do not days before" (160). The full-paged anticipate having to explain their actions sketches of more than thirty LDS and in relation to an event such as the Gun- national leaders seem excessive and nison Massacre. Unlike the guilty, they serve only to add to the expense of the are not thinking in terms of having to publication. Also, the book has a num- "cover" themselves later on. The Burden of Proof Peculiar People: Mormons and Same- sections including (1) a foreword by sex Orientation. Edited by Ron Schow, Lowell Bennion and an editors' intro- Wayne Schow, and Marybeth Raynes duction, (2) personal perspectives of (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1991). gays, lesbians, spouses, and family members, (3) professional and Christian AMCAP Journal, Volume 19 (Salt perspectives, and (4) an annotated bibli- Lake City: Association of Mormon ography, appendices, and published Counselors and Psychotherapists, statements of professional and religious 1993). organizations regarding homosexual- Reviewed by Gary M. Watts, M.D., ity. diagnostic radiologist and head of Nu- The editors' introduction provides clear Medicine, Utah Valley Regional an excellent overview of the problems Medical Center, Provo, Utah. faced by individuals and their families dealing with homosexuality in the Mor- HAVING SOLD OUT ITS TWO CLOTH mon community and society at large. printings, Peculiar People: Mormons andThe editors' perspectives are identified Same-sex Orientation is now available in up front and provide some under- paperback. First published in 1991 by standing regarding their selection crite- Signature Books and edited by Ron ria. They basically agree that (1) Schow, Wayne Schow, and Marybeth homosexuality touches far more lives, Raynes, it is a landmark book dealing directly and indirectly, than is generally with homosexuality in our Mormon cul- recognized, (2) that condemnation of ture. It is a book that should be read by homosexuality by church and society all bishops, stake presidents, regional leaves most Mormons ill-prepared, representatives, and general authorities, emotionally and intellectually, to con- as well as anyone who is struggling with front this fact of life, (3) that Latter-day homosexuality on a personal or family Saints who encounter this issue face level. many practical problems, and (4) that The book is divided into four major much of the suffering by gays and lesbi- 308 Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought ans is a result of an inadequate Christian the church, but in all honesty it was not response on the part of many in the there in this time of crisis"; "I feel re- heterosexual majority. Terminology, jected by the church"; and "There are misconceptions, and the concept of simply not words to describe the feeling "sealed premises" are discussed and a of being let down by my church at the short historical overview of homosexu- most critical time of my life." These ality and the Mormon response is docu- statements stand as an indictment of mented. current LDS policy and suggest a need Since this is a compilation of many for re-evaluation. All of the writers an- authors, the writing is occasionally un- ticipated a more loving, more informed, even and repetitive. The seven personal and more Christlike response rather perspectives by gays and lesbians all than disenfranchisement. The intransi- follow a similar pattern. Most of the in- gence of the church in the face of these dividuals became aware of their same- testimonials is difficult to understand sex orientation in their teenage years. and/or defend. The unwanted feelings were initially The writers from among the part- considered repugnant and assumed to ners, families, and friends generally fol- be temporary. Unsuccessful attempts low the same theme. Wayne Schow's were made to change or eliminate the "Homosexuality, Mormon Doctrine, feelings through fasting, prayer, dedi- and Christianity: A Father's Perspec- cated church service, counseling, tive" is the most eloquent and persua- and/or attempts at reparative therapy. sive essay I have read on this subject. All failed in his or her efforts to eradicate Excerpts from Carol Lynn Pearson's these feelings, and most subsequently Goodbye, I Love You should be read in expressed bitterness and disillusion- conjunction with Karen Brown's "One ment with church attitudes and re- View of a Troubled Relationship." They sponses. Absent are any perspectives are examples of different responses to from individuals who have changed or similar trials. Both authors deal with the claim to have changed or significantly extraordinarily difficult situation of a diminished their homosexual feelings. female spouse who discovers that her This is an unfortunate omission and ex- husband is homosexual and the sub- poses the editors to criticism of bias in sequent impact it has on their relation- selecting which essays to include. ship and family. Statements such as the following The essay by an anonymous author are sprinkled throughout the personal entitled "New Friends" troubled me perspectives: "In a lifetime of church somewhat. The author reinforces some activity I have yet to hear a single word of the myths about the causes of homo- of compassion or understanding for ho- sexuality and makes several statements mosexuals from the pulpit"; "church which made me wonder how secure he policy showed an utter lack of aware- is with his own sexuality. Do straight ness of the challenges that faced me"; "I people really fear that "sub-consciously couldn't believe the church was so un- homosexuals may entice them into ho- enlightened on this subject yet j u d g e d so mosexuality?" Do straight people really harshly"; "I am convinced, based on my fear "that maybe, just maybe, there is own experience, that the church is igno- some of it [homosexuality] in all of us?" rant of homosexuality and wrong in its I think not. He concludes his essay with treatment of the homosexual"; "I love the statement that "the most powerful Reviews 309 tool I have found to help them is still the the individual. He suggests that idea that change is possible, gradual as straights and gays should be held to the it may be." The author does not suggest same standards. that accepting one's sexual orientation Gay and lesbian youth and trusted and learning to live with it is an accept- family friends who are considering able alternative. counseling should read Marybeth Several contributions from the Raynes's "Alternatives in Therapy Ap- "Professional and Christian Perspec- proaches." The choice of a therapist or tives" section are extremely worthwhile. counselor during the "coming out" Jan Stout's "Sin and Sexuality: Psycho- process is extremely important for the biology and the Development of Homo- individual and his or her family, and sexuality" should be read by every Ms. Rayne's views of various therapy Latter-day Saint. His perspective as a options are excellent. psychiatrist and his evolution to the be- George Weinberg, a psychothera- liefs he held up until his untimely death pist in private practice in New York City last year are invaluable. who corned the term "homophobia," "Homosexuality: A Part of Life, Not authors an essay entitled "Homopho- a Curse/' by the Episcopalian bishop bia—Do I Have It?" His essay h e l p e d me John S. Spong, is an outstanding contri- understand why one of my close friends bution and deserves attention. He has such a hard time accepting homo- points out that the church's suggestion sexuals. Weinberg makes the observa- to "love the sinner but hate the sin" is tion that men who emphasize power, patronizing, j u d g m e n t a l , and represents conquest, and "masculinity" regard ho- "rhetoric piety." He observes that mosexuals as lowering the "male stand- "none of those defined as sinners expe- ard" and therefore tend to hold rienced that love . and most learned homosexuals in low esteem. not to trust the church. Since the evi- Adonna Schow's short essay enti- dence points to the conclusion that ho- tled "Sexuality as Spiritual" offers some mosexual persons do not choose their interesting perspectives about the as- sexual orientation, cannot change it, and pects of maleness and femaleness pos- constitute a quite normal but minority sessed by everyone. She equates expression of human sexuality, it is clear expressive behavior as predominately that heterosexual prejudice against ho- male and receptive behavior as pre- mosexuals must take its place alongside dominately female. She suggests that we witchcraft, slavery, and other ignorant cannot achieve wholeness in a spiritual beliefs and oppressive institutions that sense without the presence of both. She we have abandoned." I personally find observes that "in the sanctity in which his logic compelling. the Godhead creates diversity, the ratio United Methodist bishop Melvin E. of maleness to femaleness in each per- Wheatley, Jr., has written a one-page son varies widely. Each person h a s one's masterpiece entitled "I Do Not Believe own appropriate divinely given and de- Homosexuality a Sin." He rightly veloping union of both aspects." equates morality
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