27,000 Urge Mormons to Support Civil Unions in Utah

More than 27,000 letters have been sent to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City urging the church to publicly support gay rights bills Utah legislators are expected to consider in 2009.

The letters were sent from gays and their allies across the country, mostly through the Human Rights Campaign, according to KCPW radio in Salt Lake.

"I think it's important that we emphasize that this is a respectful request," Jerry Rapier of HRC told KCPW. "We want to share people's concerns and feelings directly with the church and its leaders."

The sudden focus on Utah's politics comes after LDS, or Mormon, leaders became ardent proponents of passing California's ban on same-sex marriage in November. A church elder said the LDS does not support marriage equality but instead would be fine with domestic partnerships or civil unions.

Rapier said the letter-writing campaign was not an "attack," but instead an attempt for the church to make good on that statement. "It's simply an invitation to be a little more clear with the language," he said, adding, "Really, the first step is just asking for a direct statement from the church -- something clear, concise, and to the point, that leaves no room for misinterpretation."

The letters were hand-delivered to Temple Square on Monday, he said, because thousands of e-mails don't make it through the church's filter. Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the LDS did not filter the e-mails, but the volume caused its e-mail filter to label them as spam. (Michelle Garcia, Advocate.com)

Reader Comments

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Name: Bill S
Date posted: 2008-12-26 5:12 PM
Hometown: Casper, WY

Comment:

Tom n Darin - It's very obvious that your lifestyle community has NO knowledge of the LDS church or you would realize that giving to the less fortunate of all the world has long been a staple of the Church.(forever) Any monies that were spent by the MEMBERS of the Church on Prop 8 was not wasted. It might have helped keep some sanity in our beloved country. I applaud you for finally thinking of someone other that yourself in your efforts and I might suggest that you look at the commitment that Church members make to feed the less fortunate REGARDLESS of the affilition of those people. Education is a wonderful thing and it would sure bring a light to many in your community if you were to partake of at least the basic beliefs of the Church before condeming the Church for things you know nothing about. It's a wonderful life and a life filled with LOVE for all. Hatred is something we read about but don't practice. Thank you for youe concern!

Name: Bill S
Date posted: 2008-12-24 6:53 PM
Hometown: Casper, WY

Comment:

- For Roger in Missouri, it might be really helpful if he understood the Church or the principles of the Church. The Church might have a black eye in the opinion of the gay community which is unfortunate because the Church didn't contribute to the effort to pass Prop 8 -- it was the members of the Church and members of other churches that contributed to the cause which we deem very important to the betterment of the peoples of the USA. As far as intrepeting my remarks that violaters of laws should be removed from the general population, I am sure that an esteemed doctor would not want criminals running loose everywhere more than they are now. . As far as Mr Jeffs being an example to Roger, he is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is very much critized for his activity both by members of the Church and law enforcement.

Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 2008-12-23 10:54 PM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:

Turid is another one who needs a wake-up call. Your church ACTIVELY worked for the passage of Prop. 8 and in so doing helped codify ignorance and intolerance into law. They raised, at last count, $16 million dollars to assist in that effort. Homosexuality is NOT a 'lifestyle' as he seems to imply. As a doctor, I can attest that at no time did I, or any LGBT person with whom I'm acquainted, 'choose' to be gay! Moreover, living a 'chaste' life is hardly an LDS hallmark. Ask Warren Jeffs. And their divorce rate EXCEEDS the national average. Finally, nobody is immune to STD's except people in committed, monogamous relationships. That's EXACTLY what gay people are demanding to be allowed to do! Whatever happened to 'love one another as I have loved you'? Yes, Virginia, you DO need to atone.

Name: Turid Hanssen
Date posted: 2008-12-23 10:30 PM
Hometown: Portland

Comment:

Neither the LDS Church leadership nor its members hate gays. Be careful with your choice of words, Roger Burr! Neither the leadership nor the general membership have done anything they need to atone for. ( another strong word here misused!) All the Church leaders and the general membership is saying, is that the 6% of the human population should not be dictating to the 94 %....the majority of whom belong to religions that accept the Biblical point of view that the homosexual lifestyle is not to be taught to the young as simply another--and acceptable lifestyle. We love the person while expecting that gays live like those of us who are unmarried are expected to live--- chaste. It is never an easy way to live, but it sure beats getting infected with HIV or other viruses.

Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 2008-12-23 9:11 PM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:

I don't know where Bill S., from Casper, Wyoming is coming from; but the last person to advocate removing segments of people from general society was ADOLF HITLER!! Bill seems to think that LGBT people actually CHOOSE their sexual orientation. WAKE-UP!!! And what 'crime' is he talking about?? To the best of my knowledge, being gay is not illegal in any state. Moreover, I presume the 'Church' to which he refers is the Mormon Church which, in my opinion should stay the hell out of politics, or lose their tax exempt status. We are not a 'tiny' percentage of the population as he implies. Notwithstanding, the mark of a humane society is how it treats the most vulnerable of its people. My advice to Bill; mind your own business and go back to chasing the sheep!

Name: Bill S
Date posted: 2008-12-23 7:20 PM
Hometown: Casper, WY

Comment:

I believe the Church has made it's position very clear. In my opinion, the Church does not believe in same sex marriage and I am very thankful they don't. If you all want to do your thing fine, but keep it out of my family and my life. Murderers, rapists, thieves, draft dodgers and all the ilk probably have their points of view also. I don't buy it and I don't want it to be a law of the land. They are all people also, but they are WRONG, the same as gays and homosexuals. They have the right to not do the crime, if they do the crime we have the right to alleviate them from the general population. Not only the right but the responsibilty to do so. Your 27,000 letters from your depraved population is a mighty, mighty small percemtage of the population of the United States. In my opinion, we have no duty to make laws for such a tiny, tiny percentage of the population that is skewered in their opinions and practices.

Name: mike
Date posted: 2008-12-23 4:43 PM
Hometown: cincinnati

Comment:

If everyone is happy with civil unions, then gays and non gays should be required say that they are in civil unions. In a job interview or on an application, there should be the choice of civil union or not. There shouldn't be two levels for citizens of this country. This is ridiculous. Churches can call relationships whatever. There can only be on term used for all citizens of this country. Marriage is one term. Civil union in the other. You can't make everyone who is gay announce to the homophobic world their sexual preference. This is unjust. We are in America. We do have constitutional freedoms. What is wrong with so many people? Are you using your brains? Bigots should keep their hatred in their churches.

Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 2008-12-23 4:38 PM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:

SOME form of LGBT friendly/accommodating legislation will doubtless be passed. The LDS church took a terrible black-eye, in public opinion, after their obdurate stand in support of Prop.8. They realize that position could severely impact their efforts to convert others to their faith; especially as it portrays them as hidebound and intolerant. They need to make a concession, of sorts, to the LGBT community, as a token of acceptance. The problem is that ALL it will be is a TOKEN effort. The position of the Mormon church, like other conservative denominations, has not materially changed. They still hate us and will continue their fight against full equality for LGBT people. They have NOT atoned!

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