Interracial Marriage

I am so grateful that we have a prophet on the earth to guide us in THESE DAYS and that what we hear from our leaders today supersedes the words of those that came before them. We, as a church, may sometimes not be ready to receive truths that Heavenly Father has for us. He has "yet to reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
We are often blinded by our mortal culture and narrow views. This is what I believe happened with how the LDS church treated and preached about Blacks and intermarriage. I know that while it came from an inspired and anointed man, the following was NEVER an inspired teaching, nor were those teachings like it.

“God has commanded Israel not to intermarry. To go against this commandment of God would be in sin. Those who willfully sin with their eyes open to this wrong will not be surprised to find that they will be SEPARATED FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD in the world to come. This is SPIRITUAL DEATH… To intermarry with a Negro is to forfeit a Nation of Priesthood holders… It reminds me of the scripture on marriage, ‘what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ Only here we have the reverse of the thing – what God hath separated, let not man bring together again.”

(Apostle Mark E. Peterson, Race Problems – As They Affect The Church, Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, August 27, 1954, emphasis added.)

This was in the 50's! Preaching the physical or spiritual death penalty as punishment for interracial marriage was heard from laymen, to apostles, even to many of our prophets.

“And if any man MINGLE HIS SEED WITH THE SEED OF CAIN the only way he could get rid of it or have Salvation would be to come forward and HAVE HIS HEAD CUT OFF and spill his blood upon the ground- it would ALSO TAKE THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN.” (Wilford Woodruff Journal, emphasis added)

Yes, EVEN CHILDREN were not safe from the punishments of this sin and were used in the argument against it.  These children would be born with a death sentence in the eyes of the Church.

“Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is DEATH ON THE SPOT. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE SO.”

(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 10, page 110, emphasis added)

They believed it to be unchangeable doctrine. Cemented into the laws of the universe as much as gravity or the law of tithes. If asked if this would ever change, I'm sure they would have answered, "No, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Some church members even felt that if it ever DID change, that this would no longer be the true church of Jesus Christ.

These ideas were taught as doctrine for MORE THAN A CENTURY. When all blacks were finally granted the priesthood in 1978 there were many letters sent to the Church from members who no longer wished to be a part of a church that they considered had gone against God's will. Indeed, the LDS Church still receives letters from members and former members who are angry because they feel Blacks should not be allowed to hold the priesthood.

I cannot help but recognize the similarities between interracial marriage then and same-sex marriage now. I know many would disagree that these two issues will eventually be resolved in the same way, but, nevertheless, the similarities are there in all the arguments. I do not know if same-sex marriage will travel the same path as interracial marriage in the Church, but this gives me hope that SOMEDAY, the leaders will realize the damage they have done to these very real and loving same-sex families and their children. Maybe SOMEDAY they will see that they can stand for their families without trying to destroy others.

"Let Your Voice Be Heard" Republican Caucus 2014

          

            The opportunity to be a part of the democratic process and increasing the chances of passing State Bill 100 next year are really important to me, so I'd been planning on going to the Republican Neighborhood Caucus since I heard about it. Caucus meetings only happen once every two years, and it's one of the places our vote can count the most.

            Our county representatives decided as a group not to hear SB100 this session. SB 100 would add gender identity and sexual orientation to the protected classes in employment and housing. That would keep people from being able to fire or evict someone just because they are LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender). In the last poll, more than 72% of Utahns supported this bill, but it's up to our state leaders (specifically, the Senate) to decide if they will hear the bill and then vote on it.

            State leaders decided to put a blanket moratorium on all LGBT-related bills (I think religious freedom bills, too) until the Same-Sex Marriage/Amendment 3 lawsuit is resolved. While I see the logic in that, I worry for all my LGBTQIA brothers and sisters who will be fired/evicted without this protection (Queer, Intersex, Asexual). I am blessed to work for a company that is very anti-discriminatory. I can be honest without fear.

            On the drive to our caucus meeting, I prayed that I could have a heart full of charity. I was able to put aside my defensive feelings and be in the moment-with the Spirit's help.

            I walked into the school where the Republican Caucus was being held and followed some people from my parents' LDS ward, or congregation, into a precinct meeting. More than half of those in the room I recognized from our LDS stake, or group of wards. I said hi to a few and sat down next to my former bishop, Bishop Schilaty.

