As I know, many gays or bisexuals don't want others to know their sexual orientation. I have some bisexual friends, they would rather choose some online service like the one BiLoves than come out in real life.

Wake Up all you "do gooders"!

You already have plenty of problems; divorce, materialism, unsafe driving, drug abuse. People don't choose to be gay anymore than you chose to be heterosexual. Stuart Matis was in my Stake. This is not a simple issue, and treating same gender attraction as a disease that you can stamp out is not going to do anyone any good. My Patriarch's son was gay and sadly died of aids. One of the coolest guys I've ever known. Pull out the beam in your own eye first.

It's sad that these gay and lesbian special interests have so thoroughly overrun the fabric of our communities. They are calling bad good and good bad. Justifying same sex attraction doesn't help the people that struggle with the issue.

Life in my opinion is about families, how is it possible for a same sex couple to have children? How is it possible for them to have a family?

I applaud the PTA of AF and Focus on the Families for sticking up for what is right. For trying to correct issues they see as a pox upon society rather than crumble to the powerful, loud and obnoxious voice of a limited few.

How does someone "overcome" same sense attraction? They might choose to be celibate, still feeling same gender attraction, but choosing not to act on that attraction. Do we want discussions about that issue taking place in schools? Should they be held in churches instead?

Mrs. Jensen claims that the gay lifestyle is not conducive to families. I have a different perspective and it is born out of experience.

My gay daughter and her partner just gave birth to a beautiful son. They are an adorable, happy family.

I grew up in a loving heterosexual family. Within that family the next generation has produced at least one gay and two lesbians, and as the family grows there will certainly be more. All the family members and extended family members are loving and kind to each other and our gay-inclusive family is every bit as happy and well adjusted as our previous generation heterosexual family.

The main obstacle to a happy gay-inclusive family is homophobia and intolerance by the heterosexual family members. That is a heterosexual problem, not a homosexual problem.

If the PTA is interested in happy families it should be focusing on the problem of homophobia.

I hope the focus of discussion at the forum tonight is on The Golden Rule which is really the answer to most of our problems.

Joe Watts

Homophobia is alive and well, and not surprisingly, in American Fork.
Life is not about families. Families consist of individuals. Tow the church line if you want, but no one is validated, or not, by procreation.

What is sad is the "Law of Moses-like" mentality. God is not one of hate. You can't cure being gay. As an active LDS male, I have sure tried.
Teach the youth to hate themselves for who they are! that is really Christ centered love. Teach people to Hate the sinner - ya that one is very Christian as well.

Sometimes the most well intentioned things from groups like PTSA can have damaging outcomes to the mental welfare of the youth who face these challenges.

Hate doesn't solve anything, and neither does intolerance. The Christian right tried the same tactics during the civil right movement. "Them coloreds are gonna destroy our civilization" Looking back were embarrassed by our ignorance.

God loves all his children equally. Anyone who thinks differently is not Christian- this includes LDS members as well. As faithful members of the church,we need to follow in his footsteps and show unconditional love for all men.

I am saddened that we have straight-hate 2008 versions of the KKK being held at Utah Schools.

"After the Ball: How America will conquer its hatred and fear of gays in the 90s" was a book written by two homosexual, Harvard trained PhDs in 1989. That book outlined the homosexual game plan for normalizing homosexuality throughout the U.S. Not only was their plan intentionally, and admittedly deceitful, as to the reality of homosexual behaviors and inducements, but the plan also called for a concerted propaganda campaign to shame religious Americans into believing that homosexuality was not a social ill.

That campaign has been so successful, that today we are witnessing the public shaming of a forum to discuss the problem of same-sex attraction in our society, and our pretended "conservative" Utah newspaper has seemingly joined in the fray to condemn them.

I am pleased to see that there are still vestiges of our society that have not bought into the very real propaganda effort to make homosexuality "normal" and "accepted." Such a disease-ridden, psychologically damaging, society destroying life-style needs to continue to be viewed by any reasonable, responsible society as a social ill that is in need of a loving, caring remedy. Our society cannot afford to drink the homosexual propaganda kool-aid in this matter.

