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Utah Leaders Push Forward on LGBT Rights Legislation

In the wake of Proposition 8, pro-gay Equality Utah is taking the comments of Mormon Church elders as a signal to move forward with legislation that will expand the rights of gays and lesbians in the state, reports The New York Times. Defending their members' estimated $20 million contribution to the passage of California's gay marriage ban, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said they are not antigay and wouldn't deny certain legal protections to gays and lesbians.


In the wake of Proposition 8, pro-gay Equality Utah is taking the comments of Mormon Church elders as a signal to move forward with legislation that will expand the rights of gays and lesbians in the state, reports The New York Times.

Defending their members' estimated $20 million contribution to the passage of California's gay marriage ban, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said they are not antigay and wouldn't deny certain legal protections to gays and lesbians."We are taking the LDS Church at its word," Stephanie Pappas, Equality Utah's chairwoman, told The Times.

The five pieces of legislation will be sponsored by out state senator Scott McCoy and two lesbian members of the state's house of representatives. McCoy indicated the bills would be ready by January and would aim to advance LGBT rights specifically in areas that Mormon leaders said they would find acceptable.

McCoy added that introducing the series of bills is an attempt to find a positive outlet for the anger that has been stoked by Prop. 8.

“We need to come back down and we need to think, ‘OK, now that we are where we are, what is the way we move forward?’ ” McCoy said at a news conference. “And the way that we move forward is to channel that energy and that anger and that disappointment into constructive channels.” (The Advocate)

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Preston
    Date posted: 11/12/2008 6:30:00 AM
    Hometown: Shreveport

    Comment:

    Hit them where it counts, boycott Utah and anything Mormon! The only thing they love more than GOD is money!

  • Name: Bruce Fairbanks
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 11:09:00 PM
    Hometown: Sacramento, CA

    Comment:

    Why in the world should we be tolerant or work with a church that clearly wants to make us gay folks second class citizens? To hell with the LDS church. They deserve every bit of hostility that will be coming their way as a result of their funding of Prop 8. They brought this on them selves. Next time a Mormon missionary knocks on your door be sure to give them an earful about what they did. Do NOT let these people off the hook.

  • Name: Daryl
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 9:07:00 PM
    Hometown: Johnson

    Comment:

    Realistically, will society ever be able to accept and condone the marriage of same gender couples? Being LDS I feel that this is a step forward. However, a very small one. Not only am I a gay member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am also a black American. The LDS Church still discriminates against members of the Church who are of different ethnicity, etc. Sadly, members of the Church are very outspoken about this issue. I have sat through Priesthood meetings while a doctoral canditate in San Francisco stating that blacks are inferior, illiterate, etc. So, the Church's comments on not denying rights is simply rhetoric. No real change can or will ever occur unless the change comes from within the heart and soul. Daryl Johnson Mesa, AZ

  • Name: Chuck
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 7:17:00 PM
    Hometown: Tucson

    Comment:

    Expand the rights of gays? Falling for this trap would be like walking into a enclosed shower stall only to find what comes out of the shower head is fumes of gas.

  • Name: Religion's EVIL
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 7:05:00 PM
    Hometown: anytown

    Comment:

    "Constructive Channels"??? That would be a mass grave for all deluded nutwhack religious idiots who want to prevent Gays & Lesbians from having our civil rights. THAT would be a GREAT constructive start to cleaning up stupidity, superstition, ignorance, hate and bigotry in this country.

  • Name: John
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 4:28:00 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    For Lori Jean from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to say that there was not one group at fault for our loss EXCEPT FOR THE MORMON CHURCH is totally irresponsible. She's foolishly absolving the GLBT community of any blame which is dumb and very irresponsible. If Lori had some of the post-election protesters she's rallied donate TIME, energy and money six weeks before the election, well the outcome would probably have been very different. There should have been a better grass roots campaign and much better No on 8 ads. The No on 8 people ran an appalling campaign. No on 8 should have been meeting on a weekly basis with religious leaders from every denomination. Don't blame African Americas for this loss. Take a lesson from President-elect Obama's flawless campaign and maybe next time we'll win. Our complacency helped Prop 8 pass.

  • Name: Shawn
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 4:12:00 PM
    Hometown: upstate new york

    Comment:

    The Mormon Church says its not anti-gay? Excuse me? Getting their members to pony up over 20 million bucks to fight gay marriage is not considered anti-gay? What I don't understand is why wasn't that money spent on something that would actually benefit people instead of fighting something that really doesn't affect anyone other than those who just want to get married. And I am so sick of reading Scott McCoy's pathetic comments about working with the church blah blah blah. Scott dearest...its time to fight buddy. Your cowtowing to the Mormon Church is pathetic. You should be demanding answers from the church. You should be standing up for the gay community.

  • Name: James Canter
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 3:09:00 PM
    Hometown: Houston, Tx

    Comment:

    I do not now, nor ever intend to believe in magic underwear, or that Jesus Christ lives on a planet somewhere. Why is it my rights as an American are determined by the Mormon Church?

  • Name: James Canter
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 3:08:00 PM
    Hometown: Houston, Tx

    Comment:

    I do not now, nor ever intend to believe in magic underwear, or that Jesus Christ lives on a planet somewhere. Why is it my rights as an American are determined by the Mormon Church?

  • Name: Ted Hayes
    Date posted: 11/11/2008 2:18:00 PM
    Hometown: Stone Ridge, NY

    Comment:

    "Morality is doing that which is right no matter what you have been told. Religion is doing what you have been told no matter what is right." (Author unknown) Wonder where the LDS stands on that.



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