            Brother Odendahl started the meeting with asking for a prayer and then asked for volunteers to read our county's republican platform. I volunteered along with Sister Crane and two other people, and we took turns reading the two pages. Brother Peck grabbed and shook my hand as I went back to sit down. His wife sat next to him. He is one of those men who give my brain evidence that men can be good.

            "That was one of the best readings I've heard," Bishop Schilaty told me when I sat down.

            Bro. Odendahl then guided us to nominate people to be the precinct chairman, who would attend 6 meetings during the next year or two and would run the next caucus meeting. Sister Mitchell was nominated with another Cheryl I didn't know. I then nominated myself since I would also be able to run for delegate if I wanted to. We all voted after introducing ourselves as candidates, and Sister Bates, Sister Radack, and Bro. Odendahl started counting. Sister Bates then told Bro. Odendahl something and he walked towards me.

            "Meagan," he said, "I have some bad news...You aren't in this precinct..." I was shocked, but after referencing the map, we figured out that I wasn't! I joked and thanked them all for their time, telling them to stay strong. We all laughed. Sister Radack said it was too bad since it looked like I had won! Someone showed me what precinct I was really in, and I was on my way. 

            (All names in my actual precinct's meeting have been changed)

            When I got to my actual precinct, I saw that my neighbor, Brother Smith, was leading the meeting and taking nominations for Chairman of the precinct. This precinct was about 1/5 people I recognized from our stake, though it's possible many more were active LDS members and I just didn't know them. I apologized for being late and sat down with a couple people from my Young Single Adult ward.

            Bro. Smith's name was on the board, and a Tom was nominated as well. I nominated myself and we were each given the opportunity to introduce ourselves and answer a question that was put forward: What do you want to focus on?/ What is important to you?

            I talked about my major, how I've lived in the same neighborhood since I was two, my school, and the importance of religious and personal freedoms, being an active part of the democratic process, and protecting the rights of minorities and those who are bullied. I also said how I would research what our precinct finds important and push for that. We then voted.

            To be elected, you have to receive a majority of the votes. We had 37 people voting in our precinct, so that meant 19 votes or more. If there was not a majority, the person who got the fewest votes would be crossed off and everyone would vote again. I got ~10 votes less than Tom and Bro. Smith, so I was crossed off and we voted again. Bro. Smith won.

            Brother Johnson was kind enough to nominate me to be vice-chairman, but I politely declined, as our precinct does not allow the vice-chairman, secretary, or treasurer to also be a delegate. Tom was elected vice-chairman, and we unanimously voted for a woman I didn't know to be both secretary and treasurer. We then turned to voting for our 2 State Delegates and 5 County Delegates. Since Bro. Smith was Chairman he got to choose to be one of our two State Delegates. I already had said I wanted to be a delegate, so my name went up first. We then had a Susan who had signed up to be a delegate online, but wasn't there. Lastly, a Jan, who looked familiar and must have been in our stake, but who I didn't know, was nominated.

            We each took a turn introducing ourselves, someone else introducing Susan-though he couldn't answer questions for her-since she had to work that night. I added how I was a chemist, so basically a masochist. People laughed. A woman named Lynda tossed out, "But are you a conservative?" but it was right as someone else started introducing herself and I didn't get to answer. I had also just finished so people were clapping when she asked. I would have said yes, because I do consider myself conservative in the majority of my political beliefs, though some people would not consider me a conservative. I think she asked this because I go to the U of U and am young. Or maybe she only asked me because she already knew the other two candidates. She was sitting by Jan, so that would make sense.

            After introductions, Bro. Smith was going to start the vote, but an older gentleman, Harold, raised his hand and asked if he could ask a question to the nominees. He agreed.

            "I received a call, as I think many did," he said, "from a group telling me about this caucus and telling me who to vote for-which didn't make sense because we don't know who's running-and to vote for someone who supports a law for the equal treatment of gays and transgenders in employment and housing, and other things, I suppose. What do the candidates think about this?"

            I felt calmness and a surety as I stood up as the first candidate, got in front and spoke, looking around into the eyes of all in the room.

