I suppose I'm the one with the longest posts about mormons and therefore considered a "mormon basher." It has been my personal experience that mormons are more prone to bash -- especially gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans gendered. However, I'm surprised at the number of LPSG members who have sent me positive PM's.
This thread began with the question: mormon guys? Point of fact, all I have done is truthfully relate some of my experiences with mormon guys growing up as a non-mormon in a mormon family in a mormon community. And this has somehow become bashing mormons? Well, I've certainly had my share of sexual experiences with mormon men. My mormon boy scout leader used any excuse he could find to have a mutual wank and suck-a-thon with me. And my mormon track coach in 9th grade took a special interest in teaching me how to "top" him as he enjoyed being on the receiving end of anal intercourse. He also taught me a few other sexual specialties, too. Is that bashing mormons? I never complained about these encounters because I was inclined to enjoy them. I've never felt violated by these men.
When I was 8 years-old I was supposedly given the choice to be baptized into that particular belief system and "told" that I knew what the right choice was because at 8 years-old I could discern right from wrong. I "chose" not to be baptized. It just didn't feel like the right thing to do. It was basically that one simple choice of an innocent 8 year-old that caused a great number of difficulties in my life until I escaped that particular culture.
All of my postings have been truthful. I haven't made anything up. And as I have previously posted I, too, used to think that it was wrong to criticize anyone's religious or personal belief system. In large part I still believe that unless it leads to serious mental/physical harm, injury or death. Just to put things in clearer perspective I am the one that was and is still on the receiving end of so much hate and intolerance from mormons regarding what I believe. My squeeze’s 76-year old devout Catholic Italian mother adores me. His sister has become a close business associate and best friend. The daughters of the disenfranchised Japanese/American the family who lived on the farm next to my family’s farm are closer to me than any blood relative. Although major capitalists, they are still devout Buddhists. My first lover’s family (mother, father, brothers, sister) and his wife of 25 years (yup, I turned him straight and he eventually married LOL!) all insist I stay with them whenever I’m in Boston or New York. They are Reformed Jews and treat me like a son. So, at t 57 years-old, I’m simply tired of being politically correct and going along with the idea that “Well, what happened to you could have happened to anyone in any religion.” What I have experienced did not happen in any other religion. My experiences are from direct contact with mormons and living in a mormon community. Although, I’m certain there are some off-the-wall Baptists who would also like to spew hate and venom at me, those Baptists I do know treat me as an equal. But I’m certain that depends up the flavor of Baptist.
What I find personally and most objectionable about mormons, if that means I'm bashing them, is the arrogance of mormon theology and those who profess that arrogance is not so deeply embedded in that faith. From Kindergarten through 9th grade every teacher I had in public school was a graduate of Brigham Young University. All of my male instructors were RTM's (return mormon missionaries) with rather sketchy academic records in "education." Having overcome the poor education I received in Ewetaw public schools, I can honestly say it did not prepare me for anything. I’d give my mormon educators a D. Any individual thought was questioned and discouraged. At least I learned to read, but not much else.
I never sought out, or purposely made fun of, or picked fights with my classmates. But if you were not a mormon, you automatically were picked upon by those who were mormon and supposedly knew better. I was not alone. The few Jehovah Witnesses in my community might as well have been painted red and hung as communists because their religion taught that saluting the flag was the same as worshiping a pagan idol. Granted, it was a different time (50's through 60's) and I grew up in a small town. But I was kicked out of high school (in those days 9th grade was the first year of high school) because I was gay bashed. One day after the lunch hour a crowd of mormon teenagers waited for me outside of the school library and beat me senseless. All of those teenagers came from mormon families. Instead of receiving help and support from the school administrators, I was kicked out for being gay. The teens who beat me into a mess of blood and broken teeth were gently reprimanded and allowed to remain in school. You’re probably speculating that I must have done something wrong. I somehow sparked the incident and brought it upon myself. Wrong. I didn’t’pick the fight. They jumped me. Why? Well, I supposed I was somewhat effeminate. But the truth is I was gay bashed by mormon teens because that’s how they were taught to treat people who were different. Sure, I had a hard time dealing with such harsh social rejection. But another part of the equation is that I had and still have an unusually large penis. I was always the object of cruel jokes and ridicule by the mormon kids. Some might argue that I was just picked on because I was just a dumb farm boy with an unusually large dick. That argument is still used by others just to make themselves feel better.
My family (with the exception of my father) completely rejected me. All aunts, uncles, and cousins refused to talk to me, until my parents eventually passed away and to the chagrin of everyone, they discovered I was named executor of my father’s Living Trust. Even then, though substantial amounts of money were involved, they talked to me begrudgingly. Yes, they hated me, the sinner, but they didn’t hate me enough when it came time to sell off some parcels of land that included their names on the titles. I dealt with everyone fairly and generated a substantial amount of wealth for those members of my family. But once they got their money, I was immediately put back on the “Do not bother to call” list. Remember, this is a “religion” that places great emphasis upon the family as the key to an eternal life.
I am still rejected by my brother and his children, although I've never done anything to cause them harm nor have I criticized them. I'm certain there are others who grew up in other religions who can claim having suffered similar incidences of discrimination. But mine were all with mormons. Not Jews, Catholics, or run-of-the-mill Protestants. Is my perspective slanted? I'm certain it is. But that still does not negate the truth and validity of my experiences and the things I have posted about mormons.
I don't hate mormons. I do, however, have a great sense of sadness and compassion for gay men and women who have come out and been told they are not whole people and cannot fully participate in the religion/belief system in which they were raised. That’s exactly how mormons treat gays. I have the same compassion for those who claim to be Christians and obviously pick and choose what parts of their bible supports their addled reasoning to discriminate and even murder gays because "It says so in the bible."
Sorry folks, but under the guise of some sort of religious superiority the old "hate the sin, but love the sinner" rhetoric is just that: rhetoric. But it’s not empty rhetoric. It seems most folks on this thread have forgotten Mathew Shepherd, a young gay student beaten senseless in Casper, Wyoming (by men raised as mormons) and left to die hanging on a barbed-wire fence 10 years ago?
Of course, mormons have not cornered a monopoly of gay bashing. But they have done nothing to prevent it. Does that mean I’m bashing mormons? No. I’m simply stating the truth. Quite often stating the truth is seen by mormons as “anti-mormon rhetoric” or mormon bashing. However, I fail to understand how being truthful is equal to “bashing.” Maybe some more enlightened members of LPSG can put this in perspective for me so I can understand.
For those of you who think I’m a terrible person for writing Ewetaw instead of Utah, let it be known unto thee that part of my families holdings included ranging sheep. For years I had personalized license plates on my truck that spelled EWETAW. Then one day the Ewetaw Department of Motor Vehicles told me my license plates were revoked and they issued me a set with a regular letter/number mix. Their reason? They felt I was denigrating the good name of the Beehive State. Oy! Go figure.
So, for those who think all I’ve done is bash mormons, think again. I’ve simply stated bits and pieces of their theology and pointed to a few examples of real hypocrisy. I haven’t intentionally thrown “venomous hate” or unrealistically criticized their odd belief system.
You all know my opinion. Discuss among yourselves.