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

[ramal]

One small kiss for two men, one giant leap for mankind.

[RedGinger]

Great comment, coming 40 yrs ago from the space shuttle.

[XCITIZEN]

It was Apollo, not the shuttle - peace and love :) I know it was just a typo!

[RedGinger]

Should have said, John Glenn...first man to walk on the moon.

[Mort]

Huh?

[Godweiser]

Bravo!

[Forester]

I'm sure LDS security cameras got it all.

Why not release the videos to prove their behavior really was lewd?

[Godweiser]

I would imagine they are not complementary to their case otherwise they'd be splashing stills and video about as a damage-control measure. Instead, they're bunkering down, which means they probably don't have a case and want to avoid a case against them.

Not that any case will happen outside of the federal level, as they pretty much run that city and state. Must be nice to have so much money that you can subvert justice. Just like the 'schismatic' Jeffs.

[eilish]

I lost interest in Mormonism when I was told that my attitude towards homosexuality disturbed the Church members. My 'attitude' comes from having an absolutely marvelous son who is gay; my best friend is also gay. Poor guy was a missionary for the church, and very introverted because of how he was treated when he couldn't get married as he was told. Being gay in a very small Mormon town is horrific, so every week without fail we go out for lunch and a movie together. Bigger scandal yet? I'm married to a Mormon guy.

[Disuberence]

The worst part is, Mormons are tame compared to the way they were in the past. Just think, if you and your husband were both devout mormons 30 years ago and your son told you he was gay, the recommended course by the Church would have been sending him to be degayed by electrocution. Wonderful people.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

I don't really want to assume how devout your husband is, but if either of you believe that Bible to be true, you'd understand that unnatural affection, as referred to in the Old Testament, is meant to be homosexuaIity. Now I'm sure your son is a great guy, but the LDS beliefs say that homosexuaIity is a choice. I hope you don't become offended by my comments, but that is probably why most of the LDS families you live around look down on your son.

[Disuberence]

The entire mormon faith is based on a l ie dude. How can you follow it? Look up State of New York vs Joseph Smith. Admitting to fraud underoath isn't a good way to found a religion. Not to mention DNA testing... lack of physical evidence...

[Green-Zanto]

Why should anyone care what a cult based on fraud, fiction, and myth says about homosexuality?

To take the Old Testament seriously on this issue is equally ludicrous. The men who wrote these fables lived in an era when people still thought the Earth was flat and that the sun revolved around us. Why should we take their views on homosexuality seriously? Why should they be remotely relevant? It's absurd.

The LDS religion is a cult, and mainstream Christianity isn't all that different.

[Montgriz]

Christ came to earth to promote the NEW TESTAMENT....the old one just wasn't working out.....

[aftershock]

"you'd understand that unnatural affection, as referred to in the Old Testament, is meant to be homosexuaIity."

As has been pointed out to you previously (to which you conveniently didn't reply), those writing the Bible had no concept what-so-ever of homosexuality as a NATURALLY occurring sexuality. It occurs in nearly every species. Therefore, whatever "unnatural" love their talking about cannot possibly be homosexuality as we now know that it is perfectly natural. You can claim all you want to the contrary, but the word "homosexual" didn't exist than, they could NOT have meant homosexual. Homosexual refers to a sexual orientation, men lying with men unnaturally refers to sexual acts alone, not to attraction.

[hardcorelib]

Like all lemmings - Conservador-Rebelde spouts of nonsense.

[Godweiser]

Good on you. I think love of a child is far more of an imperative than obedience to a mortal institution contrived by mortals and suspiciously obsessed with controlling its flock.

[Mort]

We probably share some of our attitudes about the subject since we both have wonderful children who are gay, and very much loved. I see changes in the church, just as society is changing. Tolerance is cultivated. Sooner or later the extremists on each side will have to open their eyes, take a few steps forward and shake hands. As long as folks like you continue to be examples of unity it will keep rubbing off on others.

[hardcorelib]

Wow! I finally agree with Mort (struck dead)

[Conservador-Rebelde]

"A police report said they SAT DOWN for a kiss"

I didn't know about that part earlier. Anyone found "sitting down for a kiss" in the night would be asked to stop their inappropriate behavior, regardless of sexuaI orientation. This just shows society's obvious intolerance of the LDS church.

[PlaceboStudman]

The story from the police and LDS seems to continue to evolve if you read the time line. The gay gentlemen in question however seem to be relatively consistent

[Conservador-Rebelde]

I do have to admit, I haven't read the police report, but if this was in there the first time, it really should alleviate any questions about discrimination.

[RainbowPhoenix]

Except they don't ask straight couples to stop. They only singled out a gay couple.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

How many straight couples have been ignored for "sitting down for a kiss?" At night time, I'm sure the security guards try to have everybody just walk through the plaza so that they don't have any problems. "Sitting down for a kiss" is what they thought was inappropriate, not that they were gay.

