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Stuart Matis (1967-2000)

Stuart Matis Remembered

March 6, 2000

The BYU Daily Universe carried the following letter:

Dear Editor:

On Friday, I had to do one of the toughest things I've ever had to do in my life. I had to dedicate the grave of one of my best friends, Stuart Matis, who was also my brother. As many may already know from the press, he was the gay LDS man who shot himself. He chose this course of action because he felt, as he said in his own words, "Either one is gay or one is Christian. As I believed that I was a Christian, I believed that I could never be gay." He tried desperately to change for over 20 years, but in the end, he realized that it was not to be. This was more than he could handle.

I would encourage everyone to contemplate how they act and feel toward homosexuals. One of the biggest criticisms that the Pharisess and Sadducees, the supposed religious leaders of the day, said of Jesus was that he associated with publicans and harlots. Jesus even made one of those publicans, Matthew, one of his apostles. Whose example then, as Christians, are we going to follow? Are we going to follow the Pharisees and Sadducees who were puffed up in self-righteousness or Jesus Christ who showed love and compassion to everyone?

To those who feel that my brother was no better than a murderer or an adulterer, I would like to say that the murderer and adulterer choose to be what they are. My brother didn't choose to be homosexual any more than you or I chose the color of our skin. Many who knew him say that he was one of the most Christ-like people they had ever met. He was a son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and true friend.

Bill Matis; Santa Clara, Calif.

© The Daily Universe