Upon reading Heather Wrigley’s viewpoint (“Real news vs. publicity stunts,” Nov. 10), it was apparent to me that the story of 50 people trucking a handcart full of petitions to the Church Office Building must indeed be “real news.”
Why else would she devote over 500 words to try to convince us otherwise? The fact that the LGBT community has been trying for months now to open a dialogue with the church hierarchy on gay issues, only to be stonewalled by them, must be frustrating. No wonder they come up with creative ideas to get the media to acknowledge their futile efforts at communication. This is the news story.
All media exhibit a bias when presenting their “news.” Fox, CNN, MSNBC, The Trib and the News, et al., choose to “present” and edit their news to appeal to their constituents. Excuse me Wrigley, but … oops, your bias is showing. Minimalizing the LGBT community’s agenda does not show you in a very good light.
Maybe if you were gay, their reaching out for understanding would be considered news to you.
Wayne Belka
Salt Lake City
Feeds 
Why else would she spend 500 on an article? You obviously mistake Heather's thorough explanation of a news organization's task of determining the newsworthiness of events and issues for an attempt on her part to justify the DU's lack of coverage of the gay hike downhill to the Church Office building, exclusively. Her viewpoint article admitted that to a point, that aforementioned task is somewhat subjective, but hardly serves as evidence of open or even hidden bias against a group or issue. If the Cubs suck during the same year that the White Sox make it to the world series, which team should the Chicago Trib. give more coverage to? THAT's what the 500 words were about, not unjust treatment of a publicity stunt by whatever group.
The Church is one of the most charitable and genuinely caring organizations in the world for those who deal with homosexuality. They preach true faith, mercy, repentance, and forgiveness. They do not judge, nor look down upon those souls afflicted with sins they are honestly trying to overcome. The church has long provided excellent resources for those struggling with such things as alcohol, drugs, and pornography. In the last few decades they have also made similar resources available for individuals with homosexual tendencies.
Some of these resources include, among other things, LDS family services, the "God Loveth His Children" manual, and free, personal, and private counseling for BYU students through the career and counseling center.
I submit that, for repentant sinners of all kinds, the church offers true "understanding" far better than LGBT organizations do - for they seek only to placate their members with lies that may bring some temporary relief, but only lead to more permanent sorrow, disappointment, and grief. For unrepentant sinners, however, the church and the gospel become a major stumbling block - which is as it should be according the words of the Savior himself.
The church refuses to meet with such groups because it knows that those groups do not seek to "come to an understanding" with the church, but only to convince the church to change its views and policies. And that will not, and cannot, ever happen.