A few years ago, an LDS guy here in Sydney started a facebook page called "Aussie Gay Mormons". He decided to "leave" facebook last year and asked if I wanted to take over as the administrator of that page.
Sure, I'm on facebook most days sharing insights into my view of the world and sharing photographs etc from road trips. Why not.
As I watched some of the videos from the guys and gals at BYU - the "It Gets Better" campaign, I was inspired that they mentioned how social media and blogs were one way that they were able to discover that they weren't alone.
So, our little facebook group plods along. We have highs and lows of activity amongst the group. I'm now motivated to do more and try and get the group more engaged. Really, it's about providing an opportunity for those who want to reach out and talk with someone. We have a group of guys and a few girls who have been through the coming out process and can offer and LDS view into being gay.
Feel free to look for us on facebook.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
BYU Students Come Out On Campus
WOW!
These kids are brave, good on them. I've included a few links below to some of these amazing guys and gals who have come out to help you understand that it really does get better.
You can watch John Patrick share his very Utah LDS Gay experience:
Here's some links to some other amazing LDS guys and gals.
It Gets Better BYU - Nathan C.
Show your support for these guys, login to YouTube and say thank you.
"You're welcome to come along"
A close girlfriend and I drove down to Canberra on Thursday to spend a couple of days with her brother for Easter. I had to be back Saturday night so I'd be here to pick up my man from his overseas holiday Sunday morning.
She has an old friend in Canberra, they served together for six months in the mission field. The friend knows I'm gay and also knows that my friend is less active. I dropped her off Friday afternoon then went for a drive around Canberra to find a cafe, read, blog and then pick her up a few hours later.
When I arrived to pick her up, her girlfriend and her husband greeted me at the door. There was some polite conversation and I could see they were off to Church for what I assumed was an Easter fireside on Good Friday. She and her husband were dressed for Church.
What happened next was something that I'd done many many times myself in the past when meeting less active members of the Church. She said "You're welcome to join us if you'd like". There was no malice, no mean spirit, if anything a little humour because I think she knew what the response would be.
What struck me though was that I was identified as a less active Church member. I hadn't really thought of myself like that before, so this was a new experience. It's been two and half years since I stopped going to Church, besides a close friend's child's baptism, I've not stepped inside an LDS chapel since. It hasn't been a conscious decision to not step in a Church, there just hasn't been a reason to do so.
How did I feel? Nothing much really, it just caused me to reflect a little. My girlfriend had watched the recent April 2012 General Conference and suggested I take a look at Elder Uchtdorf's talk. He talks of mercy and as has been my experience, many LDS folks don't seem to get mercy. He also cites a bumper sticker he saw which said:
What a great sticker. As I've said in my blog previously, I've been richly blessed with wonderful LDS friends who have not judged and have loved me for who I am. However I read many blogs from Gay LDS members in the US and other parts of the world. However the US seems to be the worst, I wish all Gay LDS could move to Australia, life is good. It really does get better.
She has an old friend in Canberra, they served together for six months in the mission field. The friend knows I'm gay and also knows that my friend is less active. I dropped her off Friday afternoon then went for a drive around Canberra to find a cafe, read, blog and then pick her up a few hours later.
When I arrived to pick her up, her girlfriend and her husband greeted me at the door. There was some polite conversation and I could see they were off to Church for what I assumed was an Easter fireside on Good Friday. She and her husband were dressed for Church.
What happened next was something that I'd done many many times myself in the past when meeting less active members of the Church. She said "You're welcome to join us if you'd like". There was no malice, no mean spirit, if anything a little humour because I think she knew what the response would be.
What struck me though was that I was identified as a less active Church member. I hadn't really thought of myself like that before, so this was a new experience. It's been two and half years since I stopped going to Church, besides a close friend's child's baptism, I've not stepped inside an LDS chapel since. It hasn't been a conscious decision to not step in a Church, there just hasn't been a reason to do so.
How did I feel? Nothing much really, it just caused me to reflect a little. My girlfriend had watched the recent April 2012 General Conference and suggested I take a look at Elder Uchtdorf's talk. He talks of mercy and as has been my experience, many LDS folks don't seem to get mercy. He also cites a bumper sticker he saw which said:
"Don't judge me because I sin differently to you".
