Mormon church endorses LGBT protection laws

November 12, 8:33 AMSF LGBT Issues ExaminerEric Ross

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A Mormon LDS temple (Photo: AP)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has endorsed the employment and housing non-discrimination acts before the City Council in Salt Lake City. The two laws bar landlords and employers from discriminating based on sexuality. Church leaders and representatives do not speak publicly on city ordinances or state legislation very often; however Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's public affairs office, came out to speak at the public hearing last Tuesday.

The Empowering Spirits Foundation (ESF), a national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and one of the first groups to approach the Mormon Church after it influenced its members to spend millions for the passage of Proposition 8 in California, applauded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for endorsing the two laws before the City Council. “We’ve worked hard to engage the church to discuss LGBT issues and get past the bitterness of Prop. 8, and I am encouraged by their recent endorsement of the Salt Lake City non-discrimination housing and employment acts,” said A. Latham Staples, ESF President & CEO.  “We have a long way to go though before trust can be restored with the Mormon Church.  But it is time that we move on from Prop. 8, and focus on building relationships, understanding our differences, and focusing on our similarities – this is the only way we can change people’s minds and hearts.”

“It's wonderful to see the leadership of the Mormon church acknowledging the rights of LGBT people and to help ensure that everyone can be treated equally and fairly,” said Jane Wishon, member of the Interim Administrative Group (IAG) for Restore Equality 2010, the campaign to repeal Proposition 8 in California. “We hope this new perspective will translate into the Mormon church supporting full equality for LGBT, including the right to civil marriage."

Even though the Mormon church has endorsed the employment and housing non-discrimination acts, they still stand firm on their belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. One day, maybe the church will be able to understand the difference between religious marriage and civil marriage.

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