            "Yes, I actually volunteered with those phone banks. This is something I care about a lot because it comes close to home. I am attracted to women...This law that they talked about would protect gays and transgenders in employment and housing, nothing else. It would keep them from being fired or evicted just for being who they are. This is something I've had to worry about in my jobs. Can I be honest when a coworker asks what I did over the weekend or if they ask if I'm dating anyone? Things like gender identity and sexual orientation have no effect on a person's ability to be a good employee or tenant! This has nothing to do with the marriage issue. It is just that people should not be discriminated against in employment or housing for simply being gay or transgender..." I would have said more, but the person in charge of time started clapping, which meant my time was up. I had used two minutes so Bro. Smith set that as the max for answering the question.

            Jan got up and spoke about her belief in the limiting of government, how that was her main push. "We don't need to protect against every little think, nor do we want the government to have laws protecting just certain groups. That's what I think, how I feel, but I am open to anyone commenting on that and getting more info."

            People clapped, and, since she said she was open, I raised my hand.

            "Can I speak to that?" No one argued and it seemed Bro. Smith was fine with it, so I went on.

            "There are already anti-discrimination laws that keep people from discriminating based on religion, sex, nationality, ethnicity...all this law would do is add gender identity and sexual orientation. In the church's eyes, I can be gay and be in good standing with the church, I can even attend the temple..."

            "She already got to speak!!" I heard Lynda yell, cutting me off. "She's getting too much time for her 'platform'!!" She angrily cried.

            I did not continue and Bro. Smith re-directed us to go ahead and vote as Jan sat down next to her friend. We all voted and while it was being counted, a woman in the back asked Bro. Smith what he though, where he stood on the issue. He paused, thinking, when a man spoke up for the first time, saying that he shouldn't have to answer since it wasn't a question when he was being elected. A couple other people spoke up to agree-that it wasn't something he needed to answer.

            "Not if he thinks the same as HER!" Lynda interjected passionately. There was then silence.

            Bro. Smith broke it. "I will not answer that question, but anyone may come speak to me afterwards to find out my personal opinion. I will say this," he added, "I have a gay brother and they deserve compassion. But I will stop there, because I will get passionate." He then turned away, effectively ending the conversation.

            The votes were soon tallied and he began to write the totals on the board.  I read the results out loud, that Jan had won the majority right off. I clapped along with everyone else.

            Sister Hanks put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Don't worry, that was for the national level anyway. The five county delegates have more say in State issued, so that's a better place for your platform anyway!" She smiled at me, comforting me. I needed it. I thanked her and said I hadn't known that.

            We then had the elections for county delegates. Ben Hanks immediately nominated me, and I thanked him. That meant a lot to me, feeling someone still wanted me to represent him!

            After a few minutes there had been a total of four nominations.

            "There's got to be more who are willing!" Lynda said, obviously worried I'd get in by default.

            Greg was nominated and accepted, it being only one meeting that he would have to attend. A few more minutes passed and Jan suggested Lynda run herself, which she accepted. Then one more person was nominated, bringing the number of nominees up to seven.

            We then had time again to speak and I took the advice that Sister Hanks gave me right before I spoke, to share the only thing she felt needed to be said.

            "I'll only take a moment since I have gotten to talk a lot tonight. Last year, Salt Lake City passed a city-wide anti-discrimination law very similar to this one and the LDS church formally supported it."

            The other nominees spoke to who they were and largely stayed fairly neutral or vague on the LGBT issue. Harold shared how he had a son in the navy who saw the direct effects of this, its pros and cons, and would try to learn more.

            Lynda got up and spoke about unnecessary laws and how she was against them, like laws against discrimination and bullying. "They put nice labels on these things such as 'equal rights,' but what they're asking for is not equal...These loud minorities come and ask for rights that take away from the rights of the silent majority. I'm going to stand up for what the majority wants." She said the majority is under attack and is discriminated against. "Kind and compassionate can become not so kind and compassionate in the end. Passing this law can lead to more laws being passed-being snuck in!"

            She mentioned multiple times that they majority's rights are under attack and that minorities discriminate against the majority. Or, more that giving minorities protection against discrimination ends up discriminating against the majority. Rhetoric I am hearing more and more. She was cut off by clapping as her time ran out.

            After the final introduction, we voted. As we did so, Sister Hanks again had me turn around and face her.

            "I'm sorry. People are idiots," she said.

            "They just don't understand..." I replied, but she cut me off.

