The holiday season killed the momentum on several of the interviews I was doing for my series of
straight spouse interviews on
Northern Lights, and I haven't managed to get very many of them going again since then--as much due to my own busyness as to theirs. Miki Biddles, though, has been kind enough to keep going steadily through the interview and I've finally managed to put all my questions and her answers together and
post them. Enjoy.
That was a really cool interview. Thanks for sharing. I thought you did a great job interviewing, and I really enjoyed hearing her perspectives.
ReplyDeleteBen, it’d be awesome to one day see these interviews published for wider audience to read. I believe there are many who would benefit from the wisdom and experiences of these spouses in mixed-orientation marriages. If I had my say, I’d make it required reading for all Bishops and Stake Presidents. (Taken from my comment on the Northern Lights site).
ReplyDeleteMiki had some awesome answers that could be used by any married person or couple to have a successful marriage--whether straight, gay, or mixed orientation.
One of my gripes with doing my Social Work degree at BYU-Hawaii, besides having only two professors for the entire program, was that I believed that the breadth of issues that we were taught to deal with was limited--i.e.: that certain issues were more or less ignored or denied existence among the church population. Issues such as homosexuality, pedophilia, and incest, especially. As well as alcoholism, drug addiction, and physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. But my efforts to include these issues in our internship discussion classes was rewarded only with lowered grades.
I was glad when the church finally set up their addictions program. I'm not sure what kind of individual results were achieved. But at least these issues are not totally being swept under the rug of ignorance like before. I believe that your writing, interviews, and the voices of those in similar situations as yours (i.e.: mixed orientation marriages, SSA) can help many who feel that they are alone among the multitudes of church members. I believe that they would also be beneficial for those who are in positions to lead, guide and assist.
And even if you no longer consider yourself to be a Mormon; I'd like to think that this just might be your "calling". (I hope that you take no offense at this).
Thanks, SenecaSis. No offense taken at all. I also think it's important to talk about these things.
ReplyDeleteSo do you think you will one day publish these?
ReplyDeleteI might. I've thought about it. I'll see what I have when I'm done and go from there.
ReplyDelete