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(Note: I sent a message similar to this to one of the previous editors of this article but later realized I should have just posted it here.)
I have been asked by Mr. Hafen to revise his Wiki biography. Although this is my first foray into Wikipedia, I'm assuming that making this revision without discussing it with recent editors would be only temporarily successful and probably bad etiquette. I'd like to avoid an edit war and associated unpleasantries. Mr. Hafen's main concern is that the last two sentences (pasted from the Salt Lake Tribune) lack context. He does not deny what he is quoted as saying but would like to add more text from the online transcript of his address. He would also like to add a couple of sentences about his background, publishing, and speaking experience in family law and education law.
What is the most productive way to proceed? Would you like me to include here a draft of the text I was considering adding to the page? (It still includes "it's not in your DNA" and the part about the APA's decision, but more text from Mr. Hafen's address has been added.) Please advise.
I recognize that I have a potential conflict of interest but would like to do as much as I can within those parameters. CedricMalone ( talk) 21:16, 2 December 2009 (UTC)
Please see "Option 1" and "Option 2" below. Now that I have read the Wiki guidelines suggested to me here and in other places, I can see that option 1 might not fly. I would like your feedback.
Current: (to be replaced) Hafen denies that there is a biological link to sexual orientation, stating that same-sex attraction is "not in your DNA". He says that the American Psychological Association was politically motivated to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. [1]
Option 1: As a Professor of Law at BYU from 1973-1996, his teaching and research focused on family law and education law, with particular interests in the legal rights of children and in the legal status of marriage. A sample of his scholarly articles includes publications in the Harvard Law Review, Harvard International Law Journal, Michigan Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Ohio State Law Journal, and the American Bar Association Journal. Two of his articles were cited in opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court. [1] He has been an invited speaker at professional conferences on family, education, and constitutional law in a variety of international and domestic locations.
In a 2009 speech in Utah, Hafen spoke to Evergreen International, a support group for people who desire to overcome their own same-gender attraction. A portion of his remarks summarized “the secular case against same-gender marriage.” He cited the 2006 decision of the French parliament rejecting gay marriage so that children “do not suffer as a result of situations imposed on them by adults. The interest of the child must outweigh the exercise of freedom by adults, whatever life choices are made by the parents.” He also stated that same-sex attraction is “not in your DNA,” observing that while “inherited susceptibilities” and “natural personality traits do influence one’s inclinations” toward same-gender attraction, the “idea that there is a ‘gay gene’” that determines gender attraction “has little scientific support.” He stated that the gay rights movement represents “an aggressive political movement” more than it represents “substantive change in the medical or legal evidence.” For example, he said, the decision of the American Psychological Association to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973 came from “putting the issue to an open vote in their professional meetings—not because of any change in actual medical findings.” [2]
Option 2
In a 2009 speech in Utah, Hafen spoke to
Evergreen International, a support group for people who desire to overcome their own same-gender attraction. His
address generated a wide range of responses and was reported on in Salt Lake City's two major newspapers: the
Salt Lake Tribuneand the
Deseret News.
(With option 2, I was thinking/hoping this would be neutral, because the Tribune gave a less-than-favorable report and the Deseret News gave a more favorable report. Referencing the two could offer some balance. Hafen's main concern with the two sentences shown above in "Current" is that they are a very brief, incomplete, arbitrary description of what he said. He covered a lot of ground in his talk. Could we simply say when and where the talk was given, provide a link to the talk, and provide links to counterbalancing news coverage?) CedricMalone ( talk) 21:16, 2 December 2009 (UTC)
References
Please see revision below to Option 1, to replace current paragraph stated above. I have taken into account comments made above and would appreciate feedback.
