Suicide isn't valid option

I was amazed at the polarized responses to the article "Alone in the fold" (Page E1, Dec. 3). While the letters focus on the Matises' response to Stuart's suicide, they fail to look at the option that Ty Mansfield took — "being true to my eternal self" and choosing not to act on the attractions.

There are numerous men and women in the LDS Church striving to be faithful to the teachings of the church in spite of experiencing same-sex attraction. Nobody is trying to excuse suicide as a valid option, but the attitudes of some letter writers do little to help these men and women.

Mitch Freeman

Salt Lake City