01/28/2008
'Pro-Family' President of Mormon Church, Gordon Hinckley, Dies
President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died over the weekend. Pam Spaulding dug up an appearance by Hinckley on Larry King Live on which King asked him about same-sex marriage.
KING: "I know that the church is opposed to gay marriage. Do you have an alternative; do you like the idea of civil unions?"
HINCKLEY: "Well, we're not anti-gay, we're pro-family. Let me put it that way...and we love these people [gays] and try to work with them and help them. We know that they have a problem. We want to help them solve that problem."
KING: "The problem they caused, or that they were born that way?"
HINCKLEY: "I don't know, I'm not an expert on these things. I don't pretend to be an expert on these things. The fact is that they have a problem."
KING: "Do you favor some sort of state union?"
HINCKLEY: "Well, we want to be very careful about that, because that...whatever, may lead to gay marriage, and that we're not in favor of."
Hinckley was 97 years old.
Mormon GOP candidate Mitt Romney commented on Hinckley today at a Florida campaign stop and said he would attend the funeral:
"'We will miss him as a family, respect him as a man of great character and courage, but particularly his humility and ability to touch the lives of each individual is something for which he will long be noted,' Romney told reporters outside a Texaco station. He added that Hinckley’s 'effort to reach out across the world and to faraway lands and to build temples for our church is something which will also give him a legacy that will last many, many years, indeed. And we will miss his leadership.'
Gordon B. Hinckley, Mormon Leader, Is Dead at 97 [nyt]
Posted 10:00 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Mitt Romney, News, Religion | Permalink
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His efforts to reach the world, wow! They finally opened up the doors to black people to get more money as the knocking on the doors here fell on deaf ears.
Then he says they don't hate gays, I thought, that they only considered one thing worse than a murderer, a gay person?
This cult is no different from the one the Cruise clan is in. Just like that movie "Children of the Corn" in how they all think and act and out of touch with real people and real issues.
Posted by: Oliver | Jan 28, 2008 10:15:51 AM
This man has lived longer and better than most American, hell at least 97% of us. He has denied basic humanity to all people due to his "religious beliefs". While countless numbers died from AIDS, this incredibly RICH church turned its back.
Posted by: Charles | Jan 28, 2008 10:16:29 AM
Oliver
That supposed divine revelation about allowing blacks was because Mr IRS man was knocking on their door and threatening to snatch away the churhc's tax exempt status if they didn't fall into line with federal civil right's laws.
Yes charles, we should remember that openly gay mormons are EXCOMUNICATED! and their families are told to have nothing to do with them.
The old fart was a foul manipulative snake sales man.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jan 28, 2008 10:26:49 AM
The old coot also had a "revelation" that Mormons could drink caffeinated beverages--but only if they were made by Pepsico--after his "church" invested heavily in Pepsico bottling plants whn Pepsico acquired Hi-C beverages. His "religion" has made the lives of gay Mormons into hell on earth. He will surely burn in damnation for contributing to the hurt and pain caused to families of gay ex-Mormons. As for me, I do not really care what he thought. How can I have any respect for a man who is not even allowed to choose his own underwear?
Posted by: rudy | Jan 28, 2008 10:37:20 AM
Despite what you say about the church he was a good man. I'm second generation Morman and Gay and I have never been shunned by the chuch.
While the Church may not be perfect and most of the views I disagree with he was still a good man and Mormans are good people. Oh and I have not been Excommunicated from the church. A long time ago when I was growing up and facing the challenges of being gay and a Morman my family stood by me and have supported me all this time. I could not have asked for anything more.
Anyway, just like any religion they all have their views on being gay but to just label them as cult or old fart snake sales man is just ignorant and wrong.
okay said my peace let the flaming begin..
Posted by: Kyle | Jan 28, 2008 10:43:56 AM
Kyle then your family are heretics.
official mormon doctrine is excomunication for practicing homosexuals.
You are forbidden to step foot anywhere near official mormon grounds. Heads would explode if you even breathed near a temple.