            "Some, yes. Others are just idiots."

            They continued counting the votes and I worked to keep myself together despite how sad I felt after all Lynda said. I could hear her and Jan disagreeing with all I said and telling themselves that the LDS church-backed law was completely different, as Brother Ward sat next to me and spoke to me about his experience with his brother and what he believed and thought. Bro. Ward's brother left his wife and flamed the church and all it is while he did so. It was a very painful, traumatic experience for his family. His brother also tells his kids things that he doesn't agree with and so he understands the challenge of balancing love for a brother versus love for his children, struggling to know how to handle things. He told me how, nevertheless, my sexuality has NO effect on my ability to be a good chemist and shouldn't be a factor. He also said how the screaming voices at either polar end of the debate usually didn't really understand, hadn't given it enough thought. We talked about how this is an issue that causes one to dig deep in thought and prayer.

            Bro. Ward explained how he believes in marriage solely between one man and one woman and the sacredness of their ability to bring children to earth. He also believes his brother should be able to have something that would give him visitation rights, insurance benefits, etc., but that it shouldn't be called marriage. I was kind, open, understanding, and truly appreciated his comments. They were unexpected. I could understand why he didn't want to speak them and further feed the flames of passion/animosity that Lynda and Jan were feeling.

            The votes were tallied, so Bro. Smith began to write them on the board, next to our names.

                        24-Derrick

                        16-Meagan

            "16?!" Lynda exclaimed/gasped loudly. She could not believe that I had gotten so many votes and had no reservations in letting everyone know that.

            I was already feeling shaky and vulnerable from putting myself out there and being honest with everyone. Each time she made a comment with so much disgust towards me, my vision got more blurry with tears. At this point I had to work to not break into sobs.

                        29-Susan

                        30-Harold

                        27-Greg

                        19-Lynda

                        30-Mark

            Since 6 of the candidates got 19 or more (majority of 37) they had to revote, with the lowest candidate, me, knocked off. As we voted again, a 70-year-old man named William came up and asked if we could talk afterwards, as he had a question for me. I told him of course.

            With the re-vote, everyone stayed basically the same with the exception of Lynda, who dropped down to 15 votes. Both of us were knocked off. I must say I was grateful she would not be a delegate, though she may have been able to learn more from others in the group than she ever could from me.

            We shortly ended the meeting.

            An older gentleman who I did not recognize came up to me and said, "Thank you. Thank you for standing up there and speaking-for just being you." I let him know that meant a lot to me and he left.

            It was then that William came up to talk to me. While he was talking, Bro. Hanks (Ben's dad) came and stood in front of me and gave me a fist bump. It was perfect.

            William told me how he had a cousin who lived with his partner of more than 30 years, and a different cousin who was with a different woman every time he saw her. He didn't know what to call her, but his male cousin's was definitely a partner. He talked about his son who served in the army who had told him about the effects of Don't Ask, Don't Tell under Clinton. They'd have balls where the servicemen and women could bring their spouse or significant other, but those who were gay could not. His son felt that that was unfair. For William, he had been of the opinion that they could do what they wanted as long as they didn't talk about it openly, but he realized that that wasn't true. They were being excluded. It wasn't about just living your life and keeping it private-it meant that you missed out on things and were treated differently.

            He then shared how he knew one man for whom it was all about sex. Men, women, animals, it didn't matter. I exclaimed how foreign that is to me.

            He then shared a story with me.

            "When I was dating my would-be wife, we went over to my brother-in-law's to get her picture taken. It was for the paper (for the announcement, I'm guessing). Back then, it was a whole process. He first took the picture, then, in a dark room, he shined a special light through it to get the mirror image onto a film below. It was then moved into this tub of liquid and my job was to move it back and forth so that it would get all over, and slowly the picture would show up.

            As I sat there in that dimly, red lit room-to protect the pictures-slowly moving it back and forth, my wife's face gradually developed...and I was filled...with such a feeling..." He paused and I could tell he was again feeling that pure love he had for her, because I could feel it, too. I nodded my head and I knew he knew that I felt that in my heart in that moment.

            "And I guess that's my question," he said, "Do you feel that, too? Is it the same for you?"

            I smiled, tearing up.

