Salt Lake OKs gay rights laws with Mormon backing

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church for the first time has announced its support of gay rights legislation, an endorsement that helped gain unanimous approval for Salt Lake city laws banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment.

The Utah-based church's support ahead of Tuesday night's vote came despite its steadfast opposition to gay marriage, reflected in the high-profile role it played last year in California's Proposition 8 ballot measure that barred such unions.

"The church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage," Michael Otterson, the director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said.

Passage made Salt Lake City the first Utah community to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the two new ordinances, it is illegal to fire someone from their job or evict someone from their residence because they are lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender.

Utah lawmakers tend to quickly fall in line when the influential church makes a rare foray into legislative politics. So Tuesday's action could have broad effects in this highly conservative state where more than 80 percent of lawmakers and the governor are church members.

"What happened here tonight I do believe is a historic event," said Brandie Balken, director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah. "I think it establishes that we can stand together on common ground that we don't have to agree on everything, but there are lot of things that we can work on and be allies."

But the church has pointed out an inherent dispute it has with gay relationships. Mormonism considers traditional marriages central to God's plan. Gays are welcome in church, but must remain celibate to retain church callings and full membership.

Its strong support for Proposition 8 in California last year drew a sharp reaction from gay rights supporters nationwide, with many protesting outside temples that singled out Mormons as the key culprits in restricting the rights of gay couples.

Story continues below

advertisement

Since then, however, Utah's gay community has sought to engage church leaders in quiet conversations to help foster better understanding, said Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Utah Pride Center.

"I thought this conversation would never come to be while I was here in Salt Lake City," said Larabee, adding that the discussions have "shifted her perspective of what's possible" and could foreshadow a different relationship between the two sides.

But addressing the council on Tuesday, Otterson said the endorsement is not a shift in the church's position on gay rights and stressed it "remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman."

Church support for the ordinances is due in part to the way the legislation was drafted to protect those rights. Exceptions in the legislation allow churches to maintain, without penalty, religious principles and religion-based codes of conduct or rules.

"In drafting these ordinances, the city has granted commonsense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations," Otterson said Tuesday.

Previous Utah legislation that sought statewide protections for the gay community did not contain those exceptions.

And although this was the church's first public endorsement of specific legislation, it is not the first time the church has voiced support for some gay rights. In August 2008 the church issued a statement saying it supports gay rights related to hospitalization, medical care, employment, housing or probate as long as they "do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches."

Last year, church leaders were silent on a package of gay rights bills known as the Common Ground Initiative, dooming them from the start, despite the bill having the support of the most popular governor in state history, Jon Huntsman. Huntsman resigned this summer to become U.S. ambassador to China.

His successor, Gov. Gary Herbert, has repeatedly said it shouldn't be illegal to discriminate against someone for being gay.

Comments

[brady61995]

next the will have legal immigration for latin americans and will have black history week, they want romney in 2012 they are just laying the groundwork. at the end of the day the are a strange intolerant cult with that wear magi c und erwear

[kato43]

It sounds like they operate as a theocracy in Utah.

[Edogg62]

How did those nutjobs ever commandeer an entire state for themselves anyway? I say let's take it back and give 'em one of the nasty ones... Oklahoma, Florida... ha ha.

I have entirely too much experience with the church as well... wife's family and their robotic spouses have all consumed the Kool-Aid. It's really remarkable to witness so many seemingly intelligent people willingly have their brains washed with the nonsense that is the Mormon church. But from MY perspective ALL religion is fairly insane... magical omnipotent beings flying around keeping separate tabs on billions of people and laying waste to those who dare contradict their doctrine. It's a little too Santa-in-the-Sky for ME....

[DonBlv]

What are they up too? Any legislation that reinforces equal rights is great, but can't help suspect the rational spurring this good will. I smell agenda

[TierraDelFuego]

Listen, dahlings, I have been through the entire Mormon history and induction, did everything but complete a two year stint going around the world to convert the heathen. I can tell you from first person experience you must fear every aspect of the Mormon church and be aware it is nothing more than a cult, a death cult. The Mormon church is a very serious business and has every intention of taking over the world and those who do not believe or are in their way will not be tolerated.

Sounds weird but just ask anyone who has direct experience with the Mormons and they will tell you the same story. If you think Scientology is science fiction try reading the Book Of Mormon. The current news that the Mormon church is relaxing any attitude toward the gay community is smoke and mirrors. Welcome to the 13th century.

[Matthew King]

Oh yes, thanks Mormon church for allowing gay people "a little bit of civil rights".. It's kinda like letting african americans use the same bus... but making them sit in the back...

There is no substitute for EQUALITY.

[TULLY1940]

I am amazed and joyous-- I have a different view of the Mormon Church than I had before-- you folks do practice what you preach to a degree-- thank you for giving me a bit of hope in these dark days.

[ibsteve2u]

lolll...so do the Mormons ban advertising by divorce attorneys in Utah, or is the sanctity of marriage vulnerable to the almighty dollar in Utah, too?

[msbadger]

Wow. Just when you think you know somebody.... It's getting so you can't tell the players without a scorecard, as they say. Who'd a thunk it? There may be hope yet.

[NWBrunette]

That's pretty good for the Mormon Church. I mean really, that's a big step and represents coming a long way forward out of the 2nd century. Still a long, long way to go, but still, kudos to them for casting a softer gentler patina on their homophobia.

