LDS Church Affirms Rights of Gay Couples
Posted on September 7, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog
Leaders of Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons both praised and called to task the leaders of the LDS Church for recent statements by the Church regarding gay men and women.
In an August 13 press release, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledged that it “does not object to rights [for same-sex couples] regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference, [and that] the Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility towards homosexual men and women.” Church members were reminded of their “obligations of love, kindness, and humanity toward all people,” and urged to “approach this issue with respect for others, understanding, honesty, and civility.”
“This is by far the Church’s most affirming statement of both human and civil rights of gay people since the issuance of “God Loveth His Children” which acknowledged that being gay is not a disease or a sin,” said David Melson, Affirmation’s media spokesperson. “We applaud the courage of the leaders who chose to make this statement, which is contrary to many of the Church’s words and actions of the past, and we see this as a positive step. We would have been more pleased if it had not been issued during a time of contradictory action by the Church to repeal the civil rights of gay U.S. citizens and to seek to break apart families.”
The press release, one of two issued in one week by the church Public Affairs Department and apparently authorized by the First Presidency of the church, came in response to media statements by Affirmation and against a background of a California political campaign and the Church’s indefinite postponement of a meeting with Affirmation leaders.
In the same press release, the Church issued a document entitled “The Divine Institution of Marriage,” attempting to defend the Church’s actions in support of California’s Proposition 8, which would revoke the right of California gay couples to marry. Stating that “strong families, headed by a father and mother, are the anchor of civilized society,” the document marginalizes families headed by widows, single parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, or foster parents, and ignores the Church’s own history honoring polygamous marriage. Using half-truths and fear to paint a picture of gay marriage leading to an end of religious freedom and of societal standards, the document often contradicts itself. Affirmation’s Executive Director Olin Thomas pointed out that California law does not require any religious institution or clergyperson to perform or to even recognize any marriage not in accord with their particular doctrine. Many studies, including author and researcher Jonathan Rauch’s book “Gay Marriage,” have found that in countries that have enacted gay marriage, that the entire institution of marriage has become stronger, with the rates of unmarried cohabitation and divorce both decreasing.
The attitudes of the LDS Church or its leaders over the years have led to sometimes tragic consequences as well as an exodus from the Church of both gay members and, in many cases, their non-gay family members, because of the feeling of hostility within the church.
George Cole, Affirmation’s Young Adults Director, stated that “the positive and affirming portions of the Church’s releases are a very appreciated step forward; we hope and look toward the day when the Church will value all families and will recognize that our families are not a threat to theirs, but just another one of the pillars of our society.”
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BACKGROUND:
Affirmation had extended an invitation to LDS President Thomas Monson earlier in 2008 to meet to discuss issues of mutual concern. The Church had agreed to the meeting, delaying the date until August 11, and then pulled out just days before the scheduled day. Left with no other way to directly contact Monson or his representatives, Affirmation showed up anyway, and then shared with the media much of the message that they had planned to give in the meeting. Both sides have indicated that they would still like to see the meeting take place, and private communication between the leaders of the two groups has begun.
The Affirmation leaders who had been scheduled to meet with LDS leaders were Olin Thomas, Executive Director; David Melson, Assistant Executive Director; and George Cole, Young Adult Director (sitting in for James Morris, Assistant Executive Director, who was unable to be in Salt Lake City due to schedule conflicts); others speaking at the press meeting were Micah Bisson, Youth Affairs Director; and David Nielsen, President of Reconciliation, a Gospel-oriented group affiliated with Affirmation.
More information about Affirmation is available at www.Affirmation.org.
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