            "It is," I said, "It is..." The spirit was so strong in that moment, both of us so deeply feeling the pure love embedded in the memory he shared, and those in our own hearts.

            "I just..." he said, "I just wanted to know if it was the same. If you've felt what I've felt...I've never asked anyone before..."

            "Thank you, William. Thank you for asking..." I said, still feeling overwhelmed with emotion. We smiled at each other and he turned away.

            I had been planning to go talk to Lynda and try and let her know I understood how hard of a topic it was and that I hoped I didn't make her feel under attack in any way, etc, but by the time I was free, she was gone. Maybe that was for the best. I would not have traded talking with William for anything.

            Brother Ward then approached me and said he wanted to ask me something, that he saw some of his brother's experience and how it was for him as a guy, but wanted to ask me, "How is it for you?"

            "What do you mean? In what aspect?"

            "Well..." he said, "men are really visual creatures, while women are more emotional. How does that play out for you?"

            I thought I knew what he meant so I answered. I talked about how I am a stereotypical woman in that way, for sure. "It is about the emotional connection. Sure, the physical aspect plays into it, but if the emotional isn't there, it doesn't last. I mean, I've had crushes on guys for a couple days, a week, a month, but it doesn't last. The longest was three months, I think. I don't connect well emotionally with men." At this point, William joined us and listened.

            "Even with heterosexual relationships, that emotional connection has to be there or it doesn't last. In our society everything is so sexualized and so when people think about homosexual relationships they tend to think it is a purely sexual thing when that is not what it is. It is as complex as a heterosexual relationship."

            Bro. Ward talked about Hollywood relationships that are based on the physical and how they don't last and that's why. I agreed and we talked about how debasing it is to have everything about sex.

            "You know, the love you have for your wife-when you take out and put aside the sexual attraction-that's what it's about. And that's how it is for me. That desire to take care of her, to show her how much she is loved, to make her happy, to show her how...divine...she is..." I was overwhelmed at this point, thinking about the girl in my life. "That's what it is about for me."

            He thanked me for answering him. William and I headed out and he again said, "Thank you for answering my question. I've never asked anyone before." I again thanked him for his bravery in asking me. I said it was great getting to meet him and we parted ways. I walked to my car, not feeling the cold, grateful for charity and the guidance of the Spirit.

Fear

"If you take any action – leaving or changing your situation – drop the negativity first, if at all possible. Action arising out of insight into what is required is more effective than action arising out of negativity.

Any action is often better than no action, especially if you have been stuck in an unhappy situation for a long time. If it is a mistake, at least you can learn something, in which case it's no longer a mistake. If you remain stuck, you learn nothing. Is fear preventing you from taking action? Acknowledge the fear, watch it, take your attention into it, be fully present with it. Doing so cuts the link between the fear and your thinking. Don't let the fear rise up into your mind. Use the power of the Now. Fear cannot prevail against it." -Eckhart Toelle's THE POWER OF NOW (1997)

I was just thinking about how I came to terms with my two conflicting desires of wanting to be in a relationship with a woman, and wanting to be in a relationship with a man. Both fulfill different deep desires that I have, but with both choices I have to give up things. What I came to realize was that I had very powerful fears in relation to both choices, that greatly affected the choices I made-meaning sometimes I chose to do nothing in order to not be scared.
2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that Heavenly Father does not give us the spirit of fear. It must then be from Satan, and when I make decisions based on fear I am letting him influence me. Taking fear out of the equation, and just letting prayer and the spirit influence the decisions I make have allowed me to follow the path that has helped me grow the most and realize what is going to bring me the greatest measure of joy-looking both at this life and the next.

Reclaiming Innocence

"This [LDS] Church has felt the bitter sting of persecution and marginalization early in our history ... Our parents, young adults, teens and children should therefore, of all people, be especially sensitive to the vulnerable in society and be willing to speak out against bullying or intimidation whenever it occurs, including unkindness toward those who are attracted to others of the same sex. This is particularly so in our own Latter-day Saint congregations. Each Latter-day Saint family and individual should carefully consider whether their attitudes and actions toward others properly reflect Jesus Christ’s second great commandment -- to love one another." (LDS Newsroom)

