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In trying to clean out my drafts today I noticed that a lot of my unfinished posts contained links to other blogs or videos or news articles. I think many of them remain unfinished because I subconsciously recognize that someone else already said it better than I could.

I thought I had something to say, but in reality I just like how someone else already said it.

That’s what this blog post is all about… random links to articles, blogs and news articles where someone said, filmed or wrote it better than I ever could have:

1. It Gets Better With Mormon Family and Friends

It certainly must get better. People like this didn’t exist 10 years ago…that I know of. This entire Far Between project is truly awesome, but this particular “family and friends” video is amazing to me. Notice how they aren’t implying that their love will cure or change their loved one. They are instead advocating loving and cherishing their gay brothers and sister exactly how and where they are!

Stay tuned. I was interviewed for the “actually gay himself, but came out later in life” portion of this video project. I’m curious to see if any portion of my interview makes the cut.

2. Authenticity

Who doesn’t love a great TED presentation. Older gay men and former Mormons love to latch onto the concept of authenticity.

“However afraid we are of change, the question that we must ultimately answer is this: What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think, or letting go of how I feel and what I believe and who I am? e. e. cummings wrote, “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody but yourself means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.” I’m convinced that choosing authenticity is one of the most courageous battles that we’ll ever fight.”

3. What Mormon Scriptures and history say about Socialism

Romney and fellow conservatives defy the teachings of the Book of Mormon. When Mormons Were Socialists: Why the Mormon Church’s Founders Would be Very Disappointed in Mitt Romney

“The slick, painfully monogamous, politically malleable super-capitalist Romney who shares “humorous” tales of layoffs would horrify the founders of his faith.”

“The prophetic message of the scripture is sharp; if Americans are obedient to God, we will be blessed with riches. If Americans set our hearts on riches and ignore the poor, we will be destroyed.”

4. How I traced my ancestry back to the Stone Age

“I recently had a genetic test to find out more about where my ancestors came from. The results confirmed what I already knew – I am from a family of European Jews. But there was also a surprise – a Neanderthal forebear. “

5. Oral Roberts’ gay grandson

6. The discussion about bullying and gay rights is more than a discussion about gays

To understand this video, you may first have to read the original blog post by Dan at Single Dad Laughing called I’m Christian, unless you’re gay.


7. Threats of Punishment Don’t Work

“In studies, scholars find that kids who live in threat of consistent punishment don’t lie less. Instead, they become better liars, at an earlier age—learning to get caught less often.”

8. Practicing

“Because we might have all the good intentions to be or look a certain way, or to end up in a certain place, but the harsh reality is that we become good at what we repeatedly do.”

9. Zach Wahls

You’ve probably already seen this viral video. But I think this dude rocks. As I’ve said before, I think straight allies can have a significant impact on change.

You can also meet the family here.

10. Instruction Manual for Life

If you’re like me, you sometimes find that these amateur cartoons can be irritating. Still, I like the way this one presents the fallacy of using the Bible to guide our morals and values. See also Kiss Hanks Ass