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Focus of American Fork forum worries gay-rights activist

As I know, many gays or bisexuals don't want others to know their sexual orientation. I have some bisexual friends, they would rather choose some online service like the one BiLoves than come out in real life.

Wake Up all you "do gooders"!

You already have plenty of problems; divorce, materialism, unsafe driving, drug abuse. People don't choose to be gay anymore than you chose to be heterosexual. Stuart Matis was in my Stake. This is not a simple issue, and treating same gender attraction as a disease that you can stamp out is not going to do anyone any good. My Patriarch's son was gay and sadly died of aids. One of the coolest guys I've ever known. Pull out the beam in your own eye first.

It's sad that these gay and lesbian special interests have so thoroughly overrun the fabric of our communities. They are calling bad good and good bad. Justifying same sex attraction doesn't help the people that struggle with the issue.

Life in my opinion is about families, how is it possible for a same sex couple to have children? How is it possible for them to have a family?

I applaud the PTA of AF and Focus on the Families for sticking up for what is right. For trying to correct issues they see as a pox upon society rather than crumble to the powerful, loud and obnoxious voice of a limited few.

How does someone "overcome" same sense attraction? They might choose to be celibate, still feeling same gender attraction, but choosing not to act on that attraction. Do we want discussions about that issue taking place in schools? Should they be held in churches instead?

Mrs. Jensen claims that the gay lifestyle is not conducive to families. I have a different perspective and it is born out of experience.

My gay daughter and her partner just gave birth to a beautiful son. They are an adorable, happy family.

I grew up in a loving heterosexual family. Within that family the next generation has produced at least one gay and two lesbians, and as the family grows there will certainly be more. All the family members and extended family members are loving and kind to each other and our gay-inclusive family is every bit as happy and well adjusted as our previous generation heterosexual family.

The main obstacle to a happy gay-inclusive family is homophobia and intolerance by the heterosexual family members. That is a heterosexual problem, not a homosexual problem.

If the PTA is interested in happy families it should be focusing on the problem of homophobia.

I hope the focus of discussion at the forum tonight is on The Golden Rule which is really the answer to most of our problems.

Joe Watts

Homophobia is alive and well, and not surprisingly, in American Fork.
Life is not about families. Families consist of individuals. Tow the church line if you want, but no one is validated, or not, by procreation.

What is sad is the "Law of Moses-like" mentality. God is not one of hate. You can't cure being gay. As an active LDS male, I have sure tried.
Teach the youth to hate themselves for who they are! that is really Christ centered love. Teach people to Hate the sinner - ya that one is very Christian as well.

Sometimes the most well intentioned things from groups like PTSA can have damaging outcomes to the mental welfare of the youth who face these challenges.

Hate doesn't solve anything, and neither does intolerance. The Christian right tried the same tactics during the civil right movement. "Them coloreds are gonna destroy our civilization" Looking back were embarrassed by our ignorance.

God loves all his children equally. Anyone who thinks differently is not Christian- this includes LDS members as well. As faithful members of the church,we need to follow in his footsteps and show unconditional love for all men.

I am saddened that we have straight-hate 2008 versions of the KKK being held at Utah Schools.

Unfortunately the attitudes towards homosexuals will take as long or longer to come around as the sad attitudes towards black people that existed when I lived in this community 40 years ago.

"After the Ball: How America will conquer its hatred and fear of gays in the 90s" was a book written by two homosexual, Harvard trained PhDs in 1989. That book outlined the homosexual game plan for normalizing homosexuality throughout the U.S. Not only was their plan intentionally, and admittedly deceitful, as to the reality of homosexual behaviors and inducements, but the plan also called for a concerted propaganda campaign to shame religious Americans into believing that homosexuality was not a social ill.

That campaign has been so successful, that today we are witnessing the public shaming of a forum to discuss the problem of same-sex attraction in our society, and our pretended "conservative" Utah newspaper has seemingly joined in the fray to condemn them.

I am pleased to see that there are still vestiges of our society that have not bought into the very real propaganda effort to make homosexuality "normal" and "accepted." Such a disease-ridden, psychologically damaging, society destroying life-style needs to continue to be viewed by any reasonable, responsible society as a social ill that is in need of a loving, caring remedy. Our society cannot afford to drink the homosexual propaganda kool-aid in this matter.

