Primary Contacts:
For Immediate Release
Mike Thompson, Executive Director Monday, November 10, 2008
Cell: 801.879.8880
Stephanie Pappas, Board Chair
Cell: 801.450.0660
Other Contacts:
Senator Scott McCoy – Cell: 801.809.3566
Representative Christine Johnson – Cell: 801.661.3489
Equality Utah announces Press Conference for Noon Monday
Equality Utah will ask the LDS Church to demonstrate its conviction on rights for same-sex couples.
Time: Noon
Location: Equality Utah Office
175 West 200 South, Suite 3001 – third floor, Salt Lake City
Throughout the recent election cycle, the LDS Church has demonstrated its willingness to participate in political issues by asking its members to do all they can do, including donating their means and their time, to support California’s Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution and eliminated same-sex couples right to marry by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
The LDS Church has articulated it is not “anti-gay” but rather pro-marriage and it “does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights.” On November 5th, Elder L. Whitney Clayton stated the LDS Church does not oppose “civil unions or domestic partnerships.” In response to these statements, Equality Utah is drafting legislation for the 2009 General Session of the Utah Legislature to address each of the issues mentioned by the LDS Church.
During this press conference Equality Utah will be asking the LDS Church to demonstrate its conviction on these statements as well as its willingness to secure such rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Utahns.
Today we have a great opportunity before us to begin to bridge the divide between the gay community and the LDS community and to seek out common ground. I take LDS Church leaders at their word that they are not anti-gay and that they sincerely understand that gay and transgender individuals and their families are in need of certain legal protections and basic benefits. I appreciate their statements that they do not oppose legal protections for gay people like those already enacted in California law that do not conflict with their genuinely held beliefs about marriage. This is our chance to come together and work to enact basic legal protections for gay Utahns. I am hopeful that the LDS Church will accept our invitation to heal our communities by bringing its considerable social and political influence to bear in support of laws that prevent discrimination and provide for the legitimate needs of all Utahns and their families.
~Senator Scott McCoy
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References
California and Same-Sex Marriage
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Newsroom
June 30, 2008
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/california-and-same-sex-marriage
The Divine Institution of Marriage – Introduction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Newsroom
August 13, 2008
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage
Church Responds to Same-Sex Marriage Votes
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Newsroom
November 5, 2008
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-votes
Mormon Leaders Urge Respect for Foes in Gay-Marriage Debate
The Salt Lake Tribune
Brooke Adams
November 5, 2008
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10907306?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
LDS Official Lauds Work for California’s Prop. 8
Deseret News
Carrie A. Moore
November 6, 2008
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705260852,00.html?pg=2
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 