Mormon church approves gay rights law - as long as it doesn't have to follow it

November 11, 4:15 PMInternational LGBT Issues ExaminerKelvin Lynch

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     The Mormon LDS palace in Salt Lake City (Photo: AP)

The nation is abuzz today about the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' 11th-hour approval last night of a Salt Lake City ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT people in housing and employment.  

The LGBT community in Utah is hailing this as some sort of breakthrough with the LDS church.  One person told the AP,  "I never thought I would see this in my lifetime," as if a miracle had occurred, like Jesus himself showing up and healing all the sick in Utah.

But everyone seems to be glossing over the fact that the LDS church's approval was unnecessary.  As the New York Times pointed out, the ordinance probably already had the unanimous backing of the seven-member City Council anyway.  Plus, the ordinance specifies that the church is exempt from the law, so it can still actively discriminate at will without fear of penalty.

"In drafting these ordinances, the city has granted commonsense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations," said Michael Otterson, the director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

“It’s the most progressive and inclusive statement that the church has made on these issues,”  said Will Carlson, the manager of public policy at Equality Utah, the state’s largest gay rights group. “What they’ve said here is huge, in protecting residents in other municipalities, and statewide.”

But looking at the LDS church's official statement, one can hardly conclude it is a "thunderclap" for gay rights across the state of Utah, as one gay rights advocate proclaimed.  Otterson goes on and on about how his statements are not inconsistent with the church's prior statements, and how the church is still devoted to prevent gays from "doing violence" to what the Mormons consider the "bedrock of marriage," whatever they consider that to be these days.

But wait, it gets better.  Towleroad is reporting today that the LDS Church's "approval" of the new ordinance was motivated by none other than Mitt Romney.  Apparently, Romney saw the church's new film, called 8: The Mormon Proposition, and according to the filmmakers, he put pressure on the church to "extend an olive branch" to the gay community, to try and deflate any negative press that would come from its release, over concern with Romney's anticipated 2012 Presidential run.

If you are a gay Mormon, and you are hoping the LDS Church's approval of this ordinance is a small gesture that may one day turn into a grand gesture and full acceptance of gay rights, here's a little advice - don't hold your breath.  It's not happening. The LDS Church will always fall back on its lame  "bedrock of marriage" argument to defeat any attempts at furthering gay rights.

Remember folks, these are the same people responsible for reversing the gains the LGBT community so tirelessly worked for in California and Maine, the same people who just a few months ago faced nationwide criticism and spurred "kiss-in" protests because they detained a gay couple for having the gall to express their affection in public, then let their hateful PR spokesperson disastrously handle the situation in the press. 

As Otterson's statement reminds us, the Mormons haven't changed, and don't intend to. 

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