Mormons Set Sights on
Killing Civil Unions in Illinois

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently sent a private e-mail to its Illinois members urging them to contact state legislators and voice opposition to civil union legislation the state is currently considering. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the e-mail was sent to at least one LDS ward in Illinois and was authorized by a bishop named Chris Church.

"The messaging in the e-mail carries many of the same bigoted lies that were hallmarks of the LDS Church's campaign in support of Proposition 8 in California and Proposition 102 in Arizona," according to an HRC press release. "The e-mail misleads citizens in Illinois by blatantly misstating that the civil unions legislation would 'empower the public schools to begin teaching this lifestyle to our young children regardless of parental requests otherwise.' It goes on to issue this incendiary and inaccurate warning: 'It will also create grounds for rewriting all social mores.'"

"It is irrefutably clear that the LDS Church is fighting an antigay crusade throughout the nation, targeting any form of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community," said Bruce Bastian, a member of HRC's board of directors and a former member of the LDS Church. "Church leaders want nothing more than to do their hateful work in secrecy, but the time has come to shine a light on their insidious efforts. If the LDS Church won't tell the truth, we will."

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The HRC today launched an online grassroots campaign to counter LDS efforts. The gay rights group is reaching out to its 35,000 Illinois members and encouraging them to contact the Nauvoo, Ill., Mormon Temple -- where the e-mail reportedly originated -- and let them know their antigay work can no longer be done in secret. The HRC is also encouraging its supporters to contact Illinois legislators to voice their support for the civil union measure.