Mass 'Kiss-In' Protest At Mormon Temple Leads To Confrontation

SALT LAKE CITY — A mass-kissing protest near the Mormon church temple Sunday drew a shouting match between gay activists and a group of faithful Mormons.

For the second consecutive weekend, about 100 people gathered to stage a "kiss-in" to protest the treatment of two gay men cited for trespassing July 9 after they shared a kiss on the plaza owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both gay and straight couples exchanged kisses during the protest.

Demonstrators were greeted at the south entrance by a group of protesters carrying large signs that denounced homosexuality, prompting a heated verbal exchange.

Police say no one was arrested or cited, despite a large group exchanging kisses by a reflecting pool at the plaza's center.

"We didn't call the police. We didn't do anything," church spokeswoman Kim Farah said.

The church bought one block of Salt Lake City's Main Street to build a plaza in the 1990s alongside the Temple, where Mormon marriages and other religious rituals take place.

Matt Aune has said he and his partner, Derek Jones, exchanged a modest kiss at the plaza 11 days ago, but church officials contend their behavior was lewd.

"There was much more involved that a simple kiss of the cheek," Farah said in a statement Friday. "They engaged in passionate kissing, groping, profane and lewd language, and had obviously been using alcohol."

The men have said they were walking home from a nearby concert and cutting through the plaza on their way home.

A police report said they sat down for a kiss and were approached by a pair of church security guards, who asked them to leave because their behavior was "unwanted."

Both were handcuffed and Aune was pinned to the ground.

Comments

[mendelcrosses]

Both were handcuffed and Aune was pinned to the ground.
#########################

And these hypocrites and others who tolerate their views complaint of the taliban dshing out lashes?

At least the Quaran does mentioned lashes where in Christ teachings is there a pinning of people on the gorund?

[nomad27]

And once again the Gay Movement finds a way to appear over the top and obnoxious. Mormons are a very "different" group of people, but I think with this episode they will win favor in the eyes of the casual American.

[BarackMan]

Really? ...I don't think so. Don't believe.....look at Romney's poll numbers.

[jcwtts1]

Without the violence I think you would be right. But what is up with the cuffs and throwing people to the ground. They crossed a line and their refusal to just admit that the security guards were out of line give this one to the LGBT community.

[NoSillyName]

What the heck is the "casual American"?

[Lyr]

If you read the police report from the incident there is no evidence that one of them was thrown to the ground or handled roughly.

[dct1999]

because police reports are always 100% accurate, right?

[aftershock]

You know funny that I once had a cop tell me he pulled me over because I was a white guy with a black guy in the car driving through a black neighborhood, but that just never got mentioned in the police report, and the officer refused to admit it in court. Yeah I REALLY trust cops.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

Here's something that was news to me:

"A police report said they sat down for a kiss."

That is why they were asked to leave, not because they were gay, but because they were sitting down for a kiss. Anybody would be asked not to do that, especially during the night time. Too bad everyone denies that point, however.

Good to see you, Lyr.

[poundsixzeros]

I'd rather be pinned to the ground than a cross!

[Busbydav]

The mormon church is the next westboro baptist church

[sturzl]

Fred Phelps in magic underwear. I just threw up a little.

[mrrobinson2u]

LOL...

[SwingingFromCenter]

Yeah, the perfect way to exact change in a place like Utah where it is very conservative and religious is to do everything you can to ANTAGONIZE them. That's a great idea!

Geez, who comes up with this nonsense? And the people who got thrown off private property were ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

[aftershock]

"And the people who got thrown off private property were ON PRIVATE PROPERTY."

Wrong.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Not wrong. The temple is owned by the church. Private property.

Read up before you speak again, mo.ron. I'm not a fan of the Mormons by any stretch of the imagination, but id.iots like you who ignore facts in order to try and have things to be an.gry at them about are even worse.

[darter22]

No, they were actually on public property that was misappropriated in a sleazy backroom deal between SLC and the Mormon Church.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Call it what you will, but it's private land, no matter how it was acquired.

[jcwtts1]

Here is the problem, I don't think change is possible in a place like Utah without first having a fight. This is a brawl that was started during the Prop 8 push in California so to act like this is just a momentary flare up isn't accurate. I don't see it stopping and I think it has larger national implications.

J

[BarackMan]

If you stick your nose in where it doesn't belong (Prop 8 in Calif.)...don't be surprised when you get bloodied and bruised.

[hardcorelib]

Why not? They have done everything in their power to cross state lines in addition to telling all their members to give money to deny gay people equal rights. They need to have the spotlight shown on their overt bigotry and backwards thinking. I say keep the antagonising going until they quit bankrolling the anti-gay movement.

[adoantarel]

How sad that these people are antogonized by simple kissing.

[RightWingMarine]

this is a good thing to see, this is freedom. A group doesn't care for the LDS policy of gay kissing on LDS property so that group goes to the adjacent property to stage a kiss-in protest. LDS members don't like this and stage a protest of their own. no one gets arrested and the police are only there to keep the two group separated.

