Gay Mormons

Continued from Al

factors involved with homosexuality, and it no longer recommends traditional marriage as a solution. Current church doctrine conceming homosexuals can be summarized as, "Love the sinner, hate the sin." � "There has been progress," Essig said. .... "Just the mere mention of the word homo- :3 sexuality 20 or 30 years ago would get you 3 in serious trouble." Despite the changes, though, the church has continued to make financial contribu- § :: tions to political campaigns that would out- � law same-sex marriage in various states. 0 And it still' disciplines actively gay mem- :-" hers. 'Their policies are still very. clearcut," Essig said. "If we act on being gay like they act on being straight, we'll be excom­ municated." As a result of church policy, Essig's life, and the lives of thousands of other Mor­ mons, have been defined by conflict - the conflict between their homosexual feelings, or the homosexual feelings ofa family member, and their religion. �ssig heads a group called Reconcilia­ tion, which provides Family Home Evenings for gay Mormons. Two other Cache natives, Dr. Gary Watts and his wife, Millie, co-chair Family Fellowship, a sup­ port and education group for the families of gay LDS members. The Wattses have two ga ' children. Another group, Affirmation, has 33 chapters throughout the world as well as an extensive Web site, www.affir­ mation.org. Still another group, Gamofites, is geared toward gay Mormon fathers. Some people who've been involved with the groups, like Steve Dunn, the widower of former Logan High Principal Allison DUDll, have been excommunicated by the h for acting on their homosexual feel­ refusing to submit to reparative � emp:i. Ot ers. like the Watts' lesbian ghrer. have chosen to have their names :-emo :ed from church membership rolls in order to avoid the disciplinary process. Others. like the Wattses themselves, remain members but have become far less active due to their beliefs. Still others, like Essig, remain active, faithful members of the church, fighting for change from withiQ.. r 'But all a'r� alike in ilfai ihei stories'put human [a,ces, on a;yery,c!oµtrov�rs.ial issue. The issue is so emotionally arid politically charged; according to LDS spokesman Coke Newell, that the church will not even comment on it beyond providing a written opinion that was approved in 1999. The opinion, which consists of statements made by church President Gordon B. Hinckley, appears alongside this article. "Our hearts reach out to those who struggle with feelings of affinity for the same gender," the opinion begins. "We remember you before the Lord, we sympathize with you, we regard you as our brothers and sisters. However, we cannot condone immoral practices on your part any more than we cari condone immoral practices on the part of others."

:1church was absolutely silent and distant to I.me," he said. "They closed'that door. It was as ifl had died. ... The church completely , abandoned us." In addition to church discipline, the ;'. Dunns faced ostracism from both family and friends. Dunn said that with the excep­ tion of a few couples who remained close, no on even stopped by to see how he was 'doing. Fortunately, the Dunns' children were supportive, and they were able to find com­ fort in groups like Family Fellowship. In fact, despite their difficulties, the Dunns managed to prosper both personally and professionally. "Allison and I went through just an . extraordinary amount of pain dealing with this issue, but it made us better people," /Dunn said recently, choking back tears dui- / ing a telephone interview. , Dunn eventually left USU and became ,an education consultant. Meanwhile, Alli. Ison became principal of Logan High. I - But the Dunns soon faced another crisis l1when Allison was diagnosed with cancer in 1996. Steve served as Allison's caretaker until her death in 2001, and thereafter he remained in Logan for 18 months before �ccepting a faculty position at Newman University in Wichita, Kan. Since then, he has dated men, but hasn't had any serious relationships. "I'm just not ready to have that kind of relationship with someone," he said. "I'm still not reaqy emotionallv to move on."

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Courtesy Jim and Karen_ Blair Steve and Allison Dunn are shown in the mid-1990s. Allison Dunn later became principal of Logan High School. Although Steve Dunn was openly gay, the couple stayed married until '.o.llic:nn',:, rlA::ith from r.ancer in 2001.