If he had said that he was "dealing with same sex attraction (SSA), or had a "homosexual orientation," that would have been one thing, but "coming out" as "gay" is perhaps indicative of deeper coming-to-terms with his SSA then might by though healthy, within a gospel context.
"Gay" is a term of accepted core self identity, acceptance or support for which the General Authorities, and especially Dallin Oaks, has counseled active LDS who deal with or counsel those with SSA to avoid when discussing such issues with others.
We should note that the words homosexual, lesbian, and gay are adjectives to describe particular thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. We should refrain from using these words as nouns to identify particular conditions or specific persons. Our religious doctrine dictates this usage. It is wrong to use these words to denote a condition, because this implies that a person is consigned by birth to a circumstance in which he or she has no choice in respect to the critically important matter of sexual behavior.
If bro. Wilcox has "come out" as "gay," then it would seem he has accepted wholly the idea of the essentialist "born that way" theory of homosexual orientation, within which homosexuality is not a complex feature of psycho-sexual development with any number of variables contributing to its ultimate manifestation, but a simple genes = homosexuality throwing up of the arms.
Homosexuality is, as Oaks correctly states, a body of "particular thoughts, feelings, or behaviors." "Gay" is a designation of core self identity; an assertion that the thoughts, and feelings attendant to SSA are primary and intrinsic.
Oaks' statement is not only ignorant and semantically incorrect, but it's not really congruent with the current church stance, which is, "we though we knew crap but it turns out we don't know crap."
Oaks' statement represents the ignorant mindset that sexual orientation is something fluid.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Buffalo wrote:Do you think they'll trash him? He isn't advocating that the church leadership change policy. He isn't in a gay relationship. He's "temple worthy" and just trying to change Mormon culture to be more empathetic toward gay members.
harmony wrote:You do really think he would be considered temple worthy?
Well yes he should if he is celibate and not openly pushing for change at the top in policy.
bcspace wrote:Anyone who self identifies as homosexual is not on my side on this issue.
If he does not act on his homosexuality the Church says he can be a member in good standing. So you apparently are not on the Church's side on this one.
Sounds to me like BCspace would benefit from getting to know this guy. It could open up his mind a bit.
I know and am friends with quite a few self-identified homosexuals of all stripes. Also, when I served in LA, my companion and I were specifically tasked to aid the return to membership and activity of homosexuals who had left.
No! Really?! Who was the fool who put you on that task? Not much inspiration there.
Droopy wrote: Homosexuality is, as Oaks correctly states, a body of "particular thoughts, feelings, or behaviors." "Gay" is a designation of core self identity; an assertion that the thoughts, and feelings attendant to SSA are primary and intrinsic.
Well it is really not certain whether Oaks is correct or not. But we could debate that all day. The big question is do you think he should be fired from BYU? Should he be denied a TR? What would you do. This assumes he does not act on his homosexual tendencies. Is self identifying as a gay person enough to get him fired and deny him a TR?
He's a celibate gay man. His goal appears to be trying to change church culture rather than agitating for changes in policy. Smart guy. If BYU or the church retaliate, they're going to look like tyrants.
He's a celibate gay man. His goal appears to be trying to change church culture rather than agitating for changes in policy. Smart guy. If BYU or the church retaliate, they're going to look like tyrants.
Go be mentally ill somewhere else.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Let me "assure" you, this gay man at BYU is NOT celebate, and has NEVER BEEN celebate! He's a liar and hypocrite. Hopefully BYU fires him pronto. He is doing this in order to get fired then sue the Church, and challenge BYU hiring practices in court. If you dug a little you'll find he has at least one male lover, and is being "backed" by the guy who owns Signature Books and finances Sunstone, who has the money needed for lawyers to sue BYU once this guy is fired.
daheshism wrote:Let me "assure" you, this gay man at BYU is NOT celebate, and has NEVER BEEN celebate! He's a liar and hypocrite. Hopefully BYU fires him pronto. He is doing this in order to get fired then sue the Church, and challenge BYU hiring practices in court. If you dug a little you'll find he has at least one male lover, and is being "backed" by the guy who owns Signature Books and finances Sunstone, who has the money needed for lawyers to sue BYU once this guy is fired.
When you talk to people in person, do you supply them with a courtesy sneeze guard?
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Jason Bourne wrote:Well it is really not certain whether Oaks is correct or not. But we could debate that all day. The big question is do you think he should be fired from BYU? Should he be denied a TR? What would you do. This assumes he does not act on his homosexual tendencies. Is self identifying as a gay person enough to get him fired and deny him a TR?
So long as he is celibate and keeps the commandments, then probably no. However, he would yet have to be careful about his public activism relative to the Church and its positions on SSA, and, given this article, his "coming out" may bode ill for is position at BYU nonetheless.
This remark in the article is indicative, perhaps, of the problem he will face:
Wilcox, an executive producer with Brigham Young University Broadcasting, "lacked wisdom" of a different kind: why God made him Mormon and gay and how he was supposed to handle the conflict.
Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father [in Heaven] and how familiar his face is to us
- President Ezra Taft Benson
I am so old that I can remember when most of the people promoting race hate were white.
In the face of madness, rationality has no power - Xiao Wang, US historiographer, 2287 AD.
Every record...falsified, every book rewritten...every statue...has been renamed or torn down, every date...altered...the process is continuing...minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Ideology is always right.