Emma Lou Thayne

Mormon poet

Please, before my generation is gone, let's find a rescue -- some thoughtful, humane, balanced changes by the good guys, gun lovers or otherwise, to harness the death-dealing bad ones.

Jaweed Kaleem

Reporter, The Huffington Post

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sending Mormons to the inauguration, but the guest list doesn't include Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, the role of faith in Obama's inauguration has reportedly become a game of "hot potato."

Cyd Zeigler

Co-founder, Outsports.com

I don't know if Manti Te'o is gay. I won't even speculate or guess. But whether he is or is not, to me, isn't the question here at the moment as we await more answers from Te'o.

Nico Lang and Mark Nott

Blogger; correspondent, WBEZ

Are you a gay Mormon who is single and looking for love? Then a forthcoming website is here to answer your prayers.

Common Ground News Service

Independent News Source

As the nation continues to grow more diverse, Lobna Ismail believes "that as Americans we will come back to our foundational principles around pluralism" and accept not only Mormons and Muslims, but everyone that contributes to the country's social fabric.

Mitch Mayne

Executive secretary, Bishopric of the Bay Ward in San Francisco, Calif.

This certainly isn't an exhaustive list, and it certainly isn't perfect, but given the Mormon faith's painful history with the LGBT community, I think it's a pretty good year when we can look back and come up with any reasons to be hopeful, let alone half a dozen.

Fred Karger

President, Rights Equal Rights

Every public opinion poll now shows marriage equality enjoying well over 50 percent and gaining every day. Seems like the limb that Maggie Gallagher has been standing on is about to break.

Dan Mirvish

Director, screenwriter, author

One Oscar Les Miserables won't be nominated for is "Best Original Musical." Wait a minute, you're thinking, that's crazy talk -- there's no category called "Best Original Musical." As a matter of fact, there is such a category, but it's just never been activated.

Jarrett Hill

Writer, graphic artist, part-time standup comic, and producing PA at 'The New Ricki Lake Show'

The idea that God created me and my life perfectly but would ask me not to live it according to its reality isn't something that makes much sense to me.

Marti Gould Cummings

Drag performer, comedian, host and sometimes-on-pitch singer

John Blumenthal

Former Playboy editor/Novelist/Screenwriter ('Blue Streak')

I hate musicals, so why did I get a two-CD set of Andrea Bocelli crooning show tunes? Does my grandmother really think I will ever be caught dead wearing a hot pink V-necked sweater?

Robert Bullen

Self-professed Chicago theatre addict, writer, blogger, audience member

The theatrical year in Chicago has ended in full gallop with two highly anticipated shows receiving full-scale, top-notch productions, playing through the new year.

Joanna Brooks

Associate Professor, Dept. of English and Comparative Literature, San Diego State University

Their call-to-trousers has drawn strongly positive and negative (even vicious) reactions from LDS Church members. And it's made it clear how deeply thoughtful, civil conversation about gender is needed in Mormon communities.

Robert Lockard

Business and Entertainment Writer

Believing in a certain religion doesn't predestine a person to be great at any profession. But it is interesting to see how a religion's focus on certain areas and attributes of its members can create an environment that is conducive to cultivating strong leaders.

David Duran

Freelance journalist

Lately I have been seeing so many news articles and reports on this change in opinion on homosexuality in the Mormon church. Has anyone actually visited the new website before reporting on this so-called "change"? It's the same thing they have been preaching for years.

Mitch Mayne

Executive secretary, Bishopric of the Bay Ward in San Francisco, Calif.

It's time for the Mormon community to stop simply talking about what our Savior would do, and roll up our sleeves and actually do it. In order for LGBT Mormons to truly begin to have a different experience inside our faith, we need to move beyond words -- and begin to do things differently.