What a great sticker. As I've said in my blog previously, I've been richly blessed with wonderful LDS friends who have not judged and have loved me for who I am. However I read many blogs from Gay LDS members in the US and other parts of the world. However the US seems to be the worst, I wish all Gay LDS could move to Australia, life is good. It really does get better.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Distance Does Make The Heart Grow Fonder
My partner went home to Iran two and a half weeks ago, he's due home this coming Easter Sunday. We've emailed almost daily and had a Skype chat or two.
I've managed to keep myself busy, work has been very busy and I managed to arrange dinner dates with friends to distract myself in his absence.
The thing I hate the most is going to bed alone, which generally translates to me staying up and watching tv or working and going to bed as I fall asleep on my keyboard or on the couch.
Mum came to visit for 6 days last week, it was great to have her in town. She and my partner get along really well which means so much to me.
I had a friend stay over last night, he's heading home to Canada for a few weeks. He lives about an hour by train from the airport. We're literally 2 min train ride to the airport. So staying over here last night meant he could get up at a reasonable hour and be at the airport in minutes.
His partner dropped in to say hi, it was the first time I've met him. He's a dashingly handsome Colombian.
This weekend I'm heading to Canberra, the national capital, with a girlfriend and we'll stay with her brother. Then home Saturday night so I'm here in time to pick up my man when he arrives home at 6:30am Sunday from the Middle East.
So three weeks of being alone will be replaced with the familiar sounds of my partner being home. Being in a relationship with someone you love is worth more than I can express.
If this is something you're pondering, don't wait until your mid thirties like I did, grab life with two hands and grab that someone you love with both hands and take a chance. It's worth the outcome.
One other thing. The coming out process has been so much easier than I thought. I have a good friend, his wife and daughters coming to visit from Melbourne this Easter weekend. I finally came out to them on a business trip to Melbourne a few months ago. They were cool, they want to meet my partner, so we're catching up this Easter weekend.
Of all my LDS (Mormon) friends, whom I've come out to, have been supportive of me and my decision. I've been so lucky, but at the same time these are people I've loved and cared for over many years. Should my sexuality change that relationship? I don't think so.
Please share your experiences so anyone else reading this blog may gain some insight into the coming out process.
I've managed to keep myself busy, work has been very busy and I managed to arrange dinner dates with friends to distract myself in his absence.
The thing I hate the most is going to bed alone, which generally translates to me staying up and watching tv or working and going to bed as I fall asleep on my keyboard or on the couch.
Mum came to visit for 6 days last week, it was great to have her in town. She and my partner get along really well which means so much to me.
I had a friend stay over last night, he's heading home to Canada for a few weeks. He lives about an hour by train from the airport. We're literally 2 min train ride to the airport. So staying over here last night meant he could get up at a reasonable hour and be at the airport in minutes.
His partner dropped in to say hi, it was the first time I've met him. He's a dashingly handsome Colombian.
This weekend I'm heading to Canberra, the national capital, with a girlfriend and we'll stay with her brother. Then home Saturday night so I'm here in time to pick up my man when he arrives home at 6:30am Sunday from the Middle East.
So three weeks of being alone will be replaced with the familiar sounds of my partner being home. Being in a relationship with someone you love is worth more than I can express.
If this is something you're pondering, don't wait until your mid thirties like I did, grab life with two hands and grab that someone you love with both hands and take a chance. It's worth the outcome.
One other thing. The coming out process has been so much easier than I thought. I have a good friend, his wife and daughters coming to visit from Melbourne this Easter weekend. I finally came out to them on a business trip to Melbourne a few months ago. They were cool, they want to meet my partner, so we're catching up this Easter weekend.
Of all my LDS (Mormon) friends, whom I've come out to, have been supportive of me and my decision. I've been so lucky, but at the same time these are people I've loved and cared for over many years. Should my sexuality change that relationship? I don't think so.
Please share your experiences so anyone else reading this blog may gain some insight into the coming out process.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Distance makes the heart grow fonder
On Friday my partner flew home to the Middle East, he's gone for three weeks. He hasn't been home for two years, so seeing family will be extra special this visit. In addition his grandmother passed away a few months ago, so this visit will be tinged with sadness.
I'm missing him already, in addition I have a toothache which I'm sure is going to result in an extraction.