Mel and Me (on the right) with Mrs. Ford

My twin sister and I entered Kindergarten when we were 6 years old. Our family had stopped going to church when I was 4 and we didn't do Pre-school, so the classroom setting and accompanying social situations were very new to me. That year I learned so much and had such wonderful teachers in Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Mensen. We were already friends with one girl, Mandy, who lived diagonal to us and who was also put in the afternoon class. There was even a pair of twin boys who we became fast friends with. Trevor and Travis were funny, understood the indignity of being told they were exactly the same, and had a pony. That year and the following summer before they moved away, the four of us often spent time at each other's houses. It was at their house that I first remember realizing that I was different.
Trevor and Travis shared a bedroom and on their wall was a framed photo of Tara, one of the girls in our class. Travis noticed me looking at it and explained that she had given it to them. I was jealous and just stood there as he went back to play with the others. It then hit me that I wasn't jealous of Tara. I was jealous of Trevor and Travis. That they got to have a picture of her and I didn't. At that moment it became very clear to me that that was not the way things were supposed to be. I didn't know at the time what that meant. All I knew was that I liked that girl the way that those boys liked her and that I needed to keep that a secret.

That same year, kissing-tag was a popular game during outside playtime. The classic "girls chase the boys and try to kiss them and give them cooties" kind of game. While everyone ran around insane with giggles, Mandy and I sat on the balance beam.
"Why aren't you playing?" I ask her, curious, thinking I might not be the only different one after all.
"I don't want to chase boys," she answers, obviously appalled by the idea, "Why aren't you playing?"
The truth-that I'd play if I could chase the girls-speaks out in my mind, and I think about saying it before catching myself.
"I don't want to chase boys either," I repeat back to her, looking at the ground.
She shrugs and goes to play in the sandbox. I eventually follow, but wonder what she would have said if I had told her what I really thought.

As the years went by from Kindergarten to Fifth Grade, I listened, watched, and learned.
I listened as my friends shared their crushes on boys in hushed, excited voices. I watched their faces change from glee to anger when my turn came and I would say I didn't like anyone. They knew I was lying. So I learned to copy their crushes, to pick a popular boy and gush about his smile.
I listened as classmates were called fags or gay. I saw the anger behind those words and then I learned what they meant. They meant me. These ugly words that shocked teachers and made kids cry were the words that defined the difference I had discovered in Kindergarten. I was filled with fear. I had been right to lie-to hide. If anyone found out they would hate me just like they hated those words. I knew that God knew my thoughts and came to the conclusion that He must hate me, too, or at least not love me. I was too scared to ask Him.

It wasn't until I was 20 that I was finally able to pray and ask Him if He loved me, and when I did I had no doubt that He loved me perfectly. It took another 4 years and going on an LDS mission to realize that there were those who would love me just the way I am. A large part of my spiritual and emotional healing was being honest with others and deciding I didn't have to hide anymore, that my attraction didn't taint me or make me unlovable.

As I've opened up to my LDS wards, family, and friends, I have been asked by some parents to not do or say anything that might inform their children that I am attracted to women instead of men.
"They don't need to be exposed to that."
"They're too young to have any need to be involved in that subject."
These comments, and others like them, hurt my heart so badly. I feel like I'm that little girl again, tainted, having to hide.
These comments are saying that innocent children don't know anything about this subject, inferring that I was not an innocent child. I had to grow up a lot faster than other kids, but that wasn't because I knew that some girls like girls, or some boys like boys, it was because society told me that because I liked girls instead of boys I was something hated and despised.
The innocence of a crush at that age should be undisputed by anyone who remembers their first crush, it was no different for me. We tend to forget what being a child is like. It is a time of learning, and not all of that happens in the classroom or under the supervision of adults. If you don't talk to your children and help them become Christ-like examples in how they treat those kids who have crushes on their same gender, then society will teach them. Society is not a kind teacher and often teaches cruelty.

I understand the desire to protect the innocence of children, but, please, don't confuse innocence with ignorance.

After years of society teaching the little girl in me that she was tainted, dirty, and evil, I am finally standing up. Not just for me, but for all the current little girls and boys who are so scared that their friends won't stay their friends. Who are scared that their parents can't love them. Who fear that God doesn't love them because they have a crush on the wrong person. The little girl who lies about a crush in order to avoid being hated. She has committed no sin and is not guilty of the taint that society, and society's children, give her.

I am reclaiming her innocence.

Mel and Me (r)