I had so many questions for Blaire Ostler, former CEO and current board member of the Mormon Transhumanist Association. What is it? What are its basic beliefs and tenets? Isn’t Transhumanism a mostly secular atheist movement? But, what if I don’t believe in Jesus or God, does that still jive with MTA?  How does the MTA interact with the LDS Church? I began to explore what Transhumanism means to Blaire and what inspired her dive into MTA, and led her to become the CEO! Please enjoy this informative and fascinating discussion!
Links mentioned in this episode:



* Mormon Transhumanist Association Webpage
* MTA Declaration
* MTA Affirmation
* MTA Primer
* MTA YouTube Channel
* Humanity+
* VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
* Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
* Transition pieces found here




MHH83: Mormon Transhumanist Association with Blaire Ostler

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Elena Thurston returns to share with us how the PoS, the new LDS LGBT Policy Handbook update dubbed the Policy of Silence, still affects families and children who want to serve missions. There has been no update, no clarification regarding children of “same-sex attracted” parents and the requirement that they disavow that parent in order to serve a mission with the LDS Church. This existing policy continues to cause excruciating emotional damage to children and families. Members who “suffer from same-sex attraction” are still encouraged, forced or feel no other choice than to seek out conversion therapy to “fix” their homosexual attractions. A practice that results in youth 8.4x more likely to attempt suicide. GLAAD reports “San Francisco State University found that “compared with LGBTQ young people who were not rejected or were only a little rejected by their parents and caregivers because of their gay or transgender identity, highly rejected LGBTQ young people were:

* 8.4x more likely to report having attempted suicide
* 5.9x more likely report high levels of depression
* 3.4x more likely to use illegal drugs
* 3.4x more likely to be at high risk of HIV and STDs”

Links mentioned in the episode:

* Patreon FULL VIDEO of Elena’s Episode
* Elena’s Amazing Ted Talk about Her Experience with Conversion Therapy
* Elena’s Love Story on MHH
* GLAAD Discusses Efficacy and Consequences of Conversion Therapy
* VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
* Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
* Transition pieces found here

 

MHH96: The PoS (Policy of Silence) And Families with Elena Thurston

Amidst the Letter to the IRS Whistleblower attention, a very important update to Handbook 2 was released by the LDS Church and then revised a few days later. This update contains heavy-handed silencing and further exclusion and denial of the existence of the LGBTQIA community. It isn’t “faith-promoting” as they say, and it is a policy dictating that we obey, conform, and cease to mention “personal characteristics” that detract from the focus of Jesus Christ because Mormon Jesus is a bigot. Join Blaire Ostler, a voice of passion and love who will not be silent when speaking of the LGBT brothers and sisters of this world.
Links mentioned in the episode:



* FULL VIDEO of this conversation on Patreon
* KSL: Handbook, Latter Day Saints shouldn’t talk politics, sexual orientation ‘in a way that detracts’ from meetings’ focus on Christ
* Blaire Ostler’s Guest Post on Exponent II Blog: Living in Silence
* Blaire’s FB Post RE: PoS and Oaks
* LDS Church: Summary of Handbook Updates
* Blaire’s FB that her Bishop made her delete, republished
* VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
* Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
* Transition pieces found here



 

MHH95: Queer Perspectives on the PoS (The Policy of Silence)

Ryan McKnight joins me to talk about one of his very favorite topics, LDS Church Finances, and the incredible documents leaked in the “Letter to the IRS Director” where a whistleblower alleges the LDS Church has hoarded over $100 BILLION in charitable donations from it’s members, aka tithing. Did you know the LDS church has been stockpiling $8 billion tithing funds annually in an account since ’97, now amassing a total of $124 BILLION and has allegedly only dispersed these funds twice? Why are they collecting this money? Why are they not transparent? How do YOU feel about the information that has been collected in this whistleblower leak?
Links mentioned in the episode:

* Washington Press: Mormon Church has Misled Members on $100 Billion Tax-Exempt Investment Fund, Whistleblower Alleges
* 7 Minute Video: Letter to an IRS Director
* 1 hr Video: Extended Video: Letter to an IRS Director
* PDF Document: Letter to an IRS Director
* Mormonleaks: $32 Billion Investments
* VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
* Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
* Transition pieces found here

 

MHH94: Hot Takes on the Whistleblower Letter to the IRS

There comes a time for many of us who have moved on from Mormonism that we feel ready to move on from the community that validated us when we left Mormonism. We are done with the triggers and are ready to embrace joy, happiness, and filling our lives with other interests! Up next in this series to share with us her own story of exploration, trauma and an exciting new adventure is Terina Maldonado. She is full of experience and loves helping others find themselves after a trauma.
Links:

* VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
* Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
* Transition pieces found here

 

MHH93: Becoming and EX ExMormon: Terina’s Story

Have you discovered the intriguing and glee-inducing world of subversive cross-stitch? It is from this creativity that I bring you the inspiring talent behind Bad Bible Stitches, a collection of art found on Instagram that showcases the more…colorful verses of holy writ for beautiful display. That creative woman is Jessica Hartle, who is also an incredible aerial performer! Join us as Jessica walks us through growing up amongst the FLDS in rural Utah, raised with certain modesty and purity ideas as are common within Mormonism, to a faith transition that encouraged her to use her art to help others explore what their faith is really all about. In a transformative and healing journey, she is also active in the Utah Performance community, finding and loving herself in talented, artistic dance. If you’d prefer to watch this conversation instead of just listen, head over to Patreon and watch the full video!
Links mentioned in this episode:



* FULL VIDEO of Jessica’s interview on Patreon
* Bad Bible Stitches on Instagram
* Persephone Aerial Arts on Instagram
* The Moxy Movement
* CALL Mormon Happy Hour at 435-494-1427
* VENMO for Mormon Happy Hour one time donations
* Music by bensound.com and by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
* Transition pieces found here



 

MHH83: Mormon Transhumanist Association with Blaire Ostler

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