Michele answered...

Sometimes if people know I am Mormon, they believe that I will not be friendly and accepting to those who practice a different lifestyle than mine. The truth is MOST of my dear friends do not share my lifestyle. I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, I don't watch R rated movies.

And, I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.

Does that mean that I don't want to be friends or on a committee with someone who is gay or lesbian? Not any more than I would avoid a person who smokes or drinks or watches R rated movies. While I don't choose to participate in those activities, I have many friends that I cherish dearly, including friends who are gay and lesbian, who view political and religious issues differently than me. I don't "tolerate" them. I adore them. And, thankfully, for me, they don't tolerate me either. We respectfully disagree on various political and religious issues, but there are so many other important things that bring us together as friends and community members. One of my most cherished friends, who identifies as a lesbian, told me the other day, "Michele, before you, I had a stigma about Mormons. You have changed that. I cherish you." Her remark is dear to my heart. It says she knows I love her, but even more, it says something about her that she gave me a chance when others told her not to. I am grateful she was willing to give me a chance because I gained a very special friend - a sister of my heart.