Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 15:29:45 -0500 (EST)
From: Christopher Rizo <csrizo@pol.net>
Subject: MEMORIAL FOR GAY MORMON MARTYR
May 2, 2000
								
		
MEMORIAL HELD YESTERDAY FOR GAY MORMON MARTYR
Chris Rizo
The California Triangle

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--A memorial service was held last night for 
Henry `Stuart' Matis of Los Altos.  Matis shot himself in the head at 
the Mormon Church he attended last Tuesday night sending a plea to 
the Mormon Church to reconsider its treatment of homosexual Mormons.

In an 11-page letter Matis wrote to his gay cousin blasting 
Proposition 22 and the Mormon Church's treatment of gays and 
lesbians, a letter written only days before his death, called the 
Church's position on homosexuality pathologic. 

`Homophobia,' he said,  `is a disease that destroys families and 
unfortunately the Church's rhetoric and actions will only continue to 
nurture this disease.'  Matis said, `Straight members have no idea 
what it is like to grow up in this church.'  Matis called his life as 
a gay Mormon one of `constant torment.'  For Matis, he described the 
life he was about to end, as an existence filled with never-ceasing 
sentiments of `self-hatred and internalized homophobia.'

Concluding his letter, Matis said the `successful passage of 
Proposition 22 will do absolutely nothing.'  He explains, `Wives will 
still be battered, children will still be abused and spouses will 
still commit adultery.'

Fred Matis addressed the some-300 gathered at the memorial service 
and said he did not want to see his son's death used as `political 
fodder.'  Later, Matis told the Triangle his son's death was not to 
protest Proposition 22, a California March ballot measure that would 
ban same-sex marriage in California, a campaign the late Matis was 
actively involved in defeating.

Marilyn Matis, read from her son's suicide note read to the moved 
congregation, `I hope my death will be a catalyst for change.'  She 
went on to read her son did not want his parents to `blame' 
themselves for his decision to end his own life, reassuring them he 
would soon be at `peace'.'

`I think the family is grieving for the loss of their son,' said 
Jeanie Besamo, a close friend of the late Matis. `But, I was 
disappointed,' she said.  `Stuart's family celebrated their son's 
life by only acknowledging the fact he lived as a celibate.'  And 
that she said is `wrong.'  For Besamo, Stuart was much more than just 
a gay, celibate Mormon.  

In an emotional interview with the California Triangle she said, `He 
was more than that.  Stewart was a man who wanted nothing more than 
to be accepted as a good Mormon.  He was my friend,' saying she would 
never let the memory of her dear friend die in vain.  

`Yes, we should grieve for his death and to know he is no longer 
struggling to reconcile his own sexuality with church dogma,' said 
Besamo. `What we should grieve more, however, is for the Church's 
lack of responsibility for its treatment of Stuart and other gay and 
lesbian Mormons.' 

`I have a large gay Mormon community telling me we cannot let this be 
buried,' said Besamo.  `To let Stuart's sacrifice for other gay and 
lesbian Mormons go unnoticed would be unfortunate.'
####