Unfortunately the attitudes towards homosexuals will take as long or longer to come around as the sad attitudes towards black people that existed when I lived in this community 40 years ago.

I am a former resident of Utah Valley that has struggled with "same sex attraction." Admittedly, I wish there were more open forums at the time that allowed youth to discuss their feelings and have the ability to find help. A forum such as this will do nothing but make gay youth struggling to find themselves even more depressed. There is nothing good about hearing that there is something WRONG with you. I can say that I have found what I'm looking for in life and I've never been happier.

This forum looks like just another election year "get out the vote" wedge issue for the social conservatives in Utah County. Rather than wasting time on imagined threats like the "Pink Peril" use the opportunity to discuss real problems facing students like binge drinking, distracted driving, drug use, depression and suicide, cyber-predators, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy prevention, bullying, and eating disorders. That should fill up the time pretty quickly.

Great. Now it sounds like our kids need protection from the PTA. Good grief.

One of the lies that the book "After the Ball:How America will conquer its fear and hatred of gays in the 90s" said needed to be perpetuated--even though the authors, right in the book, state that they know it is not true--is the concept of homosexuality being inborn, and irreversible.

Those who pass on that lie have totally bought into the homosexual propaganda campaign, and are helping to dupe others into it as well. Even very recently the American Psychological Association has been forced to admit that there is no proof, whatsoever, that homosexuality is an inherent trait. NARTH's website has that information if anyone cares enough to become educated to the facts of this issue--though the facts defy the false propaganda reasoning for homosexual normalization.

If anything, we need to have forums that continue to expose the lies behind the homosexual propaganda, and share the truth with those who are dealing with same-sex attraction--that it really is something that is a serious problem, and that it ought to be disconcerting for those so inclined, and that it requires serious professional help to resolve or deal with.

We cannot afford to become numb to the seriousness of this issue.

The only forum anyone needs is one where both sides can sit down together, face-to-face, get to know one another, and talk about things with more civility. People so erroneously think homosexuality is some liberal conspiracy. It isn't. It just is. It's sad to see people react with hostility toward gay people and accuse them of trying to destroy the family and society. It's wrong, it's cruel, and it's unnecessary.

You know what else is a problem in our community? People that don't have blonde hair and blue eyes. Sure, some kids think that they have brown or red hair and green eyes, but its just not right. Their differences are a danger to our society. Sure, they say God made them that way, but we can cover it up, right? So take out your hair dye and color-changing contacts and lets make this world perfect!!

Three cheers for the PTA for standing up for what they believe is morally right. Too often politically correct works to shame moral beliefs. Parents have an obligation to pass their morals onto their children, and the PTA is, afterall, a parent-teacher organization run mostly by parents. If, as a parent, your morals are to promote gay rights, then attend your PTA meetings and push for a forum to promote your views.

Nothing new here. Either in the story or the comments.

Kudos for the courage of the AFPTA. Shame on those of you calling evil good. If you have an affliction such as same sex attraction, you don't have to succumb to it. That's like telling someone with a pre-disposition of alcoholism go ahead and get stone-faced drunk every day. That's how you were born, there's nothing you can do about it.

Either8 - I loved your comments. Not that I'm the most religious guy but I do remember leaders in the LDS Church talking about this subject and saying to hate the sin and love the sinner. Please don't destroy the sanctity of the family!! I realize to many, that is an out-dated, ultra conservative platform that must come from someone living in Utah or even worse Utah County - which I do. I grew up in Chicago and there are times this county can be a little too Mormon even for me - but truth doesn't change like the fashions of each decade. Again - love the gay people, many of which struggle with their own desires and help them beat that internal battle. I do believe marriage between and man and a woman is ordained of God. It's very, very clear.

Welcome to the signs of the times.

People choose to live their lives that way, just like people choose to drink, smoke, abuse their spouse, over eat, spank kids, road rage, etc. It's controlling the thought before the action, and everyone doesn't control their thoughts.

I'm so glad I have 0 temptation for this. I like loving and living with my wife and knowing I will have a family and won't be the talk and judgment of society for the rest of my life.