[Disuberence]

Wrong, but whatever you need to tell yourself. I know you're a Mormon so... I guess a certain amount of uh... uh... untruths need to be told to yourself.

[Green-Zanto]

The Mormon Cult was founded by a known fraud who claimed he conversed with a supernatural angel (no witnesses) and translated a magical golden tablet by looking into a hat. The Mormon Cult believes that people will rule as Gods on alien planets after they die, and their holy books contain histories of North America that are proven to be utterly false by both archaeology and common sense.

Why exactly should this belief system be "tolerated"? I'm not suggesting it should be outlawed or anything, but it's certainly not a belief that should be taken remotely seriously and it should be free of ridicule. It is utterly ridiculous. It's the Scientology of the 1800's. Why should we pretend that this belief system isn't crazy? It is. It's completely over the top absurd.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

Do you share these same sentiments for all religions, or just the LDS faith? That is why I know there is intolerance towards the church, because it is persecuted far more heavily than any other church, which you could use the same arguments to say it is a cuIt.

[NoSillyName]

I was thinking of Scientology as I read your account of the cult's beliefs.

Thanks for tying it in with this other group.

Both nutty.

[Montgriz]

actually, all things being equal, Scientology makes more sense than mormonism....

[Mort]

I think I figured out where you got that ridiculous hat reference. From Fawn Brodie. No wonder some of your claims are so off the wall. Better get some new references! Preferably truthful ones.

[Godweiser]

Look, when you fork over 10% of your earnings to an organization that then decides to fund a campaign to oppress another group, and then single out said group in a public area when not enforcing said restriction (with no notification in the form of a sign) on another group, you shouldn't be complaining about how people are prejudiced against you.

Where I come from, they call that 'effing hypocrisy.'

Your shaman, elders, priests, whatever made their decision and now they can lay in that bed.

But thanks for the karma-breaking lulz. When Mormons start walking the walk rather than talking the talk about freedoms and civil rights, I'll start worrying about them.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

I suggest you learn some real facts about prop. 8. Feel free to look through my comments, as I've explained it many-a-time.

[XCITIZEN]

Ok, since we gays control the weather, I am seriously thinking about sending an earthquake and a thunderstorm to really freak the Mormons out.

[eilish]

Nah, just light fire to a bush.

[oceanofconsciousness]

The storm is coming...

[Disuberence]

You forgot the accent.


The storm, is comeen.

[Godweiser]

Howabout a golden shower over Salt Lake City?

[NWBrunette]

Great! Let's get as many people as possible, gay, straight, indeterminate, whatever... out there kissing up a storm. Make it a weekly SLC ritual.

[Godweiser]

They have a temple in DC, I think it ought to happen there as well.

Who knows, it might even be liberating for some people to get in a little public kissing.

[PlaceboStudman]

Forget SLC, we need to do this in every major metropolitan city from coast to coast. Take over Madison Square Garden in NYC and the Rose Bowl in Pasedina and stage HUGE kiss ins

[XCITIZEN]

A big wet kiss, with a little extra tongue slipped in, to all the outraged Mormons.

[Whinger]

There are no homosexuals in the Mormon church, ain't that right Joe!

[AdamX]

Tolerance for homosexuals, and no tolerance for mormons. Respect for those going to a private place, where they are not welcome, and provoking them. No respect for those of an oposing view.

You get to determine for everyone else what is right - right? But, let's not let a Mormon give their opinion. You will cough up every last dime for your cause, but let's not let a mormon contribute to their cause.

You are all hypocrites. Sexuality and marriage is NOT a topic for government, nor should it be. You insist! The government must be involved in marriage and sex! You poor, confused lot.

[The Ghost]

The Constitution defines what is right in America, NOT the sky monster.

[Disuberence]

For those not following the story from the beginning (like me) the original statement released by a spokeswoman for the LDS church said they were approached for "kissing" and asked to leave.

She then said, "Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said in a statement Friday that the men were "politely asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior _ just as any other couple would have been."" (Which apparently now has turned into them bumpin' and grindin' in the plaza -- Mormons, always the drama queens.)

Btw, check this out, same plaza, same spot. http://i32.tinypic.com/feibk2.jpg

Looks like those two security guards standing right there are gonna grab them! Yep... any day now... any day...

[Conservador-Rebelde]

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

That is the behavior they were asked to stop, the sitting down for a kiss, as in, it's going to be a while. Anyone would have been asked to stop that.

[aftershock]

"
Btw, check this out, same plaza, same spot. http://i32.tinypic.com/feibk2.jpg

Looks like those two security guards standing right there are gonna grab them! Yep... any day now... any day..."

LMAO!! Priceless, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

[Godweiser]

No one's telling Mormons they can't worship. Mormons are telling homosexuals they can't marry. Mormons are great ones for complaining about their civil rights while actively and vigorously campaigning against the rights of others.

There's no contradiction in the pro-gay rights stance, despite what you imagine to be a skewed position. It has to do with a reckoning of who is imposing on whom. Like many things associated with homophobia, the reckoning that two men kissing harms a person is strictly a decision made in the mind of the person who decided not to look away and proceed on with their lives, who instead made a decision to rupture a vein over two citizens doing what any other two citizens are entitled to do in public.

