Elena Thurston returns to share with us how the PoS, the new LDS LGBT Policy Handbook update dubbed the Policy of Silence, still affects families and children who want to serve missions. There has been no update, no clarification regarding children of “same-sex attracted” parents and the requirement that they disavow that parent in order to serve a mission with the LDS Church. This existing policy continues to cause excruciating emotional damage to children and families. Members who “suffer from same-sex attraction” are still encouraged, forced or feel no other choice than to seek out conversion therapy to “fix” their homosexual attractions. A practice that results in youth 8.4x more likely to attempt suicide. GLAAD reports “San Francisco State University found that “compared with LGBTQ young people who were not rejected or were only a little rejected by their parents and caregivers because of their gay or transgender identity, highly rejected LGBTQ young people were:
- 8.4x more likely to report having attempted suicide
- 5.9x more likely report high levels of depression
- 3.4x more likely to use illegal drugs
- 3.4x more likely to be at high risk of HIV and STDs”
Links mentioned in the episode:
- Patreon FULL VIDEO of Elena’s Episode
- Elena’s Amazing Ted Talk about Her Experience with Conversion Therapy
- Elena’s Love Story on MHH
- GLAAD Discusses Efficacy and Consequences of Conversion Therapy
- VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
- Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 - Transition pieces found here
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Amidst the Letter to the IRS Whistleblower attention, a very important update to Handbook 2 was released by the LDS Church and then revised a few days later. This update contains heavy-handed silencing and further exclusion and denial of the existence of the LGBTQIA community. It isn’t “faith-promoting” as they say, and it is a policy dictating that we obey, conform, and cease to mention “personal characteristics” that detract from the focus of Jesus Christ because Mormon Jesus is a bigot. Join Blaire Ostler, a voice of passion and love who will not be silent when speaking of the LGBT brothers and sisters of this world.
Have you heard of Ogden’s Own Distillery and their line-up of subversive Mormon Themed liquors? Take a peek behind the hilarious labels and learn a bit about how they came to be, complete with rich tributes to controversial Mormon history and whole-hearted support for Utah’s LGBTQ community! Steve Conlin, CEO and President of Ogden’s own gives us a view from behind the Zion’s Curtain at what it’s like to be in the alcohol industry in a state controlled by the LDS Church. And, a Pride Re-Brand of their famous 5 Wives Vodka, a label so controversial it was banned in the state of Idaho! As always, if you’d prefer to watch instead of just listen to this interview, head on over to Patreon/mormonhappyhour to watch!
Lesley Butterfield is back again to discuss her recent Commentary published in the Salt Lake Tribune entitled “LDS Church Officials are Practicing Spiritual Extortion.” Lesley speaks from a place of personal heartache as she describes how the Policies and Doctrine elicited by LDS Officials are indeed abusive. Her experiences are all too common. Lesley ends with a powerful declaration of what her Heaven will be full of, in contrast to the Mormon Heaven spoke of by Prophet and President Russel M. Nelson in the most recent LDS General Conference. This was previously Exclusive Patreon content and is now released public. Check out the video of this episode on Patreon today!
Crystal Legionnaires made waves one year ago when she stood and shouted “Stop Protecting Sexual Predators” in the Conference Center during a live session of conference. This year, she carefully chose a new demonstration to promote a message of importance for the quality of life of all LGBTQ individuals who are harmed by the policies and doctrine enforced by LDS Leadership. She shares with us the thought and planning before the day, the response during the walk, and what she has heard in the aftermath. Crystal includes a tender story of a woman who stopped to help her feet during the walk. If you’d like to watch the video of Crystal’s chat, head to Mormon Happy Hour on Patreon!
Blaire Ostler took her traditional post outside the LDS Conference Center during their biannual General Conference, holding her sign inviting attendees to “Hug a Queer *Mormon) *this year she did modify it to say “Latter Day Saint.” Join her as she shares with us her passionate queer response to the recent monumental reversal of the 2015 LGBTQ Exclusion Policy of the LDS Church that labeled “same-sex” couples as apostates and exiled their children from membership in the church. Blaire speaks to bi-erasure, what real love of others looks and feels like, and what the response to her Hug Campaign has been. Her passion and her heart are a beautiful feeling to experience! As always, watch this interview instead of just listen by visiting Mormon Happy Hour on Patreon! Your Patreon support means everything to me! Thank you!!!
Michael Smith returns with his irreverent interruptions to discuss the recent LGBT Exclusion Policy Reversal that was announced. We also introduce a VERY important Instagram account that is raising awareness in an area Colleen passionately advocates to change, the BYU Honor Code office! And lastly, since it is the very weekend of LDS General Conference, please enjoy some hopeful conference rumors! Don’t miss the bonus content with Michael, which you get a teaser of in this episode! Head on over to Patreon to catch all the videos from this episode!
Throw away everything you think you know about patriarchal polygamy and monogamous gender binary scripts, and listen to Blaire Ostler’s mind-blowing theories on Queer Polygamy! Don’t worry, she defines all the poly and amorous words for you, as we talk about deconstructing the traditional beliefs and fears we have about love, deepening and expanding relationships, and exploring our authentic selves. Blaire’s theories are full of love, hope, depth, and ethical understanding. As always, if you’d prefer to watch this video instead of just listen, head over to Mormon Happy Hour on Patreon!
