A non-LGBTQ Mormon calls for marriage equality, Latinos more likely than other Americans to call themselves “liberal,” and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

[caption id="attachment_7782" align="alignright" width="235" caption="Homosexuality: A Straight BYU Student's Perspective by Brad Carmack. Click through to get to Mr. Carmack's public Google Docs folder to download a copy of his book."][/caption]

Time for same-sex LDS marriages
Salt Lake City Utah, Salt Lake Tribune, April 4, 2012

During my last year at Brigham Young University, I risked my diplomas (MPA and JD) by writing and openly distributing a book about same-sex marriage and homosexuality entitled Homosexuality: A Straight BYU Student’s Perspective.

As I wrote I discovered the science behind sexual orientation, the social arguments for and against same-sex marriage, and the heart-wrenching stories of gay Mormons. This experience, along with some soul-searching and prayer, eventually convinced me to support same-sex marriage.

See more about Brad Carmack and his book at the blog Gay Saint.

Poll: Latinos say they’re more liberal
Politico, April 4, 2012

Latinos are more likely than other Americans to say they’re liberal, according to a poll out Wednesday.

Three out of 10 Latino adults say they consider themselves liberal compared to 21 percent of the general U.S. public, the Pew Hispanic Center’s 2011 National Survey of Latinos poll found. And more native-born Hispanics than immigrant Hispanics say they are “very liberal” or “liberal,” 34 percent to 27 percent.

640,000 Say Thanks to Starbucks
Seattle, Advocate, April 5, 2012

National coffee chain Starbucks Wednesday received a card thanking the company for its continued support of marriage equality in its home state of Washington.

The National Organization for Marriage launched a boycott of Starbucks because the company’s leaders supported marriage equality legislation that recently passed in Washington. NOM recruited about 28,000 to “Dump Starbucks,” but a counterprotest to “Thank Starbucks” grabbed the attention of 640,000 marriage equality supporters.

‘Bully’ downgraded to PG-13 as ratings system assailed from all sides
Christian Science Monitor, April 6, 2012

The documentary “Bully” has been officially retagged PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America. This shift from its initial R rating for language occurred after a drawn-out battle of wills among the studio, the trade association responsible for the voluntary ratings system, and vocal advocates of antibullying initiatives.

A compromise version, which cuts the number of “F-bombs,” will be in theaters beginning April 13, when the film goes into national distribution.

Now that the critically lauded, but by all accounts emotionally difficult film will be open to the teen crowd it depicts, the question is: Was the film itself a victim of “bullying” by an outmoded, out-of-touch ratings group, or is it an example of the free-market system finding the best balance between freedom of expression and protecting family values in the marketplace?

Tags: "Bully" [documentary film], Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS — Mormon Church), Hispanic/Latino, marriage equality, National Organization for Marriage (NOM), same-sex marriage, Starbucks