I have to admit, I was a little nervous when I saw I had a comment from you. But I made the decision to write pretty honestly here, and that means letting those who will read it see a little more clearly who I am and how I’ve gotten here. But I appreciate knowing I have your love. Thank you for letting me know that. I love you too and all your kids. You have raised an awesome family! Thanks for your love and example!

Love you,
sheri

I’m glad you stopped by – and of course I don’t mind you reading and commenting. If I did, I shouldn’t be blogging in the first place, right?

I really appreciate what you said – and I think that is the way that change will come. It will probably be slower and more painful than some of us would wish but I think being ourselves around the people we love can only have good effects. The fact that your relationship with Brandon has given you a perspective on this issue that maybe a lot of your brothers and sisters in the church don’t have is invaluable and I’m proud of both you and Brandon for the example you are setting for all of the rest of us.

I think you re right – it’s on the horizon. This is a setback, but eventually people’s hearts will soften.

Thanks for sharing your experience! And thanks for keeping Brandon in line!

Sheri

I’m a friend of Brandon’s and we’ve met in the past…I happened upon your blog through Brandon’s blog that I peer pressured him into. I hope you don’t mind that I read this entry and am now commenting. Brandon had the video of Keith Olbermann and I thought it was beautifully said. Brandon said you had shared it with him…which brought me here.
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story. So often I think that if people knew and understood the pain their actions had on others, they would act differently. I know that having been raised LDS I thought that this issue was black and white. Until I had this amazing person come into my life who shed light on this issue. Knowing Brandon, loving Brandon and understanding more about his feelings have enabled me to see beyond the black and white. Although I am still an active member of the LDS church, I will never turn my back on Brandon or any other person simply because they are gay. And I would hope that he would never turn his back on me for being straight.
Nor would I choose to vote against you have the right to marry the person you love most.
To me…saying you’re gay is merely stating a part of you. It’s like saying what color eyes you have. It is simply you, it is who you are and it doesn’t change what rights you should have. Nor does it make you better or worse than someone else. We are all people, equal regardless of who we fall in love with.
We may not always agree on how everyone should live their life. But I do think that everyone has the right to fully live their life. And fully living your life means having full rights, the same as anyone else.
Brandon is an amazing man, he will make a wonderful dad someday. And I don’t think anyone should be denied the right to marriage and children based on who they love. Unless it’s Gilbert Gottfried. I think we can all agree that he shouldn’t procreate. The same rights I have should be extended to Brandon, and to you and to everyone else out there.
I am thankful that you are able to express yourself and share your story. I am hoping that more people will try to understand one another and realize that we are all different, yet we are all the same. We all seek love, and we should all be allowed the right to cherish love and create a family.

So, I’m LDS, my best friend is gay and I think he should be allowed to marry and have children…where does that leave me? Hopefully it leaves me as a voice of reason and love and compassion for those around me who are a part of the church. And hopefully it leaves me as someone who can be a branch of hope for you and for Brandon and for others out there who are struggling with the church’s stance on this. I do believe you have to live the life you are meant to live. And I commend you for living as honestly and as openly as you can. I am hoping that someday my children will play with Brandon’s children and this will not be an issue in their lives. That there will be no difference.

I hope this all came out the way I intended it to. I just wanted to thank you for being you and sharing that with others. I really do believe that gay marriage and equal rights are on the horizon. And hopefully sharing and understanding can get us there faster. Thanks Sheri.