[PhilipB]

Well, nicely said! You tell the truth, and are comfortable with that!
You go!
And all the very best!
:)

[Michael Lindung]

I don't think that it is a case of homophobia, as evidenced by their support for legal rights for gays as a group.

I think this whole debate is focused on the term "marriage", specifically.

That is why the best solution is for the government to rename it "Civil Unions."
If they do, then the churches will no longer have a leg to stand on to protest it. If the church says that the gov should keep the institution of "marriage" in the law, then they are arguing for more church involvement in the state.

Instead, the government should give EVERY couple who applies a Civil Union- same name and same legal rights for everyone.
Then, if you want a "marriage", go to your church/syn­agogue/mos­que and ask your priest/rabbi/imam for one.

Mormons get to keep marrying whoever they want, and gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities (with the same name) as every other couples.

Best solution.

[Willie12345]

I think you hit the nail on the head.

[Rogman66]

So gay marriage is "Violence" against hetero marriage? Just when I thought they MIGHT have actually done something good for a change...

[Libilou]

The only thing I think this accomplished is to prove to the world that Utah is truly a theocracy, rather than a republic state. I live here and I'm ex-mormon. I know, for a fact, that the mormon church rules this state, makes the laws and tells us how to live.

It is truly sad that the legislature, which is largely mormon, will not vote without an OK from their mormon leaders.

Does anyone want to run correlation on what would have happened if MItt Romney had become President? The Mormon church would then rule this country. Romney HAS to obey his church leaders, on EVERYTHING, or risk eternal damnation. It's in the covenants he made in the temple. And I mean everything. I speak from experience, not from reading websites.

[SkuddGobang]

Here's a scrap, f@gg0t, go sit at the back of the bus and be happy we're letting you sit on it at all. As long as you know your place, we'll get along fine.

[brady61995]

wow that was not nice at all. you never know when life will catch up with you and that kind of hate

[SkuddGobang]

I was being sarcastic. I'm gay.. look at my avatar.

[PhilipB]

Well, you do know that the rights in the American constitution can come and go based on votes and more?
Your rights as a citizen are directly threatened by the eroding of rights by any one group. Well, why wouldnt you be next?
Well, why are you so confident of that when you see rights disappearing all around you? What makes you so special? I mean, really? Please tel me how special YOU are and how YOUR rights could not be threatened when you see the elimination of same all around you?

[SkuddGobang]

I was being sarcastic. I'm gay.. look at my avatar.

[Valerie Keefe]

Just a quick note to the huffpo editors writing headlines: Why is GLBT so much harder to type than Gay? The article mentions that Salt Lake City has a trans-inclusive gender-rights ENDA now, the same sort that Rep. Frank had intimated would be MORE difficult to get nationally in Utah than a gay and lesbian rights only ENDA. Trans-erasure simply helps perpetuate this myth, clung to by progressives who came of political age in the late 1970's, when Janice Raymond was seen as a more powerful and progressive figure than Sylvia Rivera, when well-to-do, middle-class gays shunted trans men and women to the back of the bus when it came to agitating for equal rights. (And no, the irony's not lost on me.)

[Justdontgetit]

This reminds me of when their "Prophet" had a revelation from "God" that it was time to allow black men to hold their priesthood.

Couldn't had anything to do with the civil rights movement back then, could it?

[mercury613]

Couldn't have had anything to do with getting their tax-exempt status revoked, could it?

[choujikuu]

Nope. The LDS church cold have that taken away and still continue on as normal.

[bladerunner44]

Serious question, so I would welcome serious replies, especially from anyone with a tax background. (I am a third-year law student with a tax concentration, so I have a general idea of what I'm talking about, but by no means am an expert):
Is revoking tax exempt status really the best long-term solution? As a means of retribution, possibly. On the other hand, as many poster have suggested, the LDS church only capitulated here when threatened with revocation of their tax exempt status. If a church no longer has the threat of tax revocation hanging over them, what is to prevent them from *really* engaging in political acivity or discrimination? I'm not saying that organized religion didn't cross the line in Prop 8, but what would happen if you remove that line entirely?
On a lot of social issues, churches are almost always going to be behind the curve on the long arc of history that bends toward justice. Up until now, the best tool for prodding them along has been the threat of revoking their tax exempt status. If the government were to ever follow through on that threat, how could real change be affected against a church that discriminates?

[LiberalMormon]

I am a lawyer, but not a tax lawyer. I think this tax exemopt status is a myth that gets thrown around by people who do not really understand what they are talking about. My understanding is that a tax exempt organization would lose its status only if it dedicates a significant percentage of its resources to politcal activities. The fact that a church discriminates is really irrelevant, because Congress cannot make laws respecting religion; consequently, a Church's beliefs and practices are off-limits. (That is why I do not buy the "IRS forced the LDS Church to ordain blacks" meme). I do not think it can be shown (for reasons that we can debate) that the LDS Church dedicates a significant percentage of its resources to political acitvity, so I do not think its tax exempt status is at serious risk.

I realize that this really different from your question about the pros and cons of revoking tax exempt status, but I have been itching to say it all for a while. You provided a good opportunity. I am interested to see what others say.

[choujikuu]

When it comes to the LDS church, a threat of revoking their tax exempt status wouldn't have any effect at all. They're in it more for their beliefs than government handouts.

[brady61995]

serious answer if we have a seperation of church and state why are they tax exempt when we are at a all time low in tax collection and they constanly violate the law by using thier dollars to run swiftboat adds and sway political opinion. tax them all