As someone who is LDS and struggling with homosexuality I applaud PTSA for trying to help. Just because many people struggle as I, it is not a reason to accept it. I believe we are here to overcome our weaknesses and "put off the natural man". I might struggle my whole life, but that doesn't mean I should stop trying. The acceptance of homosexuality, is one of the worst things that can happen overall. It makes people feel good about taking the easy road. It is always easier to give in to the natural man than fight something that is wrong. I know I didn't choose the feelings I have, and I don't have all the answers, but I know that it is not a life I want. If a child is struggling, more than anything they need someone who can give them hope and let them know there is nothing wrong with them, they are just human, with a unique challenge. We are meant to rise above our weaknesses, not accept them, otherwise, why are we here? I look at it as an incredible opportunity to grow, to grow as I wouldn't otherwise.

Sexual orientation is not a learned behavior! One simply cannot decide if they are heterosexual or homosexual. It's a biological function and hormonal driven by nature in my oppion. Please do not subject children to aversion electric shock therapy as my parents did upon me, it does not work and messes up one's personality and human nature. I never was able to change from gay to straight.

A major focus of the gay community agenda is to "normalize" that lifestyle any way possible, especially through "alliances" that will make that lifestyle appear innocuous. The more their representative is allowed to "discuss" (aka promote) that lifestyle the better. Anyone who would oppose their inclusion in "discussions" is homophobic, un-Christian, hateful, mean-spirited, bigoted, and any and all other such adjectives, which is a tug at the heart's yearning for the "can't-we-all-get-along ?" sympathy. The homosexual community agenda has nothing to do with "can't we all get along?" It is and always will be to undermine the sanctity of God-ordained male and female relationships so as to be able to justify their lifestyle. Period. There, I said it. "God". But He doesn't fit into the homosexual agenda, so, we're required to ignore Him and what He has said. That's the bottom line - always has been and always will. Yes: right versus wrong. Good and evil. Agency and accountability, responsibility. Foreign concepts in the gay / homosexual agenda.

Oh how glad I am that many of these posters are a dying breed. Yes, I choose to live my life the way I want, but no I didn't choose which gender I am attracted to, as I'm sure you didn't as well. I see no correlation whatsoever as to who I love and the failing of your marriage or family life. Accept responsibility for your own shortcomings.

To re: Sad, I'm happy you like loving and living with your wife. I too, am happy with who I love and live with as well. And if it causes you and others to talk and judge me, well then I welcome it. Because I have never been happier in my life than I am right now. Especially back when I was lying to myself, trying to love a woman more than a friend, going to counseling and being told I needed to be "fixed". There is nothing to fix, because there is nothing wrong with me. I will continue to be delighted in life and love, being a good person, and nothing you can do will stop me.

It's sad that these radical right special interests have so thoroughly overrun the fabric of our communities. They are calling bad good and good bad. Justifying fear and hate doesn't help the people that struggle with the issue.

Life in my opinion is about love, how is it possible for a hateful people to have love? How is it possible for them to have a family?

I applaud the Utah Pride Center and Gay-Straight Alliances for sticking up for what is right. For trying to correct issues they see as a pox upon society rather than crumble to the powerful, loud and obnoxious voice of a limited few.

As the PTSA president in this article, I want to make it clear that this meeting is for parents, and not designed for the students.

There is no such thing or movement called the “Homosexual Agenda”, I am appalled that such person would suggest such; however that person has their own free agency to spew hate, and unchristian like behavior at the rest. Jesus Christ never spoke about gay relationships in his ministry upon the earth. Just like blacks getting Civil rights in the 1960’s it was Christian at one time to think of Slavery as being Normal and accepting here in American Society in which this nation fought a Civil War over. Children that are being addressed at this PTA meeting do need a safe harbor to understand their sexual feelings and to recognize appropriate behavior. Homosexuality is not an illness nor a Disease I spent my whole life trying to figure it all out, and at 48 years of age, still am amazed in living a Celibate life as a Mormon man inside the LDS Church.

So, I guess the AFPTA has already solved the real issues today's teens face and can now move onto a more interesting and titillating Boogie Man!

Facts: I grew up in AF, graduated from AF, loved the school and the people. I am a Caveman and proud of it.

