Anti-Prop 8 Supporters

Author's Note, I would like to take this post public, but I need to think it through thoroughly first.

Today while taking Sage to a birthday party I came across a group of people holding up large banners urging passers by to vote against proposition 8. I honked my horn in support before realizing that I would have some fast dancing to explain to Sage why I was honking without bringing up the issue further than Staci would approve of. After dropping her off I came around and talked with one of them for just a few minutes.

They were from the local Unitarian Universalist Church (one I have felt drawn to and considered going to during Priesthood and Sunday School time until Staci asked me to help in primary). But really made them stand out those was simply that they were beautiful loving families making what I think is the most powerful statement on the issue that can be made. Namely, "Please don't destroy our marriages." For all the rhetoric about what this may or may not mean, and what it may or may not cause in the future, for the present a vote yes is a vote against their marriage and a vote no is a vote to let them have that marriage. I realize many would argue that isn't the point of the church's stand, but it is what it does.

What I would really like to say to the Bishop and the Stake President is that before they start taking action against me, go down and tell these people to their faces that their marriages aren't as good as yours. Tell them they don't deserve the same title and that giving it to them is a threat to your children. I say that because you aren't asking any real sacrifice of me, but you are asking me to say that to them in a quiet private box where no one can see me. And that's what I won't do. So before you ask me to do it in a sneaky way. Do it yourself, to their face, and let me watch.

To Brother Loveridge from Sister Loveridge

After the Bishop came to take my temple recommend and release me from my calling, I told Staci that I wouldn't be attending sunday school and priesthood until after the election. I also told her that if she wanted me to stay she should get me a job in primary or nursery. (She is after all 1st counselor in primary.) Today I got the following email from her.



Dear Brother Loveridge,

Please help us prepare for our Sacrament meeting program on the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of October. During the last 2 blocks of church (10:15 - noon) in the chapel. We especially need help with Sister Miller's class (ages 4-6). One of the weeks Sister Miller will not be there. We especially need help with crowd control and with snack time in the middle of the practice outside on the back lawn area.

Thanks,
Sister Loveridge


I had to laugh at how formal it was, but I also have to admit there are good reasons that I love this woman.

No I Don't Want to come Talk to You

Do church leaders not know how intimidating they are? Do they not realize the authority and threat they carry. I just feel like sometimes they act like I should want to come and visit with them in their offices. The truth of the matter is that it ranks in my mind just a few steps above gang firing squad. Right now it is all I can do to stay active and stay quiet so when the bishop asks me to come and talk with him in his office it feels really over the line. I feel pressured and hurt.

Just leave me alone!!!

Defend Marriage or your women will all become lesbians!?!

This is actually a reasonably well written discussion and acknowledges the pain that is caused by requiring that all marriage be hetero-sexual. I think it is wrong, but that is mostly with the assumptions not the logic.

http://dennisprager.townhall.com/columnists/DennisPrager/2008/05/20/california_decision_will_radically_change_society?page=1

But my favorite part is the second to last paragraph on the first page which, as near as I can figure, is suggesting that if we allow gay marriage a lot more women will choose lesbianism. I find this amusing for several reasons

• It's probably untrue. While there may be a continuum of sexual orientation, I doubt there would be that much of an increase in lesbianism.
• Considering how much Lesbian porn is marketed to the straight male (I know I shouldn't know that) that could be the biggest selling point for gay marriage: LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE AND INCREASE THE CHANCE THAT YOUR WOMAN WILL SWING BOTH WAYS, MAYBE EVEN TRY A THREESOME.

The paragraph is generally flawed with the notion that marriage is effectively channeling sexual activity at all. Infidelity has been a constant since long before marriage and has been throughout all of marriages history. Marriage's ability to channel sexuality has been further undermined by birth control, a fluid economic system, and women's liberation. (All of which are good things by the way.)

Is Anyone else scared?

I feel sick and terrified. I probably shouldn't have written the Sacrificing Isaac, Invading Canaan post. It would be easier just to have said that I disagreed on the political issue and had done, but I do believe that justice demands that all of God's children should have the right to chanel their sexuality rather than suppress it, and if I imagine otherwise, that strikes me as a changing and unjust God so I can't accept that anymore than a God who doesn't perform miracles. But whatever my reasoning, what it comes down to is that I won't vote for this.

So has anyone else had people very close to them or church leaders "remind" them of their sustaining vote of the prophet and strongly imply that they wonder whether you sustain the prophet. I know my dad once had an interview with a fairly high authority who said that it shouldn't be taken to suggest that their membership was any less faithful. So why am I scared? So why do I hurt? Why do I worry that people will push so hard to get me on board with this one issue that I can't be comfortable being on board the Church boat. We don't push out people who don't have their 72 hour kits and 6 month storage. We don't push people out for not doing their geneology. Why on this. OK because I'm stubborn ass who has to say why he opposes it. I guess if I said I opposed geneology or thought 6 month storage was a bad idea (actually, 6 month storage of fuel might be a bad idea in an urban area where it is a severe fire risk) that might raise similar ire.

I just want to be true to myself and be open and honest with my church and loved ones. Then I want them to love me for who I am and the service I perform even while they disagree with me.

The Interview

Well, I had the interview today. On the good side I feel like it went very well. I had strong answers to all of the questions including the written one on diversity. My presentation went well and I have a strong connection with three of the five people on the committee. On the bad side, I saw both the candidate before me and the candidate two people after me. Both are good friends who also work part time at LACC and would be excellent choices. Still, I'm glad there are a lot of internal interviewees. They are all good people and will work hard to improve education at LACC.

Good News / Bad News

The good news is that I got the call from Los Angeles City College and they do want to interview me for the tenure track professor position (Yeah!!!!). The bad news is that the interview is next Wednesday when we were supposed to be in Las Vegas. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to deal with this.

1. Stay home
2. Fly back from Vegas to home (I can get a flight as low as $70 if I take a layover and go to Burbank, closer to $120 for a direct to Long Beach.)
3. Take a bus back ($48-$55 depending on whether it is refundable.)

It may actually be a good thing since it will get me back home before the rest of the family and I can then go to adjunct meetings at Cypress and Cerritos. Or I could get a round trip ticket and join the family in Vegas Wednesday evening.

Update

I decided to fly back because I wanted to be helpful to Staci during as much of the vacation as I could and I didn't want to be exhausted from a bus ride by the time I got home. I thought the price was pretty reasonable and standard for the distance and there were only 3 seats left at that price; one at the wrong time. Explaining to my wife why I spent $120 on a plane ticket is a harder proposition. (I'm hoping to get a subbing position that Friday that will pay for the ticket.)