New Friends

We had a sunset picnic on the beach Monday night with five new friends:  Troy and Jean-Pierre, a gay couple from Victoria, B.C., formerly of Salt Lake; and Chad, Michael and John from Salt Lake.  Who would have figured that we'd run into five other gay guys from Salt Lake, former Mormons, on a clothing-optional beach in Maui?

We had a great time talking, laughing, drinking and eating past sunset.  Mark and I brought roasted chickens, Jean-Pierre and Troy brought pastis and appetizers and fruit, and the Salt Lake guys brought salad and wine.   As we ate, we talked about our own stories, how we had come out, how we had come to a place of reconciliation regarding the Mormon Church, how we had met our partners and, in Chad's case, the challenges of dating.

Troy and Jean-Pierre have been together for 19 years.  They met in Salt Lake and lived there as a couple for about eight years before moving to British Columbia.  J-P is French, and life would just be easier for them in Canada.

It was interesting to hear J-P's story.  Like me, he was a convert.  Like me, he served a mission - also in the France Paris Mission (a year or so before me) - believing that his "righteous service" as a missionary would "cure" him of being gay.  After his mission, he went to Rick's College, then on to BYU, and it was there that he finally reconciled himself to his homosexuality, having received a spiritual confirmation that God accepted him as he is.

Troy had grown up in Salt Lake and was raised in the Church.  Michael and John, who have been together for 12 years, were also raised in the Church and had served missions in Latin America.  They, too, had reached a point of reconciliation years ago.

None of us is bitter toward the Church.  We actually didn't talk all that much about it.  We laughed, told jokes and stories, and just simply enjoyed the moment.

Mark is accustomed to hearing gay guys talk about Mormonism, but last night's conversation had a lighter, wittier tinge than usual.  For example, Chad mentioned how great it could be if Relief Society (the Church's women's organization) accepted gay men as members.  "Think of the possibilities!" he exclaimed.  "Everyone would want to know what the Mormons are doing this year.  Is plaid in?  What about polka dots?"

It was fun.