I am not gay, but instead have a family, etc. I knew that some of my classmates, good Mormons all, were a little... shall we say odd... unusual... different... wink wink. Hey, they were homosexuals!

And knowing stat's like I do, there are gay kids attending school today, K-12, at good old AF High. They were born that way. Now the sex-morals-holier-than-thou police are cracking down!!! God has whispered in their ears and the thought and action police are on their way!!

These poor gay folks, created by God Almighty, are going to be zapped by the mighty holier-than-thou folk.

I hate to say it, but things certainly haven't changed back in my little town. There are the gays, and there are the... Good grief!

I am so ashamed of my little town.

If there is no gay "agenda", why is there a need for advocacy groups like the Utah Pride Center, who try and convince us all that it's normal to give in to your urges? These groups aren't about equality and love, they're some of the most hateful agenda driven people around if you dare to disagree with them.

YES!! Let's keep the children's input out of their school. Keep them all in the dark, don't let them have any say. Keep them under your thumb and they won't do anything wrong, like drive to Sandy to buy drugs. I can't believe how many parents are out of touch with the world their children live in!

I just love the deflection tactics that are so often used in these comments. As in, why are all of you hatemongers concerned with homosexuals, when there are so many other issues to deal with in society. Yes, there are a number of social ills today. But saying watch this hand and ignore this hand is a disengenuous shell game.

I think you misunderstood my comments. I for one know that God is one of love and have felt that love in my life. I also know the Lord can heal all our wounds for he has said so. I also know this because he has healed mine. No I haven't struggles with same gender attraction, but I have struggled with other issues in my life for many years and it was only through the healing power of the Savior and his atonement that I was able to fully healed.

I do not doubt that it is extremely hard for someone with same gender attraction to be healed, but I have the faith that it can be done, for I have witness his healing power first hand. You might already have this book, but if you don't I would implore you and any others who struggle and want some change in their lives to read it. It's called "Putting on the Armor of God", by Steven A. Cramer. This book with scripture study and prayer change my and it will surely change yours if you heed its counsels.

Good for the Alpine PTA. This is one of the few examples I have seen where a local PTA has departed from the lock-step principles of the ultra-liberal NEA. Perhaps the UEA should also give some thought to expressing this sort of courage.

To Jus: To answer your question about the "Utah Pride Center" - it's place is to educate ignorant people who are bigoted and need information about homosexuality. It's also a Civil Rights advocate to speak for those in this Utah Society that need to be more meek and humble about human life and living a "Christ like Life". The center has no agenda. Homosexuality is Normal we are born the way we are. We are Mormon, Gay and Proud, and non Mormon too. We are tired of being repressed and murdered in this great American society like Alan Sheppard was in Laramie Wyoming.

The Gay Agenda is bad because they promote equal rights? Does that make Rosa Parks the devil?

Then maybe, if we are luck enough, Utah can have a gay 15 year old student shot in the head like the one in California was last month. (He gave a Valentine to another male student who shot and killed him.) You probably didn't hear much about it though, it was a just another hate crime against just another immoral, sinful homosexual so it wasn't covered too heavily by the local media. But that's okay, he was asking for it, right?
That is where all this hate, ignorance, intolerance and bigotry leads. No matter what the topic, be it religion or sexual identity, whenever it is dealt with using the attitudes mentioned before, it leads to violence. When that happens, don't we ALL share the blame for the end results??

Heterosexuals have as much right to push their agenda as homosexuals. And its not a hate issue as much as it is a "I think it's wrong issue." And everyone has a right to their beliefs.

Me thinks you totally misunderstood Belinda's post.

Previous comments (even comments in the story) were to the effect of "what will this do to the children if they are subject to this horable hatemongering at a meeting?"

All I think Belinda was trying to do was point out that this is not an assembly at school where all children are participating. This is a "Parents" meeting where "Parents" can discuss issues that are of concern to "Parents".

A lot of folks on here are accusing people who defend the moral character of gays of saying "good is evil and evil is good." I must agree. I see evil in religion, and all this conjecture about god and that which is "god-ordained." I see teaching kids this flowery fiction as fact (or faith, whatever) as immoral, especially when religion is so divisive.

