Gay Mormon Conference, Circling The Wagons, Explores LGBTQ Issues and Religion

Circling the Wagons, a three-day conference for LGBTQ and same-sex attraction Mormons, explored the issues surrounding sexuality and religion in Salt Lake City, Utah, this weekend.

The event, which attracted more than 300 participants of varying faiths, was sponsored by Mormon Stories and the Open Stories Foundation, organizations with no official affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, according to the Deseret News. The conference featured speakers as various as bishops, therapists, authors and poets and was aimed a providing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and same-sex attracted persons and their families a place where they can "gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences."

Homosexuality isn't supported by the LDS, but the church reportedly strives to "understand and respect" those with same-sex attractions, the Deseret News explains.

Kevin Kloosterman, an LDS bishop from Illinois, spoke at the event and denounced the negative treatment of homosexuals. The bishop recently began exploring his own views on homosexuality as a member of the church and decided to speak at the conference. He explained:

"I began to see the emotional wounds and scars that many of you have today, and I began to ask, 'Where did you get these wounds?' And the answer, unfortunately, was in the house of my friends. And when I felt that answer, I grieved and wept as any parent would for their own child," according to a transcript of his speech.

Kloosterman later told Religion Dispatches Magazine that he still supports the views of the church but was simply expressing his anger surrounding the treatment of homosexuals.

Kloosterman's presence was much appreciated by those in attendance.

"I thought it was highly significant just to have a sitting bishop who cares so much for these issues that he's willing to fly himself out here and speak publicly," John Dehlin, founder of the Mormon Stories and the Open Stories Foundation, told the Salt Lake Tribune.

The event also took volunteers to participate in recorded segments for the "It Gets Better Project," a popular video campaign aimed at young adults who are harassed because of their sexuality, according to the Mormon Stories website.

Throughout the years, an increasing number of religions and denominations have expressed their support for LGBTQ efforts. For a list of inspiring LGBT religious leaders, click through our slideshow here.

Comments

[KAYLEE BURRIS]

01:24 PM on 12/26/2011

hows about we just treat each other as human beings and accept one another for who we are instead of what we are.

[BillOlson]

01:59 PM on 11/10/2011

I was raised in a Mormon family... I came out to my family when I was 18 and they were loving, supportive and accepting. However, an experience like mine is rare for gay men and women raised in the LDS faith. Most are faced with judgment and abandonment. When Prop 8 passed here in California I officially left the church, although I never really believed the doctrine... for me it was a bold statement to my large LDS family... The teachings of the Mormon church and their treatment of gay men and women is unacceptable. The outright lies in the pro Prop 8 ads were disturbing and made it obvious the church was willing to abandon Christian values of honesty, family, committed loving relationships and acceptance in pursuit of a discriminatory and bigoted law. I can't imagine why anyone would want to be a part of something so hypocritical.

[Razpooten]

01:42 PM on 11/10/2011

"Kloosterman later told Religion Dispatches Magazine that he still supports the views of the church but was simply expressing his anger surrounding the treatment of homosexuals." - This is contradictory, the church's views are to demonize and oppress the GLBT.

[Oubastet]

05:19 PM on 11/09/2011

In 1978, the Mormon church changed its mind about black people, claiming a "revelation from God."

They might as well claim G od changed his mind about LGBT people as well.

[tumorimmunologist]

04:52 PM on 11/09/2011

This article is a perfect example of separating what a few members of a church do from what the church supports and teaches. I am sure to get bashed from my Liberal buddies but I just want to point out that there are LDS people who support equality for all. What does Harry Reid say about this topic and did you not know that he too is a Mormon "in good standing". Just saying.

[Aquinas]

04:50 PM on 11/09/2011

More hatred of others from religious groups. What ever happened to love of neighbor? Love is true acceptance of the other as other; not as you want the other to be.

[randallr01]

04:40 PM on 11/09/2011

The Mormons are going to slowly accept LGBT in order to remain viable, but LGBT will *NEVER* forget that Mormons passed Prop 8.

They are eternal enemies & their religion deserves extinction.

[bannorhill]

11:54 PM on 11/11/2011

There are 761,000 Mormons in California. Not all of them vote, yet "Mormons passed Prop 8".

To be correct California voters passed Prop 8.

[Mark Lawrence]

08:33 AM on 11/12/2011

the California voters passed Prop 8 because of the LDS churches successful campaign of lies and mis-information. Yes the LDS Church is responsible for the result of Prop 8.

[eliasasm]

02:50 PM on 11/24/2011

To be correct, Mormons spent $22,000,000 to insure it's passage.

[tomtall]

04:24 PM on 11/09/2011

mormanism is a sham...no different than scientoology...remember l rons quote..." if you want to make some real money, invent your own religion." ..just like joe smith...joe was one of dozens in upstate new york running around espousing his 'new' relligion...dont get suckered...dont follow the herd.

[Yvetter]

02:43 PM on 11/09/2011

Do not be fooled by this article. Mormons don't care at all about the LBGT community and have spent millions in my state of California to meedle in our politics when it comes to Gay rights. I guess many have already forgotten about prop 8 already.

