We’re not exactly sure what Jesus would have done in this situation, but we’re 99.99% sure it wouldn’t have been this.
12-year-old Savannah is about as brave as they come. During her Mormon ward’s monthly Fast and Testimony meeting, she decided to get up in front of everybody and talk about what God means to her. That’s not an easy thing for any preteen to do, but it was even more challenging for Savannah.
She took the mic and told her community about her “heavenly parents” who helped make her into the girl she is. They gave her brown eyes; they gave her freckles; they made her gay.
Related: This Flow Chart That Destroys Religion’s Case Against Gay Marriage Is So Easy, Any Zealot Can Use It
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“I believe that God wants us to treat each other with kindness, even if people are different,” she said after coming out.
A hushed chatter broke out among the audience of pious elders, who supposedly had Savannah’s best interests at heart. Eventually one official made an executive decision — cut the courageous girl’s mic, and tell her to sit down and leave the stage.
How very adult.
In an interview with the podcast I Like to Look for Rainbows, Savannah opened up about this incredible moment:
Why were you sad?
Savannah: I was sad because I wanted to finish it, and I felt like what I was saying should’ve been heard by everybody else.
And why were you happy?
Savannah: I was happy because I could finally get out to everyone, and show that gays aren’t weirdos.
Savannah seems to be pretty comfortable with herself, and that is truly amazing given the hypocrisy she is steeped in. But the incident is a stark reminder that kids are still being subjected to psychological abuse in the name of God.
Related: This Christian Facebook page banned rainbow emojis. They should have known what would happen next.
We hope young people out there see Savannah’s daring bravery and are inspired by it.
Watch below:
DCguy
And there it is. All of the fake Mormon B.S. including that phony website that they were paying lgbt blogs to promote are all a smokescreen.
The church hates lgbts and will still do whatever they can to block our rights.
The major problem for the LDS church is that good Mormons just inconveniently keep having lgbt kids. The church tells them to kick them out or disown them, but every time one family says no, the church loses all of them as members.
ChrisK
Yeah, and if she was a boy I’m sure these peaceful god loving people would find a way to get the other brainwashed kids to kick the shit out of him.
nanochron
Culture is difficult to change. Unfortunately, in the past, western culture has not been kind to homosexuals. As recently as the 1960’s, the UK government gave medicine to homosexuals to stop them from being gay–see the movie Imitation Game about this. Western culture, in regards to homosexuality is changing to be more kind, as it should be. The Mormon church is part of this Western Culture and is making this needed change regarding how to treat homosexuality. I understand that people want to see the culture change overnight but considering how fast even the Mormon culture is changing we should be more considerate.
Check this story out about how things in the Mormon church are changing. https://nerdygaymormon.tumblr.com/post/159164583009/so-do-you-remember-the-guy-in-yesterdays-general
DCguy
@nanochron
You said “but considering how fast even the Mormon culture is changing we should be more considerate.”
————————
I get your point, but I’m far more concerned about children being abused and thrown out of their house than I am about the 12 men over the age of 75 that run the Mormon church getting their feelings hurt. Remember, this is a church that wouldn’t allow black people to have full membership as recently as nearly 1980. Why did they change? Because it was going to effect BYU sports.
When it was going to effect their P.R. or bottom line they had no trouble doing a sudden change.
Hussain-TheCanadian
I am so proud of her, it must of been really hard – This is what Pride is all about; i’m not going to hide, i’m not going to hate myself, and i’m not going to surrender to your hate; Creation was made out of love, and so am I.
nanochron
A few comments. First, I think the audience handled the situation well. Unlike what the story says, there was no “hushed chatter” breaking out. if you notice nobody in the audience was the least bit rude or let out any sort of gasp. As far as can be seen by the video, everybody in the audience acted respectfully. Second, I have been in multiple bishoprics and I have served in a stake high council. When someone speaks controversy at a testimony meeting, we are taught to stand afterward and speak calmly basic truths as we saw the man do at this ward.
I personally have been taught by my leaders to let the person finish, unless the person is being unruly, which Savannah was not being. She was being very polite and respectful while speaking.
What would be more interesting is what, if anything, is told to the stake presidency later. I’m sure we will not know but that would be more interesting.
DarkZephyr
Sit down and be quiet. *politely cutting off you mic*
JaredMacBride
Your pathetic defense of a misogynistic, racist and homophobic cult was my best laugh of the week. So thanks for that.
DCguy
This is the same defense of the Southern Bigots.
“””I don’t see why everybody is so upset. I didn’t tell, I kept my voice quiet and I smiled when I kicked out that family for being minorities”””
Please don’t try to sell the phony “Politeness means there was no bigotry”
They cut off her mic and ordered her to sit. They didn’t call her a bitch or a dyke so your contention is that it was a good thing?
nanochron
@DCguy
My defense was for the audience. The article seemed to indicate that among the audience there was a “hushed chatter” which inferred that the audience was disrespectful of her. Which, IMO, was not the case. And I thought that the audience was polite and respectful. Not “kicking out” anybody.
I did mention that in my training as a leader in the Mormon church did not match what the leader of the meeting had done and that we do not know, nor would we know what was told that leader after the meeting.
I can say that in my experience, over that last 20 years the church’s top leadership has changed a lot with respect to homosexuality and encouraging a more inclusive view of people who are gay. Maybe it does not match what many who visit this site would like to see but none the less, it has been changing. See this link as an example: https://nerdygaymormon.tumblr.com/post/159164583009/so-do-you-remember-the-guy-in-yesterdays-general
Alan down in Florida
She is my new heroine. Wonder Woman look out you’ve got competition,
radiooutmike
That’s true courage!
He BGB
Because that means she won’t be having any babies they can groom from day one to believe their made up hogwash. Why do catholics look down on gays, birth control and possibly abortion? Same reason. Get them when they’re babies and you’ll have them for lifel
hanfrina
… Not-SURPRISING-from thee Mormon “Church” at all!?! They still support “Aversion Shock Therapy” for willing LGBTQ members to-this-day. I know. since when I was a student at BYU, fellow Gay friends went through this Barbaric treatment “On-Campus” at the Joseph Smith Living Center. Thankfully, I was Excommunicated from thee LDS “Faith,” after 15-yrs. membership including earning at BA in Broadcast-Journalism at-thee-Y & serving an “Honorable Mission” to-the-“Pacific/Northwest.” For “Being Gay.” Went back to-thee-Presbyterian Church USA, which is welcoming of LGBTQ people in membership & leadership. Move on “Brave Girl!!!”
GreenJon546
Like Nancy answered I’m amazed that any body able to earn $8894 in 4 weeks on the computer .follow this link…
sdfsdfsdfs
??????O OPEN~JOB~START
Donald Dork
Not one of those people had the balls to stand up and say “why aren’t you letting her finish her testimony?” Oh I forgot, this church believes its leaders walk on water.
Donald Dork
Brave girl.