On the left, a highly motivated and distinguished panel of Mormon feminist leaders has finished their opening comments to laughter and a standing ovation. At the Q&A microphone stands possibly the lone voice of Mormon orthodoxy here, “I was promised that I wouldn’t be excommunicated from Sunstone or tarred and feathered,” says 81 year-old David Richardson of Salt Lake City, who speaks of respect and patience in tones more condescending than educational. Hoping to defend his faith from these bossy firebrands, he unwittingly provides a textbook example of the sort of thing all six women had been talking about. The response from the panel is just short of running Richardson out on a rail.
“Hashtag mansplaining!” is the first retort, greeted with laughter and thunderous applause. It’s David vs. Goliath in more ways than one, but of course it’s really the old white men like David Richardson in the Goliath role, and the loyal opposition here at the Sunstone Symposium is standing before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The question is, how much longer before the real stone flies?
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