I am a former resident of Utah Valley that has struggled with "same sex attraction." Admittedly, I wish there were more open forums at the time that allowed youth to discuss their feelings and have the ability to find help. A forum such as this will do nothing but make gay youth struggling to find themselves even more depressed. There is nothing good about hearing that there is something WRONG with you. I can say that I have found what I'm looking for in life and I've never been happier.

This forum looks like just another election year "get out the vote" wedge issue for the social conservatives in Utah County. Rather than wasting time on imagined threats like the "Pink Peril" use the opportunity to discuss real problems facing students like binge drinking, distracted driving, drug use, depression and suicide, cyber-predators, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy prevention, bullying, and eating disorders. That should fill up the time pretty quickly.

Great. Now it sounds like our kids need protection from the PTA. Good grief.

One of the lies that the book "After the Ball:How America will conquer its fear and hatred of gays in the 90s" said needed to be perpetuated--even though the authors, right in the book, state that they know it is not true--is the concept of homosexuality being inborn, and irreversible.

Those who pass on that lie have totally bought into the homosexual propaganda campaign, and are helping to dupe others into it as well. Even very recently the American Psychological Association has been forced to admit that there is no proof, whatsoever, that homosexuality is an inherent trait. NARTH's website has that information if anyone cares enough to become educated to the facts of this issue--though the facts defy the false propaganda reasoning for homosexual normalization.

If anything, we need to have forums that continue to expose the lies behind the homosexual propaganda, and share the truth with those who are dealing with same-sex attraction--that it really is something that is a serious problem, and that it ought to be disconcerting for those so inclined, and that it requires serious professional help to resolve or deal with.

We cannot afford to become numb to the seriousness of this issue.

The only forum anyone needs is one where both sides can sit down together, face-to-face, get to know one another, and talk about things with more civility. People so erroneously think homosexuality is some liberal conspiracy. It isn't. It just is. It's sad to see people react with hostility toward gay people and accuse them of trying to destroy the family and society. It's wrong, it's cruel, and it's unnecessary.

You know what else is a problem in our community? People that don't have blonde hair and blue eyes. Sure, some kids think that they have brown or red hair and green eyes, but its just not right. Their differences are a danger to our society. Sure, they say God made them that way, but we can cover it up, right? So take out your hair dye and color-changing contacts and lets make this world perfect!!

Three cheers for the PTA for standing up for what they believe is morally right. Too often politically correct works to shame moral beliefs. Parents have an obligation to pass their morals onto their children, and the PTA is, afterall, a parent-teacher organization run mostly by parents. If, as a parent, your morals are to promote gay rights, then attend your PTA meetings and push for a forum to promote your views.

Nothing new here. Either in the story or the comments.

Kudos for the courage of the AFPTA. Shame on those of you calling evil good. If you have an affliction such as same sex attraction, you don't have to succumb to it. That's like telling someone with a pre-disposition of alcoholism go ahead and get stone-faced drunk every day. That's how you were born, there's nothing you can do about it.

Either8 - I loved your comments. Not that I'm the most religious guy but I do remember leaders in the LDS Church talking about this subject and saying to hate the sin and love the sinner. Please don't destroy the sanctity of the family!! I realize to many, that is an out-dated, ultra conservative platform that must come from someone living in Utah or even worse Utah County - which I do. I grew up in Chicago and there are times this county can be a little too Mormon even for me - but truth doesn't change like the fashions of each decade. Again - love the gay people, many of which struggle with their own desires and help them beat that internal battle. I do believe marriage between and man and a woman is ordained of God. It's very, very clear.

Welcome to the signs of the times.

People choose to live their lives that way, just like people choose to drink, smoke, abuse their spouse, over eat, spank kids, road rage, etc. It's controlling the thought before the action, and everyone doesn't control their thoughts.

I'm so glad I have 0 temptation for this. I like loving and living with my wife and knowing I will have a family and won't be the talk and judgment of society for the rest of my life.