I question wether your family are regular mormons or those special occasion mormons who only show up on once a year at best.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jan 28, 2008 10:49:27 AM
PS
Kyle
All religions are cults and crazy. I am not trying to single out mormonism over any.
All religions from xtianity to judaism and everything in between need to be tossed into the trash bin of history.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jan 28, 2008 10:57:36 AM
Kyle - FWIW, your church is the Mormon Church, not the Morman, or More-man church.
Quite the contrary.
Although I am pleased that you have not endured the harsh and disgusting discrimination all of my other gay Mormon friends have faced, I have to believe that it is only because your family has kept your gayness away from the church. Otherwise, they are required to rid themselves of you and your "lifestyle".
Posted by: Rey | Jan 28, 2008 11:06:27 AM
Thanks for the heads up on the black part of the "church" I should have known it was all about the coins, and, not a real change of the hate in their tiny hearts. They are snake oil salesmen of the new age. And, anything to mke a coin I guess since they can drink Pepsi since the church owns stock in it, amazing how dimwitted some people are when they listen to man twist ancd change for his own needs and not God.
And, as for being pro family, who on earth isn't?
Posted by: Oliver | Jan 28, 2008 11:34:51 AM
another religious bigot bites the dust, praise the... oh well whatever... anyway, kyle just makes me laugh, talk about being in denial... i knew some mormons back in the 70's and they were a fun group, i raised hell with them, one of them said "i never did buy that story about the plates" ... through them i met 3 transexuals also mormons and they were pretty cool too.. gotta say one thing about those missionaries, they got the cutest asses, i sure would like to show them them the missionary position...
Posted by: the queen | Jan 28, 2008 11:37:05 AM
Good riddance motherfucker! Now if the Church itself would just die too...
Posted by: JX | Jan 28, 2008 11:40:02 AM
You're right, THE QUEEN, these Mormon Missionary boys have the cutest butts. I think it's just the dress pants they wear--the cut of pants just shows off guy's booties.
And how come the Mormons were able to convert so many folks from the Pacific Island nations--they used to be gay friendly out there in the Blue Pacific, now they're just as gay-hating as everybody else. I mean, that's what I read anyway, I've never been west of Detroit.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 28, 2008 12:26:34 PM
My best friend committed suicide after his family shunned when the Mormon church excommunicated him for being openly gay. Before coming out the church had honored him for his exceptional missionary work teaching deaf children in Mexico.
Posted by: ScottJ | Jan 28, 2008 12:58:34 PM
Kyle, You're very lucky. My family in Utah goes back to the time the Mormons entered Utah valley. When my parents found out I was gay I was sent to a Mormon therapist who gave me shock therapy trying to "cure" me.
While I know many Mormons who are good people on their own, the church itself is anti-gay, and by saying he wants to "help" them what Hinkley really meant is "curing" their homosexuality--by whatever barbaric means necessary. I've seen the results of these "cures". It took me years to be able to relate to anyone sexually without getting a bit sick and I still have my moments. I've seen other men who can't even touch another man without shaking. And even those who didn't get the treatment are often really messed up. I've told my friends that if they're interested in dating an ex-Mormon they should make sure he's had at least 5 years of therapy. And if they're interested in dating a gay man still in the Mormon church they better be ready for all kinds of crazy.
I wish you well Kyle and I hope you are as healthy as you believe you are.
Posted by: Daniel | Jan 28, 2008 1:17:24 PM
I dated a gay Mormon, and the church and his family didn't shun him. He didn't come out until he was 29, and by that time he was extremely wealthy and making a lot of other Mormons wealthy too. So, hypocrisy once again. If you have enough money, they'll overlook the fact that you're gay.
Posted by: Paul R | Jan 28, 2008 2:34:59 PM
Gee, only 96 years too late!
Posted by: Richard | Jan 28, 2008 3:19:20 PM
They also did not give up polygamy until they were threatened with not being granted statehood. Not a surprise coming from a cult founded by Joseph Smith, the con artist who was killed in a jail by a mob of his victims.