[curiousdwk]

11:10 PM on 11/08/2011

Too bad this wasn't recognized by the Mormon Church as legitimate.

[John Crane]

04:47 PM on 11/08/2011

Move on, people. The LDS church is never going to accept you. Stop begging for acceptance and make your own way. They have you convinced that you need them, but the truth is you do not.

You claim to be Mormons? Then READ your Book of Mormon. Remember the story in the Book of Mormon about the people who were thrown out of the church, and sat around whining about it? Alma told them told that they could worship God anywhere and didn't need to belong to the church in order to do that. Read Alma Chapter 32.

[johnb123]

02:31 PM on 11/09/2011

As a Christian,I agree with you on that. Many of these groups need to start their own church.

[Ashman]

03:00 PM on 11/09/2011

"Move on, people. The LDS church is never going to accept you."

Possibly, but maybe not. Given enough political pressure, the Mormon church has been known to reverse their policies in the past. Of course they will never admit that they are changing course because of the pressure, it will come down as a Revalation fron God to their Prophet (as it has happened a couple of times in the past).
Over a hundred yrs ago they abandoned poligamy under intense pressure from the US Govt, and again in the 1970's, they abandoned their racist ways and allowed black people to hold their priesthood.

[KAYLEE BURRIS]

01:16 PM on 12/26/2011

good thing,since i dont accept their politics so it's mutual
have a lovely day.

[Intellectual Integrity]

03:54 PM on 11/08/2011

In order to protest LDS policies and propaganda on the Internet, we are starting the "Occupy the Net" movement to "occupy" comment boards that talk about the Mormon church. We are starting "cyber protests" to educate people about the church and not let them obscure the issues with the "I"m A Mormon" campaign. They are pouring millions of dollars into propaganda campaigns for the LDS church and against gay rights. Remember Prop 8?

If anyone wants to help or has any suggested targets for cyber protests, email us at [e-mail].

[BarefootArizona]

03:22 PM on 11/09/2011

Dang, I'm surprised that there are actually other people willing to waste their time on this nonsense. You're not going to do anything. The only thing you will end up doing is making people curious about The Mormon faith.

Once they come to investigate, they will find friendly faces, pot-lucks, and Eagle Scouts.
I'm sure they appreciate you advertising for them however. Keep up the good work : )

[Balancement]

01:17 PM on 11/10/2011

Don't forget that this huge campaign is to try to un-demonize Mormonism to clear the way for Romney--and the LDS Church is seeking as their long-term goal to become dominionist in becoming the ruling religion in the United States--pretty much as they have in Utah State politics.

[Jayyhawker]

03:20 PM on 11/08/2011

Why don't all three hundred just marry each other ?

[Abinadi]

12:15 PM on 11/08/2011

People,

It was good for Bishop Kloosterman to be present and express his anger of the attitude of the church in denying equal membership rights to GLTB members. Unfortunately as a Bishop he can do little to change it.. He could of course use his ministerial certificate to marry a couple where it is legal and then risk his removal as a bishop and perhaps his membership.

35 years ago I had a similar position with regard to Black men and their denial of priesthood rights. I hired a PR firm and had them arrange a public gathering at a Portland, Oregon Motel where I ordained a young Black man to priesthood. It took the church two years to change, to have a "revelation" and admit Black men to priesthood. The action was worth my membership!

If the president of the church, Thomas Sterling Monson, would authorize an intellectual study he would find the study to constitute a worthy revelation that about 10 % of humanity are born with a different sexual orientation from the so-called "norm" and that it is a fact of life. Instead Mr. Monson would rather rely on the ignorance of his predecessors. Changing would cause a collapse of the church doctrine revealing the scam it is. Reality is that Mormonism is only for "normal" people so that the church can continue the scam of selling Temple marriage for "Time and all Eternity". My advice to the Gay community is get out.

[KYZipster]

01:42 PM on 11/08/2011

Kloosterman's words seemed moving but the article says that he still supports the stance of the church. It's no different than a white person crying about the scars of racism while supporting segregation. He sounds like a fool.

[Razpooten]

01:46 PM on 11/10/2011

Xactly, he contradicts himself.

[Intellectual Integrity]

03:50 PM on 11/08/2011

Are you Douglas Wallace? Excellent job. Way to stand up to the church. Kloosterman is brave, but I think he will get disciplinary action for this.

[TooLooze]

09:54 AM on 11/08/2011

"Three hundred participants of varying faiths" is not exactly a major breakthrough for the Mormons.

[BarefootArizona]

03:24 PM on 11/09/2011

The biggest breakthrough of The Mormon Faith, IMO, was Joseph Smith comprehensive plan to end slavery without violence.

Too bad he wasn't elected. Instead, he was slaughtered(sorry, didn't mean to get you excited there)

[Cacey]

07:37 PM on 11/11/2011

I've actually seen and touched the suit he was killed in. One of his descendents brought it to show and tell in fifth grade. Amazing but true.