As a professor of law at BYU from 1973 to 1996, his teaching and research focused on family law and education law, with particular interests in the legal rights of children and in the legal status of marriage. A sample of his scholarly articles includes publications in the Harvard Law Review, Harvard International Law Journal, Michigan Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Ohio State Law Journal, and the American Bar Association Journal. Two of his articles were cited in opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court. [3]
In a 2009 speech in Utah, Hafen spoke to Evergreen International, an organization of people who desire to overcome their own same-gender attraction. He acknowledged that Church leaders and members alike reach out in sympathy and love to those with unwanted same-gender struggles. Hafen further mentioned that "every day may feel like a major battle.” In the context of describing the universal fatherhood of God, Hafen stated, "Having same-gender attraction is NOT in your DNA, but being a child of God clearly IS in your spiritual DNA--only one generation removed from him whom we call Father in Heaven." Hafen observed that while “inherited susceptibilities” and “natural personality traits do influence one’s inclinations” toward same-gender attraction, the “idea that there is a ‘gay gene’” that determines gender attraction “has little scientific support.”
Additionally, a portion of his remarks summarized “the secular case against same-gender marriage.” He cited the 2006 decision of the French parliament rejecting gay marriage so that children “do not suffer as a result of situations imposed on them by adults." He stated that the gay rights movement represents “an aggressive political movement” more than it represents “substantive change in the medical or legal evidence.” For example, he said, the decision of the American Psychological Association to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973 came from “putting the issue to an open vote in their professional meetings—not because of any change in actual medical findings.” [4]
The follow-up article in the Salt Lake Tribune included the statements made above in regard to the APA, as well as Will Carlson's contrasting response from Equality Utah: "These young men and women at Evergreen are experiencing normal attractions right now.... It's irresponsible...to suggest that if someone just wants to bad enough, they can be straight." The Tribune also recounted Hafen's caution as cited at the conference: “Whenever the devil -- whom Hafen referred to as ‘the adversary’ -- tries to ‘convince you that you are hopelessly “that way,” so that acting out your feelings is inevitable, he is lying,’ Hafen said. 'He is the father of lies.'" In the Deseret News' article subsequent to Evergreen's annual conference, Groves and Taylor summarized partly as follows: “With his background in family law, Elder Hafen, the former Dean of BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School, listed four misconceptions that he said activists try to establish as facts to try to influence policymakers and the public:
101heather ( talk) 08:19, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
When Bruce left the practice of law and joined the administration at Brigham Young University (late summer of 1971), he choose to teach an Honors Religion class. Prior to the commencement of the semester he was the invited speaker at a Late Summer Honors fireside. Many of the students attending were so impressed by his ability to communicate, his youth (then only a little more than 10 years older than the soon to be Freshmen), his testimony, and the topics he covered that they immediately selected him to be their first religion teacher. A number of those students stayed after class regularly, asking follow-up questions. He opened his house to the class on more than one occasion, giving them a glimpse of the breath of his talents and interests including performing Chopin and Debussey for them. Life-long friendships were forged such that when the same group meet for a 20 plus (about 24?) year reunion, Bruce was again asked to provide the fireside talk, this time held in the home of Susan Winder Tanner (married to John Sears Tanner). At the conclusion of the first semester, Bruce was invited by the then Susan Winder and others to give the keynote welcoming speech at the ACT recruitment workshop held in January 1972 where he gave a thought provoking speech on Why BYU and why excellence? [1] — Preceding unsigned comment added by RobertERichards1953 ( talk • contribs) 08:10, 11 January 2014 (UTC) RobertERichards1953 ( talk) 08:23, 11 January 2014 (UTC)
References
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Editors new to WP have recently included a number of additions to this article. While all of this has been done in good faith, the edits have included some challenges, including 1) removal of incline citations, 2) unsourced additions of content, 3) information not provided in WP style - including some appropriate linking that could occur, 4) undue "analysis" of key teachings or views, or 5) not adhering to MOS. As a result, I have tried to assist in updating the desired additions to be more consistent with article format and content. One of the editors performed a full revert of these updates, but I don't believe understands or has reviewed any of the reasoning behind the edits. I'd welcome discussion of any of these issues, along with understanding how WP works, before content is again inserted. Additionally, the article may be of sufficient length now to warrant some subheadings to assist in the organization of it, along with improving readability. ChristensenMJ ( talk) 16:58, 21 March 2017 (UTC)