Religion Dispatches’ Joanna Brooks reports on events before and since our own “Mel” re-published her earth-shaking Playing Valentine video:
Pro-Gay Marriage Mormon Keeps Faith Despite Church Pressure
It’s a great summary of all the pieces that harmonized into just the right note; one that so many of us have thrumming through our minds. Joanna includes some insightful observations and then closes with a series of thought-provoking questions that culminates with this:
Is there a place for individual conscience in contemporary Mormonism? How will a global church that stresses uniformity respond to growing political diversity within its membership? [Melanie’s] video-which has now been viewed more than 250,000 times-has certainly restarted that discussion.
At Doves & Serpents we stand beside Mel with open minds and hopeful hearts. May the answer to this question be a resounding YES! And may the church move forward with its people.
I’m really glad that Joanna got in touch with Mel, and went with such a personal approach to what is a very personal story.
I also agree with what you say, Matt: we stand by Mel and hope for change.
The critical comments on JB’s piece make it clear why it is such a courageous thing for an active LDS member such as Mel to speak out on this issue–there were several personal attacks from (possibly) well-meaning members.
If the Church wants more members to be elected to politically powerful positions [such as Mitt Romney] people such as Mel are necessary to show that diversity of thought is allowed in the Church, i.e. that electing a Mormon will not mean electing the Mormon Church. I’m not sure that Salt Lake leadership understands how they create their own bad PR by pressuring members to fall in line.
Great point about diversity and public acceptance. It’s unthinkable that members could be routinely threatened for independent expression from church HQ, and the public not suspect that Mitt is under similar pressures.