Episode 32: "Not Suffering" — Opening Sexual Identity

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Randi Johns

In the recent past, there was only one sexual identity: Heterosexual. It was the norm in such a way that there wasn't really any space in the collective understanding for alternate sexual identities. Today, sexual identity has become a place of discovery, controversy, and question, bringing in terms like gay, lesbian, homosexual, bi-sexual, and transsexual. Julia identifies herself as queer, which is not so much a sexual identity as an approach to sexuality that leaves the "box" wide open. She talks about the freedom that comes from being in a safe place to exist as she is.

Julia will be watching the comments to respond to the ideas brought up in her interview.

As you leave comments, remember that Daughters of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details. 

Resources and References

• Queer and Questioning Blog
• PDF download of Trans/gender 101: Terms and Explanations
  
• Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
• PDF download for Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network "Guide to Being an Ally"
  
• TransChristians
• Affirmation
  
• Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
• Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein
• Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by Kate Bornstein
• "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" by Boyd K. Packer RECORDED VIDEO
• "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" by Boyd K. Packer EDITED TRANSCRIPT
• ABC News article on the edit  
• Quote from The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball about masturbation leading to homosexuality: "Thus prophets anciently and today condemn masturbation [...] it too often leads to grievous sin, even to that sin against nature, homosexuality. For, done in private, it evolves often into mutual masturbation--practiced with another person of the same sex and thence into total homosexuality."

Episode 7: "No Room For Fear" — Amelia's Story

Right click here to download the mp3.



Part of the aim of this podcast is to give voice to our stories as Daughters of Mormonism. This episode is an interview with Amelia, who will be one of our panelists for future discussions. She shares her journey to this point and talks particularly about Proposition 8 and having a voice that is heard.

Amelia will be watching the comments to answer questions or discuss issues raised in her talk.

• On Being  hosted by Krista Tippett (the archives include all the shows from when it was know as "Speaking of Faith" also)
• "The Soul in Depression" from On Being
• "A Wild Love for the World" with Joanna Macy, from On Being
• "The Vitality of the Struggle" with Terry Tempest Williams, from On Being
• "Heretics" from This American Life
• Pema Chodron on Bill Moyers' On Faith & Reason
• Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams
• Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God  (trans. Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows)
• Dickinson's 508/353 "I'm ceded..."
• Dickinson's 632/598 "The Brain -- is wider than the Sky"
• Stephen Prothero "Against the 'Answer Bank' Theory of Religion"