Stop it!

For my theater class I'm taking here at San Juan College we were able to attend the play put on by students and other actors from the area. If you live in San Juan County here in NM and didn't take the couple of hours to go and watch The Laramie Project put on at SJC, you missed out! The play was phenomenal; it was thought provoking, raw and the emotion ran high the whole time. I cried, I laughed, I felt apart of the people in Laramie, Wyoming. 

For those of you who don't know what The Laramie Project is about: 
It is about a young man named Matthew Shepard who was beaten and left for dead by two young men because he was homosexual. This play was in documentary form, the actors broke the fourth wall many times and spoke directly to the audience. The words the actors spoke and the emotions they portrayed were from actual interviews, film and news reports from when Matthew was killed. 

It was very real. 

When this happened I was 5 years old. So coming into this play I was clueless on what had happened. But I liked it that way. I didn't have any expectations of this play; I wanted to see it for what it was! For what the people of Laramie really felt about this situation. It was incredible. 

Being a Christian, I have a definite stance on gay marriage. I do not support it. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a Proclamation to the World was written and given in a General Relief Society Meeting in 1995. It states, "We, The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His Children." 

Just because I don't support gay marriage doesn't mean I am a bad person. (And because I don't support it, doesn't mean people who do support are bad people. We just have different views.) I know plenty of people who are gay. And I think they are great people! I don't judge them or think of them differently, I don't ridicule or curse them. I treat them as a human being. I treat them for who they are, a child of God. Just as everyone else should. I don't care who you are, you can't tell me that you don't love Ellen Degeneres!! She is a GREAT lady! She has helped and inspired so many people! And guess what, she is gay! Ellen even said this, "Do we have to know who's gay and who's straight? Can't we just love everybody and judge them by the car they drive?" 

Please just be kind. Be aware of others feelings and beliefs. Do not purposely go hate on people because of who they are. Because you don't believe one thing or another, it doesn't give you a right to discriminate those who do. 

Click the link below to see a short video about bullying and why it needs to end. 
Bullying: Stop it!

"The topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: 
Stop it! 
It's that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgemental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children." 
-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf 
Second Counselor of the First Presidency 
The Merciful Obtain Mercy

To know more about Matthew Shepard please visit: http://www.matthewshepard.org/