By: Jenna Beresheim News Editor
Nov. 5, 2015 saw the release of a new policy handbook from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which recalled baptism and blessings as an opportunity for youth of same-sex couples.
This policy, housed within Handbook 1, applied to children under 18 who are either “natural or adopted” by LGBT parents.
To be exempt from this exclusion, the children must live in a new household with opposite-sex guardians or wait until they are 18 to denounce their original parents in favor of their religion.
Children of same-sex parents would also be required to completely disavow same-sex marriage altogether in order to be baptized, confirmed, ordained, or even invited to perform in missionary services.
“The church has long been on record as opposing same-sex marriages. While it respects the law of the land, and acknowledges the right of others to think and act differently, it does not perform or accept same-sex marriage within its membership,” stated Eric Hawkins, a church spokesperson to the Washington Post.
Some of this opposition can be traced back to Proposition 8, which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.
With the support of the LDS Church, Prop 8 passed in 2008 but was later deemed unconstitutional and retracted.
In retaliation to the latest policy, over 1500 LDS Church participants submitted their letters of resignation, with the number continuing to grow.
“I’ve thought more and more about sending in my letter of resigning my membership,” admitted Lilaah Jones, a third year gerontology major. “I am astonished and appalled that this is happening.”
Jones personally identifies within the LGBTQ community as well as the LDS Church.
“I was baptized Mormon about 5 or 6 years ago,” Jones said. “It’s been awhile since I’ve identified and gone to church as a Mormon, but I still share the beliefs from the church, until recently.”
Recently, another story made headlines within the same vein: a Utah judge ruled that a lesbian couple was unfit to foster their one year old child.
The couple had been fostering the child for three months when they attempted to adopt the baby, only to be met with the rebuttal that the judge would remove the child and relocate her to a “more traditional home” according to CNN.
“Some encouragement, if you and your partner want a child: fight, work, and prove to everyone that you would make phenomenal parents and no one can take that away from you. Never give up,” urges Jones.
“As for religion, don’t lose your faith. Cut out the bad people who bring you down, and pray for strength. Your relationship with God is between you and Him, no one else,” finishes Jones.