Two good movies dealing with gays and Mormons, Latter Days and of course Angels in America.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Jan 28, 2008 6:56:54 PM
There will just be another bastard to take his place. Just like the catholics. Child protection laws in this country need to be extended to include religious indoctrination.
Posted by: JB | Jan 28, 2008 8:16:24 PM
Well, Very happy to hear HINCKLEY's words. We LBGT feel sad to know the bad news and will remember his kindness to gay. I as a bisexual feel very happy for gay to get the help from all these people. We biseuxal at the bisexual club http://www.bimingle.com give our gratitude for trying to make us LBGT as eaqual as straight people. Thank you. We will remember what you have done for LBGT forever.
Posted by: Jeniffer8 | Jan 28, 2008 9:13:37 PM
What planet did you just dorp in from Jennifer8. What kindness to gay people? He did NOTHING to help LBGT people unless it was to help them feel really, really bad about themselves.
Posted by: Daniel | Jan 28, 2008 10:28:15 PM
If anyone has read the new guidelines the Church has released you will see that they no longer support "curing" someone who is gay.
Admittedly they have stuck their heads in the sand when they say you didn't choose to be gay, but we're not sure why. And could you not have sex, or think about it, or act like you have these feelings. But they have acknowledged that they don't know everything. And that it is not something chosen or a disease.
The Mormon Church is the better of most churches to deal with Christianity's treamtment of homosexuality because the general membership accepts modern revelation from God. And they accept the existance of a spiritual life before and after here and now. It may take years to confront this issue head on though, but it is something that is growing within the Church, hence why they have asked that all people act with love and dignity towards each other.
BTW - that bullshit about Pepsi is another well worn urban myth. Just like the Mormons owning Readers Digest...which they don't.
Posted by: No1_Saint | Jan 29, 2008 4:46:16 AM
@No1_Saint
“the general membership accepts modern revelation from God”
There are NO revelations from God. Your religion preys on the weak and naïve. You use your religion to justify your hate and prejudges. Your scriptures are only meant to keep men ignorant of reasoning and science. Without your scriptures you have neither faith nor God.
Posted by: 1♥ | Jan 29, 2008 8:43:54 AM
I was raised mormon, and the only reason I'm not excommunicated is because I haven't been confronted by a bishop. This church brainwashes you from the day you are born, and it's harder to break away from it than it is to quit smoking. There is even a group called "Affirmation" which consists of gay mormons who believe that someday the "prophet" will receive a "revelation" that gays are just fine after all, just like he did about African Americans. Please. I lived in Utah for years after I came out, and the last I read about the mormon church is that they accept that you are born gay, and that you can remain a member as long as you never have sex, and, by the way, it's not a good idea to get married to a woman either. Just live well, don't suck cock and pay 10% of your GROSS income and then you can get to be a servant in heaven, perhaps polishing shoes. Or maybe we'd get to be god's decorator or florist.
BTW, I was one of those missionaries with the cute ass. It comes from all that bicycle riding. Imagine being a closeted gay, living with a gorgeous man that you have to stay with every hour of the day, including sleeping in the same bedroom. Seeing him run around the apartment naked.....Your only alone time is in the bathroom. Masturbation is forbidden. For 19 year olds.........yeah, right.
Posted by: KJ | Jan 29, 2008 9:29:05 AM
No1_Saint, When they come to me and apologize for trying to "cure" me I will consider revising my opinion on the church. The Mormon Church was also a major player in preventing gay marriage in Hawaii and in officially making the Boy Scouts a group that descriminates against gays. I don't see the Mormon church as being pro-gay. They may have toned down their rhetoric but they haven't done anything to make up for the horrors they have done in the past. They still do not condone homosexuality and expect gays to shut up and remain celibate living sad loveless lives. If you really think the Mormon church is better than other churches on this issue you have led a very sheltered life.
Posted by: Daniel | Jan 29, 2008 10:40:46 AM
Daniel, just as the church never actually admitted any wrong in their stance against black men holding the priesthood when the "revelation" came in 1979 they will never admit to any wrongdoing in their treatment of GLBT people.
Posted by: Balls | Jan 29, 2008 10:43:39 AM