The pain killers and the odd G&T are helping keep the discomfort at bay until I can get to the dentist on Monday.
From time to time I question the level of my love for my partner, I think this is more about self doubt than anything else. I had this conversation many years ago with a close family friend, almost my second mother. I told her I couldn't understand why someone would love me like a lover should.
She responded that I deserve that love and that anyone would be lucky to have me. That was nice for my ego, but it reinforced for me that I deserve all the love possible that comes from a relationship.
That my life has played out in such a way that I'm lucky enough to find a man to love and to be loved in return, means the world to me.
I'm at a point in my life where I feel I deserve that love and enjoy the ability to give that love.
So, with my partner away I remain here at home confident in the love I have for him and he for me.
I'm missing him already, in addition I have a toothache which I'm sure is going to result in an extraction.
The pain killers and the odd G&T are helping keep the discomfort at bay until I can get to the dentist on Monday.
From time to time I question the level of my love for my partner, I think this is more about self doubt than anything else. I had this conversation many years ago with a close family friend, almost my second mother. I told her I couldn't understand why someone would love me like a lover should.
She responded that I deserve that love and that anyone would be lucky to have me. That was nice for my ego, but it reinforced for me that I deserve all the love possible that comes from a relationship.
That my life has played out in such a way that I'm lucky enough to find a man to love and to be loved in return, means the world to me.
I'm at a point in my life where I feel I deserve that love and enjoy the ability to give that love.
So, with my partner away I remain here at home confident in the love I have for him and he for me.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Happy Mardi Gras from Sydney
Apologies for my absence, it's been almost 12 months. This coming Saturday Sydney will host the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. This Mardi Gras will be extra special, my mum is coming in from out of town and my sister will be flying in from South Australia. It will be a fun evening, we're living it up at the GlamStand with great views of the parade.
The past twelve months have been pretty awesome. Living with my partner has provided challenges and delights, more delights than challenges. Work is going well, we're busy which is a relief given the current state of the global economy.
I'll do my best to get back on track with a few more regular posts. Thank you for your support and comments. I also need to tabulate the survey results, thank you to the 53 people who responded, I will get these results out in the next month or so. I've just finished a major survey for work, so I should do it while my brain is in that zone.
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| A photo of some Christians who can carry that title with pride. SOURCE: Craig Jewell Photography |
I'll do my best to get back on track with a few more regular posts. Thank you for your support and comments. I also need to tabulate the survey results, thank you to the 53 people who responded, I will get these results out in the next month or so. I've just finished a major survey for work, so I should do it while my brain is in that zone.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
I've Moved in with my Man
Hi everyone
My partner and I have finally made the move and found an apartment for us to call home. We're now 25 mins from work, close to the Sydney downtown area and close to Sydney Airport. The move was pretty seamless, we got movers to help us with the heavy stuff. My partner was overwhelmed with the amount of 'stuff' I have. I've managed to throw quote a bit away, which is always a good thing.
Living with a room-mate/flat-mate is not new, but sharing the bed and moving into a home with my lover is a whole new experience. I'm loving it! There's been some compromise, but it's all good. I'm finding that making sacrifices for someone that you love is a really nice process.
As we made the few ritualistic trips to IKEA to find those very specific storage solutions, coming home we had to put them together. As we were on the floor assembling IKEA shelves, I looked to my partner and I said, "two is really so much nicer than one". On the surface, assembling IKEA with two is really so much easier than one. But, for many other reasons, two is really so much nicer than one.
My partner and I have finally made the move and found an apartment for us to call home. We're now 25 mins from work, close to the Sydney downtown area and close to Sydney Airport. The move was pretty seamless, we got movers to help us with the heavy stuff. My partner was overwhelmed with the amount of 'stuff' I have. I've managed to throw quote a bit away, which is always a good thing.
Living with a room-mate/flat-mate is not new, but sharing the bed and moving into a home with my lover is a whole new experience. I'm loving it! There's been some compromise, but it's all good. I'm finding that making sacrifices for someone that you love is a really nice process.
As we made the few ritualistic trips to IKEA to find those very specific storage solutions, coming home we had to put them together. As we were on the floor assembling IKEA shelves, I looked to my partner and I said, "two is really so much nicer than one". On the surface, assembling IKEA with two is really so much easier than one. But, for many other reasons, two is really so much nicer than one.
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