Recently, the LDS church reversed its policy against baptizing children of LGBT+ parents. As someone who was raised in the church but is inactive partly due to their stance against homosexuality, this seems to be a step in the right direction. It got me thinking, will the church ever accept same-sex relationships? If it did, that would be fantastic, but then I realized that a lot of other things in the church will have to change.
In order for the church to accept same-sex relationships, it would have to completely change its views on gender roles. It makes sense that a family would need someone to provide for the family and someone to nurture the children, and if people are limited to only one of those roles because of their sex, then it wouldn't make much sense to accept gay and lesbian couples. It's like that joke on the internet: who makes the sandwiches in a relationship between two men, and what is a lesbian couple going to do with all those sandwiches? But if the church were to realize that people are not defined by their sex, then they might be able to accept same-sex relationships.
Another thing I asked myself was, would I come back to the church if it changed its stance on homosexuality? Maybe, but that alone would not be enough. The church would have to abandon its authoritarian tendencies as well. Currently, I live a life that is culturally out of line with the church, and I plan to do even more once I leave my parents' home. I don't really observe the Sabbath. I listen to music with swear words and other "inappropriate" content. I dress like a goth. I practice witchcraft. I have a whole list of R-rated movies I plan on watching. I plan to get more piercings. I plan to wear clothes that show my shoulders. And so on. Besides, I have found so much more fulfillment from my current spirituality, and limiting myself to one religion would take that away.
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