Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
For what it’s worth, I wore a rainbow ribbon to church yesterday in support of same-sex marriage.
I realize that I don’t live in California where the letter from the First Presidency was to be read, but I wanted to do something. I’m probably motivated a bit by the my regret for having supported the amendment to my state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage. For whatever reason, I couldn’t sit quietly as the LDS church works to force its view of marriage on all citizens of this nation.
I didn’t expect any overtly negative responses. Except on the internet, Mormons are generally too polite for that. If anybody asked, I had a few practiced answers:
- I’m wearing the ribbon in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots which jump started the movement to recognize the rights of people of all sexual orientations.
- I’m want to promote recognition of the human right to same-sex marriages and equal protection under the laws of the United States.
- I’m celebrating the diversity that makes us as human beings so beautiful.
A few people cast furtive glances in the direction of my ribbon. I assume most people had no clue why I was wearing it. I might consider wearing it again if in the future the LDS church goes beyond just sending a letter to California congregations.
One moment toward the end of church beautifully captured what the rainbow ribbon represented to me. I was sitting in the foyer reading The Dharma Bums. An elderly man shuffled into the foyer to attend the Spanish-speaking ward that meets after my family’s ward. After a minute or two, he approached me and asked—through gestures and broken English—if I would help him put on his tie. I took the tie from his tremoring hand, tied it loosely on myself while he fumbled to button his collar, took the tie off my own head, slipped it down over his head and around his neck, turned his collar down, and straightened the tie. He thanked me and sat down.
It was a simple gesture but to me it illustrated people coming together despite differences to help meet our needs and make the world a more humane place.
Tags: diversity, homosexuality, LDS, LGBT, marriage, Mormonism, religion, rights
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Anonymous said,
June 30, 2008 @ 11:48 am
what makes you think gramps even noticed your homo ribbon pin? Even if he noticed, do you really think he knows what it means? Don’t flatter yourself.
June 30, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Such kind words!
I have no illusions that he noticed my ribbon or knew what it meant. It was just a nice moment between two people. That’s all it was. Truthfully, I wish silly ribbons weren’t necessary. I wish we could all just be kind to each other and grow beyond the petty things that divide us.
Your response makes me think we have a long way to go. There is so much hatred and fear in the world.
June 30, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Just curious, Anonymous, are you the fulfillment of my statement “Except on the internet, Mormons are generally too polite for [overtly negative responses]“?
TAG said,
July 1, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
I thought you would find this
story funny, Jonathan. Oh, the power
of a word!
July 1, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
God bless you, Jonathan.
July 1, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
TAG, that is funny and fitting in a way. Their gaffe is like an object lesson about when we go through blindly making the world fit our own worldview.
MoHoHawaii, thank you, though I hope I can be of better use than just symbolic gestures.
Fallon said,
July 3, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
I have to say Jon, this is probably the only thing we agree on….lol… I feel the same way you do, I believe that if two people love each other ( whether they be same sex or not) and they want to express that love by getting married, than why shouldn’t they be allowed to?!? Who are we to say that they don’t have the right to want to spend the rest of their lives together?!?
July 4, 2008 @ 7:24 am
Fallon, I’m happy that we can find at least one thing to agree on.
It doesn’t make sense to me either. I wouldn’t stand by and let the government dictate to me whom I could marry and spend my life with. I can’t expect anything less from my homosexual friends and neighbors.
July 9, 2008 @ 9:35 am
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