[adoantarel]

Well said. Everyone got to make their point, no one was violent, and the law was respected. This is free speech.

[mrrobinson2u]

I still think they should open up a gay amusement park across the street of the big church...then get magic underwear and have a 'prophet' and get tax exempt status. Hallelujah...

[CigarGod]

"If thy eye offends thee, then pluck it out" Mark 9:47

Any eye patched guards walking around the Kissing Plaza?

[Bellla]

Church Police! Where else but in Monty Python or Saudi Arabia do you have Church Police!
I hate them, they destroyed my family and my childhood. I will always hate them for what they did to me.

[aardvark13]

Scientology centers have police also... go figure!

[hardcorelib]

Thanks Bella:

As an ex-Mormon gay they have also destroyed my relationship between my family and myself. Since they take the side of the church over their own family - it has caused hurt and strain between us. I will not even travel to Utah (that hate state) although my family lives in Salt Lake. That is what this church of hate and division has caused to my family. They are soooooo Christian - more like the Taliban.

[Blufftonian]

I'll say some extra prayers.

[filo]

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

John Lennon

[CigarGod]

Imagine overcoming dogma
it's easy if you try
No holy underwear
to protect you
No magic oil for your loins.

[NoSillyName]

Yes, John was a dreamer. Just imagine a beautiful world full or peace. Humans may not be around long enough to evolve beyond their base instincts and tribalism. Too sad to fully think about.

[jrandy]

Somewhat OT, but finally saw "Jesus Camp" last night... what a superb, horrifying and depressing documentary. What all these different sects have in common is that their cult members are obsessed with POWER... their focus in the film kept turning again and again to government and trying to grab seats of influence, brainwashing their young in the hopes that they might become a senator or president one day. All in order to perpetuate their silly fantasies and fairy tales and impose them on everyone else....

(shudders)

[PWM]

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich - Napoleon

Religion is an invention of the rich to control the poor by promising that if they do without in this life they will go to club med in heaven.

[Bafun]

I prefer club med on earth, I am sure it exists!!!

[CigarGod]

I have tried to get my Mormon family and friends to watch it, but they won't. Something about being made using the devil's influence.

That convenient defense always pops up when they don't really know how to deal with something.

[hardcorelib]

As a fellow ex-Mormon - I say AMEN to that comment CigarLib. The "devil" is always involved when if does not fit into their limited world view.

[NoSillyName]

These are Spalin's associates.

[mrrobinson2u]

CAtch Religilous too...by Bill Maher...funny and terrifying all at the same time.

[chaselv413]

It's time the federal government do an investigation on this cult. That's all they are is a cult.

[PWM]

All organized religions are cults.

[Grrr]

Bumper sticker I recently read: "Religions are just cults with more members"

[TrixieBunny]

Agreed.

[madtom]

Ah, but Mormons are a HIGHLY $UCCE$$FUL CULT.

I still don't understand how they get followers with IQ's over 70.

[NoSillyName]

Some much more than others. The older ones have sifted down to "just show up on the holy day and forget about it the rest of the week."

[RightWingMarine]

to what end? We are free in this country to believe in whatever religion we choose including cults.

[SLCPunk]

Correct, but when their actions take a political turn, they are no longer eligible for tax exempt status. They're blurring the line between a religious organization and a political one. Time to tax them.

[hardcorelib]

Yea - but when the cults break the law by getting involved in politics - we need to come down on them severely!

[JDRNYC]

Believe in whatever mythology you want to, just don't expect others to do the same. You can still believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa for that matter.

[larmarch5]

Don't Mormons believe in Jesus' command to Love One Another?

[PWM]

They interpret that to be limited to interactions between mormons.

[jrandy]

Not sure, but they do believe that an angel told someone to dig up some golden plates... lol

[CigarGod]

Yeah, but they also believe in the bible...where God commands people to go out and smite men, women and children.

[MSNichols]

And stone bad children and not wear polycotten.

[stepintothelight]

Again the "black vs. Gay issue pops up. Just disgusting!!!

[MissyPat]

No, this is the Mormons vs Gay's. No more, no less!

[The Ghost]

It's religious intolerance verses the US Constitution.

[TrixieBunny]

I guess I don't understand this protest. Why is it important to "force" someone's organization into acceptance? If their philosophy holds a certain principle or belief, what is the purpose of these "kiss-in's"? If they are showing support for the initial couple accused of public displays of affection, I guess it makes sense, but do the protesters really think they will change the mormon belief system and doctrine? If someone is on private property violating the ethics/rules of the private property owner, or in any way afflicting intentional disruption it bothers me that the protesters would do so. Kinda like blacks, jews and latinos going into a klan meeting held on private property and returning to protest their positions of not being accepted in their organization...

