Boyd K Packer's talk on homosexuality
Sorry, I just really had to address this.
Everyone, while I fully concur with the opinion that Boyd K Packer’s description of homosexuality as “impure and unnatural” seems pretty intolerant, traditional, and close-minded, most of the response I’ve noticed rising from my peers and gay rights activists is out of anger. I realize that this is a perfectly good reason to be angry, but the spoiler is that fighting hate with hate is going to get us NOWHERE.
Although I have very firm beliefs in equality on all measures, I think we need to treat people with differing views with just as much respect as we would ourselves. I think that’s something we tend to forget when we’re fighting for these causes: not being hypocritical. We can change the world, but only within reason. No one is going to change the mind of the church on these controversial issues. The problem is not going to be solved this way, it’s simply going to stir more negativity in the case of all parties involved.
I’m not trying to tell you to stop caring. And I hope you don’t think that I don’t care either, because I do, very much. My only suggestion is that we try not to be this bitter about things like this, when we are all fully aware that excess anger is not going to help solve the problem in any way.
I think continuing to support gay rights and simultaneously respecting the beliefs of people like Boyd K Packer will show a lot of maturity on our parts and demonstrate that we really do have open minds, and that’s what is going to get people to listen to us.