No signs were posted, "Homoz kain't kiss" in the plaza, which is a pedestrian thoroughfare to other parts of the city and, guess what? Case law anywhere but Utah, where the Church gets to unduly influence the courts with their sort of pseudo-law, would back the assertion that the actions of the security goons and the police were egregious and illegal.

There are people in America who have seen unspeakable things, such as the horrors of combat and famine abroad, and it's a mockery that a bunch of religious nutters are twisting their panties over having to see a momentary kiss.

[hardcorelib]

Great reply Godweiser!

[PlaceboStudman]

get your little imaginary friend out of my bedroom and my life in general. My nephew outgrew his imaginary friend around age 5, what's your excuse for still believing?

[RainbowPhoenix]

That private space was a formaly public space that is next to impossible not to go through. Such spaces are subject to public access laws. The couple was on their way home, made a quick display of affection that was ignored when straight couples do it to be singled out for a violation of mormon doctrine that they claim applies evenly to gay and straight couples even though that is clearly a lie.

The mormons donated $20 million dollars to remove the civil rights of a group of people on an issue that doesn't have any affect on them. If they really feel so strongly about it, they should be willing to take the flac for it.

As long as the government provides benefits to married couples, it is a topic for them. There is nothing hypocritical about demanding a change to discriminatory laws.

[Godweiser]

People wonder why they are criticized for their homophobia; I'm happy to clear it up.

Yes, if you are disturbed by homosexuality, that means it -IS- your problem. However, lots of Americans prefer to complain and defer responsibility for their own reactions; rather than understand that they allow themselves to be upset over homosexuals and displays of affection, they have decided to demand that the powers that be scour the landscape of all temptation.

"How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks." - Marcus Aurelius

"Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them." - Epictetus

According to many philosophies, including that of mainstream western civilization, the inability to deal with seeing a momentary kiss and turning it into a huge problem where people go on a crusade to make laws against the act of two others, who have nothing to do with the 'offended,' so as to create ease in their mind, is the ultimate act of self-indiscipline and is more than a little barbaric and backward. Even Christianity counsels self-discipline, yet little of it is in evidence among Calvinistically-minded Americans who tend to imagine, stress imagine here, that they are perfect and, thus, everyone else is the problem.

[UsofA]

Good quotes.

[XCITIZEN]

Add me to your fan list!

[hardcorelib]

FANNED!!!!

[SD Indy]

I keep hearing people say that SLC has no bearing in this case or that SLC can't do anything about it. Wrong! They CAN do something about it and utilize the power it has to regain control of the property, Eminent Domain! Of course, the conservative US Supreme Court made this option available when it ruled on the side of New London in the case Kelo v New London.

The city may acquire ANY private property it wishes provided there is a good public purpose for them to do so. What is the public purpose? To ensure a policy of non-discrimination.

Granted this won't happen, since SLC's city council is literally OWNED by Mormons, but hey, the city DOES have recourse.

[madtom]

I'm straight, and I'm boycotting EVERYTHING Mormon.

[derekc06]

I'm pretty sure I already do that inadvertently...

[The Ghost]

You'd be surprised how many companies the Church owns.

[UsofA]

You'll never eat Jello again?!

[SD Indy]

Haven't in over 20 years. I sure as heII wouldn't start now!

[lazercat2008]

They have me on a short leash tonight. I won't play then.

[Gayrove]

Repressive as the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is much easier to watch scores of videos and even more stills of anti-government events there on Huff Post, than it is to see ANY photos from a kiss-in at Mormon Republic of Utah.

[zetacplus]

I hope these kiss ins keep going. We need to be out in the public and seen. We shouldn't have to hide who we are, we should be able to hold our partners hand, or kiss without being stared at or called insulting names. For too long we've been made to feel inferior but we will continue to push for equal rights. Once our government stops discriminating against us and we are allowed to marry, serve openly in the military, and live our lives with equal protections, people will begin to not even give it a thought. I really look forward to that day.

[Green-Zanto]

Most people in my generation already don't give it a second thought. I don't know anyone my age who has a problem with you folk getting married. The next generation is going to be even more accepting, and the next generation even more accepting. It's inevitable.

No civil rights struggle in American history has ever been lost. Not one. This trend isn't about to reverse itself. In a few decades people opposed to homosexuality are going to be looked at in the same way people today look at those who opposed desegregation.

[UsofA]

Good points.

[PlaceboStudman]

We must keep fighting and defending ourselves, even if certain people continually call us bullies, for Invisible man in the sky only knows why

[Godweiser]

They oughta gather up straight people to help out, and then march on Mormon temples in places like Washington DC. I don't think that would dilute the message.

Someone could pitch it as a marketing opportunity to Crest or the various chewing gum companies, to boot.

[hardcorelib]

Thank you for that comment zetacplus!