As for homosexuality, I'm OK if you call it a disorder. I'm puzzled why I'm not attracted to women. But to defame one's moral character for having an intimate relationship with someone of the same gender is wrong. I cannot find anything morally wrong with that relationship as long as both involved are kind to one another.

So yes. What you all call good I call evil. What you call evil I don't really call anything. Homosexuality is what it is.

Homosexuality? Pornography? Did anything make the list that is actually a serious social problem? Or a social problem? Or any kind of a problem at all?

If the sanctity of your family is weakened by gay rights, your family is already weak. I recommend trashing your fear-driven isolationism and meeting real people in the community. I am gay. I am a member of a family. I am not diseased. I am psychologically stable. I am in the community.
All of our families will be better served and strengthened by compassion rather than hate-filled, anonymous forums.

Thanks for the well worn diatribe. Did you get that straight from Gay Agenda Handbook? Your arguments and name calling sound so familiar.

So if I wanted to limit your civil rights because you do or believe things that I feel are immoral and wrong you would be okay with that?

Interesting that you say that "Homosexuality is Normal we are born the way we are. We are Mormon, Gay and Proud..."

FYI, no one is born Mormon, Gay, or Proud. Each of these is a choice someone makes, for better or worse. None of these choices change who they are, but they sure do change how they act.

Re:Sanctify, Noboy "hates" you, nobody thinks your psychologically unstable, we just know you don't have to have a "Sexual Relationship" with the same sex to be attracted to them. Everyone is attracted to someone of the same sex, but they don't run around having Sex with them! You are not diseased, but you can get help to realize you can have a NORMAL relationship with someone of the opposite sex in a Sexual relationship if you really wanted too. I have compassion for homosexuals, and I am NOT hate-filled, nor are MOST PEOPLE, but they don't want this stuff band standed to their children and having them be told this is NORMAL BEHAVIOR, because frankly, IT IS NOT! Because if it was, the human being, would cease to be because if you face facts, Gays cannot reproduce, so how can that be "normal"? That is the fear they face, not the fact that someone is "Secretly Gay".

The AFPTA cited one of their reasons for meeting was a concern about same-sex 'lifestyles' and AIDS. Well, the latest AIDS stats from CDC (2005) show 41,897 new cases of AIDS. 17,230 of those cases were from male to male sexual contact. Juxtapose that with the chlamydia stats for new cases in 2006: 1,030,911 new cases! My calculator says that chlamydia cases outnumber AIDS cases 24:1. So is the PTA working with a reality-based health issue, or just another fear-based moral issue? Do a little homework and find out who is the highest risk group for HIV infection. It's not homosexuals anymore.

Ok...we get it, American Fork. You hate gay people. But while you are wasting your time claiming things from past decades, your children are getting STDs and dealing with unwanted pregnancies. If you want you can catch up with the times and talk to your kids about sex rather than thinking that bad things only happen to gay people.

You sound like a truly thoughtful person. I hope you can understand that none of us on this forum have ever lived in each other's shoes. You don't know why a same-sex relationship (not just the physical aspect) is as valuable as a heterosexual relationship. What you're asking me to do is deny my love (different than attraction)for another human being. If you are married or in love, imagine society telling you that it was a choice, not real, immoral and wrong. Would you stop it? Could you stop it?

Mrs. Jensen states that she is having this forum to protect students with SSA from suicide and drug abuse. The claim is that this "lifestyle" is inherent in homosexuality. I am Gay and feel that depression came from the dissonance of my desire for the same sex against the religious dogma taught to me. If I had just been gay, not raised in a conservative religious community, I would probably not be depressed. I only considered suicide when I thought there was no way to choose religion or homosexuality. What Mrs. Jensen and other parents could do is stop drawing a line in the sand, and claim that on this side are all the correct answers and over there is all the wrong. Speaking for myself the biggest help would have been someone telling me they didn't know all the answers and they couldn't guide me but they were there to support me regardless of the decisions I made. Maybe that would prevent suicide or the numbing of self through drugs. Though this issue seems out of place in a public forum. I hope parents with students at AFHS let this "Gayle Rezika" archetype know.