[messy]

The purpose is to protest the theology. Yes they do. After all, they changed the "blacks cannot be bishops" doctrine back in the 70s.

[TrixieBunny]

I guess using that position, doctrine of any church so easily influenced by public sentiment, holds no meaning.

[BlackJAC]

The Mormon President only had that revelation when the IRS threatened to revoke the church's tax-exempt status.

[CigarGod]

I think it was that they finally allowed blacks to hold the priesthood...so then they could advance and be bishops, etc.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

If you read some of the other comments you would see the Mormon Church has changed their stance on a variety of their religious tenets.All to keep the church a viable(money making)institution.But to answer your question about forcing someones organization into acceptance,this was an open area indistinguishable from the public thoroughfares.If they want to keep the public out,they should restrict access.

[TrixieBunny]

To this , I agree.

[dwight2]

everyone knows it isn't public property, at least one member of the gay couple had protested the sale. There are signs clearly stating that it is private property, but if you can be respectful you are free to enjoy the plaza.

I spent hours each week (probably far too much time, but I'll underestimate it at just hours a week) trying to debunk myths about what gay marriage would mean legally. However now that the gay rights supporters have a questionable case supporting their side they won't listen to the debunk. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you sit on I guess, you believe what you want to believe and gloss over the facts that don't support your position.

[propitiousmoment]

The mormon church funded a huge campaign against gay people in California. They have inserted themselves into the fight. If they want people to leave their religious beliefs alone, they should leave the secular laws alone. They do benefit from the laws (tax exempt status, First Amendment protections) so they should respect their obligation to refrain from meddling in politics in order to keep those benefits for themselves and their organization. If they want to directly influence the secular system, they have to stand for people meddling with their religious system.

[PWM]

They used the money they did not have to pay in taxes to deny other people their rights.

Wonder if they would be so quiet if the Roman Catholic Church threw its considerable wealth in a campaign to deny Moromons the right to wear their magic underwear.

[mendelcrosses]

They gay people have never tried to change any ones believes nor life style.

The protest is to say,the wont be intimidated and they are right in that respect. The whole point of having two people who love each other arrested for displaying their affection in public in a way allowed by the laws of this land is to intimidate them.

The mormon church MUST live by the laws of this land and not make the laws of this land.

[TrixieBunny]

There is NO respect in disrespecting others, Mendel. Protesting what mormons believe to be right or wrong by showing disrespect of their system on their turf does the cause a disservice.

Their lewdness laws apply to hetero as well as homo -sexual displays of affection, if I understand some of the previous posters.

There is no intimidation here if you look at it objectively.

[dakotawoman]

The protest is to highlight the source of much of the gay-hatred rampent in parts of America. Many religions, particularly Mormons, hold sex and gender issues as pivotal in parts of their theology. It is not a matter to live and let live to them -- deviations from the sexual norm threaten them on every level: personal of course, but even more importantly in a cosmic sense. Homosexuality challenges their very view of the universe and their place in it.

Because of this challenge, the church cultivates an anti-gay culture that reverberates and resontates with other homo-phobes. Protesting is necessary as conscience-raising and as education of the public. Of course the Mormons are free to BELIEVE and say what they want -- but again so are homosexuals. Mormons are free to teach what they want, but then again so are homosexuals.

Right now, public demonstrations are the classroom.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

I'm having a difficult time with this separation of church and state thing.How is it that a church such as LDS can have a lock on the government of Utah?This business of not paying taxes is based upon the idealistic notion that religious groups will help with the basic needs of their flock and to help the downtrodden.When we saw how much money was paid out and is still being paid out by the Catholic church for molestations committed by priests we discovered first hand, how greedy a church can be.Remember all those Catholic schools closing over the past few decades for lack of funds?Well they had the funds,but chose to run the school system as a business.We see these mega churches building stadium sized complexes with their very own fast food outlets like McDonalds on their premise.When are people going to wake up to this corruption and maybe,just maybe,revisit this no taxing the church thing.When the churches have to open their books to public scrutiny as any other corporation it's possible we will find enough for a serious chunk of money for our nations health care needs.After all isn't helping their fellow man one of the churches most pressing priorities?

[BlackJAC]

Given that Utah was originally settled by the Mormons?

[Balancement]

I think Native Americans were there first.

[cloudmaker]

I think it's wonderful for that prissy, sanctimonious, hypocritical, pseudo-church to be faced with this kind of exposure. It's the perfect revenge for their absurd magic-underwear religion. If I weren't an atheist, I
would say this is God's revenge for their unChristian attitude toward gays and their world-wide proselytizing. But since I am an atheist, I believe that the 21st century is catching up with this church and many others and that modern technology and the wisdom of the young will bring down all the temples of
intolerance.

[messy]

You mean the same god that said buggery was an abomination and required the death penalty?

[PWM]

Or a rape victim to marry her rapist.

[hardcorelib]

Thank you cloudmaker.