Just a day, just an ordinary day, just trying to get by

I went to the Soulforce rally yesterday. It was an interesting experience though it didn’t present anything new. Overall, I felt it was worth my time, but I also remembered a few things about myself that will probably never change.

I’m just not a bandwagon/rally guy. I get irritated when people draw applause from the crowd by using trite one liners. I don’t like the, “oh poor oppressed us…but we WILL NOT be ignored any longer we are PROUD to be us.” *Crowd cheers in most stereotypical way imaginable* I’m always bothered when a person has to belittle someone else’s ideals for the sake of promoting their own.

“I’VE been ex-communicated THREE times.” *Ha ha ha. “You go girl.”* I’m sorry. Those cheers from the crowd don’t sound like a cry for expression. They sound like those of a mindless mob. I came here to listen to sincere, intelligent comments pertaining to changing the status quo, not your propogandic bullshit.

“I met my boyfriend at BYU.” *Hooray. Take that stupid BYU*

“After being allowed on BYU’s campus under the agreement not to give speeches, pass out literature, or set up a booth. FIVE of us were ARRESTED for trying to give speeches!! We refuse to be ignored.” *cheers from the crowd* Yes, thank you Mr. Champion of free speech; I’m so glad to see you sticking it to the man. That and totally disrespecting an agreement with a university notorious for cutting you no slack at all.

“Queer is good. We are a great asset to the world. We are artists, performers, musicians…we are a sensitive people…we are in tune…” (I use quotations, but I will admit, I’m not getting what was said verbatim.) That’s what I’ve been missing all these years. I suck at painting because I have the wrong sexual orientation. I get it now. Silly me, I thought it was because I don’t have a painters coordination, and I never took time to develop those skills.

All of the above aside, the BYU alumni and student made valid points. I do wish others who have yet to think about these issues could have heard what was said. “God hates you because you’re gay,” is not something anyone should have to believe, ever. Homosexual=Terrorist=Nazi is another one. I don’t get how modern people can believe such things, but I guess I’m a little naïve. I do believe church leaders had it wrong back in the 80’s and before. Another lady commented on the mentioning of “gender confusion” in General Conference. “My son is NOT gender confused!!!” No kidding? I'm glad to hear he's so happy. It turns out that Elder Holland may not have been talking about your son. It turns out that church authorities are worried about more than just you.

Some say that gay marriage is no different from the blacks and the priesthood issue. I vehemently disagree, but maybe there were people like me who said the same thing back in the 1940’s. I guess the world is more complicated that I originally thought. I don’t know that we’ll ever see a full reconciliation within the church. I don’t know that we should or that we shouldn’t.

The meeting was also interspersed with people driving by, honking their horns for a minute straight, and small groups shouting things like, “YOU’re inTOLlerANT, YOU’re inTOLerANT…” Grow up people. What could you possibly accomplish beyond making me wish I was immature enough to get up and kick your ass.