This episode is a re-broadcast of the Mormons Building Bridges Community Conversation featuring Dr. Bill Bradshaw and Dr. John Parkinson Dehlin as they summarized the major findings from their 2011 survey of LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. The discussion was recorded on February 3, 2016.
Background: An on-line survey was conducted in the fall of 2011, under the auspices of Utah State University, which yielded 1,612 participants – LGBTQ Latter-day Saints (current and former members of the Church). Responses to the large number questions produced a wealth of data regarding such topics as sexual identity development, religious identity development, interventions engaged in for the purpose of coping with or changing one’s sexual orientation, mental health outcomes, and religiosity and religious trajectories. Seven published papers reporting this work have now appeared in prominent academic journals, with others in preparation.
The PDF used for this presentation can be downloaded here.
7 Responses
my dad and mom said this church is the only true church..when I got my computer and started doing research on church history I found out different..joe smith never had any golden plates..his 11 witness did not see them with there eyes,they were covered up as they always were.they say they saw them in a vision.all 11 men were either excamunicated or just left the true church.he started the Kirtland bank in ohio illegally..then he took all there money out and rode of in the night to wsMissouri.he was the biggest con man ever..he had people take things from there niegbers because the lord said they should have it..its still the same to day..the big fraud in salt lake city..Utah…they hate black people yet but put up with them because of laws..they hate gay people more
The research shows:
For an organization that claims to be based on truth, the LDS church could not be more ridiculous, further from the truth, more fraudulent, fake and destructive to a group of humans.
The facts are, and the message is: If you are LGBT and want to be healthy and happy, you should BE WHAT YOU ARE, NOT WHAT YOU ARE NOT, and LIVE WHAT YOU ARE, NOT WHAT YOU ARE NOT. Moreover, according to the research, the last place for you to seek counsel and help would be from the church. In fact, you should not listen for one minute to any advice from those who claim to have the truth.
The research here shows you can be happier if you LEAVE the church, since the church does not have a healthy place for you to exist. Though there may be a few of you who can be quietly celebate and suffer in silence, who can stick with the church.
I do hope the church will take a look at the research and change. But change in the Mormon hierarchy must come from the top down, not from the bottom up.
The advice for the church: If you want to help, don’t try to change LBGT people,
change yourself. Because the truth is, and I hope you seek the truth. They are OK, you are not.
Further, I would recommend for the church: Set up a special track for the LGBT group, not a web site, but an on the ground group, uncensored and with open dialogue.
Thanks John.
Love you all.
It would be interesting to do the same study, or a similar one because some modifications would probably be necessary, with a church that openly welcomes and accepts LGBT members and allows them full participation in their religion (such as Unitarian Universalism with which I have some personal experience, or the Community of Christ which still has some commonalities with mainstream Mormonism except for this particular issue and a number of others), and see how much the results would differ. I would suppose they would have a much higher percentage of people who could successfully integrate their sexual orientation and their religion, and do so in a healthy way?
Fascinating discussion as usual.
EDiL13 (Elohim’s Daughter in Law)
As a member of Community of Christ, I can affirm that (in North America and a few other countries) we are accepting of LGBT members. The rules / expectations are the same regardless of sexual orientation, whether priesthood or general member. I will admit, however, that some individuals and some congregations are less open, though they are certainly in the minority. The Worth of All Persons is one of our Enduring Principles, as is Unity In Diversity. I would love to see such a study done in Community of Christ. Feel free to check us out at: https://www.latter-dayseekers.org
Just wondering…
Yesterday my inbox received a reply to this message from someone called “Russ”, but I’m wondering why I don’t see it posted here on this website. A link was included to a website about the Community of Christ (https://www.latter-dayseekers.org), apparently designed specifically for LDS folks who may be looking for something a little different (I’m hoping to give it a closer look soon), and I suppose it would likely be of interest to a number of other listeners besides me.
And thank you, Russ (if you see this message). Lately, I have often thought that if my TBM husband could ever become convinced that Joseph Smith III was the rightful successor instead of Brigham Young, and if there were ever a CoC congregation meeting within reasonable traveling distance of our home (currently there isn’t), then we might actually be able to find a religion that we could share again :)
EDiL13
John … any chance I could get a copy of the actual study? I attended a PFLAG presentation where Dr. Bradshaw presented the study and it’s results. I’m a “strategic analysis” by trade and would love the raw data and paperwork. Any chance?
p.s. My 16 y/o son “came out” shortly after the Church’s Children of Same-Sex Marriage policy … so I’m a bit new to this culture but have been blown away by the paradigm shifts I am experiencing regarding the amazing individuals in the LDS LGBT subculture. Your TED talk in 20213 was amazing, beautiful and powerful … so I passed it on to all in my family as well as my Bishop and Stake President. It was interesting that you mentioned in your TED talk why so many are only willing to be “retrospective allies,” instead of forward thinking “allies today,” because it might cost you something.” That hit me deeply. And then, as I began to study your history with the Church and the Church’s reaction to your honesty and truth, the truth in your truth became so apparent. And your willingness to take such a needed stand, at such a great personal price, earns my honor for you forever. Thank you for all you’ve done and the prices you pay to teach the truths that so many are too blind to see. God bless, Brad
Brad – It should all be here. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4251/ Let me know if that works for you!