Something we keep forgetting in this debate about queer Mormonism is that Mormonism =/= the Church. The Church consists of a group of well-meaning but bigoted, queerphobic, authoritarian men. Mormonism is the glue that keeps some of us in one piece. Understand the difference. 1/

When you say Mormonism is anti-queer you mean to say the Church has anti-queer policies. There are theologies in Mormonism that absolutely perpetuate heteronormativity but my Mormonism does not. What’s great about Mormonism is that it has no systematic theology. 2/

In place of a systematic theology is the doctrine of personal revelation. Now, no matter what you believe about God, replacing an unchangable creed with the concept of revelation means that nothing is set in stone. Not polygamy, not racial exclusion, not even scripture. 3/

While the Church has demonstrated otherwise throughout its history, this is not a declared fact among GAs. Rather, we are to assume that everything is as it always was. The briefest study of Mormonism, however, shows this not only false, but antithetical to Mormonism itself. 4/

Someone recently tweeted that Mormonism is unsalvagable because anti-queer theology is “marrow in the bones.” This just isn’t true. Early Mormonism had little to say about marriage until polygamy & say what you want about plural marriage but it’s anything but heteronormative. 5/

The only reason Mormonism fights so hard to preserve “the traditional family” goes back to their post-polygamy mission to gain acceptance in American culture, which at the time revolved around the importance of the nuclear family. 6/

Mormonism’s now emblematic emphasis on the idealized traditional family structure was learned & deliberately enforced to change the American perception of Mormonism as a weird sex cult, & it worked. We’ve continued to double down but this is not what defines our religion. 7/

Consider that nowhere in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, or the Pearl of Great Price is any kind of homophobia or transphobia endorsed. We still have to go to the Bible for all of those verses (& even those must be twisted to say what bigots want them to say). 8/

Why then, if Mormonism is so uniquely anti-queer, is there nothing about it in any restoration scriptures? Knowing this, why would I just join another church? If there are Christianities that have made space for queer folks, why should we give up on creating queer Mormonisms? 9/

It’s like when people point out how obvious it was that Joseph Smith was a charlatan when compared to other religious founders. Like yeah, it’s so “obvious” because Joseph is so close to us in history. If you lived in the time of Paul he’d look like a huckster too! 10/

We may feel old but we are a YOUNG religion. There is a lot of work to be done, we are starting late in the game, but how dare you tell me to stop & join those in another religion who have been doing their own work for far longer. This is ours & we will make it better. 11/

Now, back to my original point, the Church =/= Mormonism. Mormonism is free & living & growing with each & every one of its believers. The Church is attempting to control this growth but it does not have this power. Even institutionally it is not the only Mormonism. 12/

But institutional boundaries are becoming less & less important. Look at how many believing queer Mormons there are just on Twitter. We are a whole community & we are supporting each other, not just in our sexualities & genders, but in our shared faith as well. 13/

So many ex-Mormons claim to want to keep us safe, & that concern is well-warranted given the suicide rates of queer Mormon youth. Those who are in Mormonism only because they feel trapped SHOULD get out as soon as possible & I will help you do that if that’s what you need. 14/

But you can’t invalidate those of us who are trying to make this work because it is MEANINGFUL to us. The Book of Mormon saved my life, Mormonism is my soul’s language. Trying to destroy that for me just to reinforce your ideology all in the name of “helping” me is wrong. 15/

Again, this is different than arguing that paying tithes to the Church makes us complicit in its queerphobic policies. But boycotting your religion is not like boycotting Amazon. There are parts of us tied up in Mormonism in both superficial & essential ways. 16/

Bailing on the Church isn’t even always a totally pro-queer decision even after you’ve done all that untangling. There will always be queer folks in the Church & there will always be good to be done from within the Church that can’t be done outside the Church. 17/

Feel free to discourage tithing, to advocate from the outside, to help those in the process of leaving, but it does absolutely no good at all to tell me where I can & can’t go to find comfort & relief. For many that’s the Church or, more broadly, Mormonism. Support them. 18/

I want to help those who want to stay in the Church to stay. I want to help those who want to leave the Church to leave. I want to help those who want to leave the Church but not Mormonism navigate those waters (I am probably most helpful here). 19/

If you want to help me in any of these efforts, without disrespecting those working in those other efforts, then great, let’s work together. But if you’re just trying to recruit more people to your side, Idc which side that is, I’m not interested. 20/FIN