11/10/2009
Salt Lake City Council Passes LGBT Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Unanimously Following Surprise Endorsement from Mormon Church
The Church of Latter Day Saints this evening issued a statement at hearings on an ordinance that would extend housing and employment protections to gays and lesbians in Salt Lake City.
Watch a news report on the vote, AFTER THE JUMP...
The endorsement combined with passionate debate from citizens prompted the Salt Lake City Council to go ahead and vote on the ordinance, which they hadn't planned to do. The Council voted unanimously to approve it:
"Passage made Salt Lake City the first Utah community to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the two new ordinances, it is illegal to fire someone from their job or evict someone from their residence because they are lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender. Utah lawmakers tend to quickly fall in line when the influential church makes a rare foray into legislative politics. So Tuesday's action could have broad reaching effects in this highly conservative state where more than 80 percent of lawmakers and the governor are church members. 'What happened here tonight I do believe is a historic event,' said Brandie Balken, director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah. 'I think it establishes that we can stand together on common ground that we don't have to agree on everything, but there are lot of things that we can work on and be allies.'"
Here's the text of the Mormon statement, delivered by Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's Public Affairs at tonight's hearings:
"My name is Michael Otterson, and I am here tonight officially representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The non-discrimination ordinance being reviewed by the City Council concerns important questions for the thoughtful people of this community.
"Like most of America, our community in Salt Lake City is comprised of citizens of different faiths and values, different races and cultures, different political views and divergent demographics. Across America and around the world, diverse communities such as ours are wrestling with complex social and moral questions. People often feel strongly about such issues. Sometimes they feel so strongly that the ways in which they relate to one another seem to strain the fabric of our society, especially where the interests of one group seem to collide with the interests of another.
"The issue before you tonight is the right of people to have a roof over their heads and the right to work without being discriminated against. But, importantly, the ordinance also attempts to balance vital issues of religious freedom. In essence, the Church agrees with the approach which Mayor Becker is taking on this matter.
"In drafting this ordinance, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations, for example, in their hiring of people whose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housing for their university students and others that preserve religious requirements.
"The Church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage. It is also entirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman.
"I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when we disagree. The Church's past statements are on the public record for all to see. In these comments and in our actions, we try to follow what Jesus Christ taught. Our language will always be respectful and acknowledge those who differ, but will also be clear on matters that we feel are of great consequence to our society.
"Thank you."
The gay and lesbian Mormon group Affirmation praised the church's actions. Said Affirmation Assistant Executive Director Micah Bisson: "We pray that the words spoken tonight are to be followed up with positive action. It is time to eliminate the heavy-handed church actions to defeat marriage equality and protections for transgender people. When LDS officials arrest gay people for public affection on Temple Square, we need to realize that all Mormons, and the LDS church itself, look small-minded to people who are outside the tradition."
Earlier today, the filmmakers behind 8: The Mormon Proposition said that Mitt Romney saw their film and put pressure on the LDS Church to "extend an olive branch to the gay community to try and deflate the anticipated negative press" that would come from its release, over concern with an anticipated 2012 Presidential campaign.
*****
Earlier...
The Salt Lake City Council is holding public hearings this evening on an ordinance involving housing and employment protections for gay and lesbian residents, the Deseret News reports:
"The public can comment Tuesday during a Salt Lake City Council hearing on the ordinances, believed to be the first of their kind in Utah. The ordinances would make it illegal to fire or evict someone because of their sexuality. 'For the capital city to take this step is huge,' said Will Carlson, public-policy director for the gay and lesbian advocacy group Equality Utah. 'It would send a message, not only to residents, but across the country.' The ordinances would establish a process within the city for tenants and employees to file discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation."
Towleroad has heard from several sources that representatives from the Church of Latter Day Saints are going to attend the hearings and have a "monumental" announcement to make — which we've heard may be an endorsement of the ordinance.
Watch a news report on the vote, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 10:30 PM EST by Andy Towle in Discrimination, Mitt Romney, Mormon, News, Proposition 8, Salt Lake City, Utah | Permalink
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An olive branch? May I suggest where the LDS haters can shove said branch? After the church elders decided to pour money into another state in order to destroy marriages, the LDS deserves every bit of rancor they've worked so hard to earn.
Just yesterday I put a food product back on the supermarket shelf when I found out it came from Utah. I encourage everyone who cares to boycott all products from the state. What goes around comes around, latter day bigots!
Posted by: greggo | Nov 10, 2009 8:56:39 PM
Nice doublespeak, LDS. Way to try to have it both ways.
Which, by the way, is how a lot of closeted Mormons try to have it.
Posted by: Paul R | Nov 10, 2009 9:23:24 PM
Does anyone really believe a word these bottom-feeding bigot motherfuckers say?
Posted by: Roscoe | Nov 10, 2009 9:24:22 PM
Great game of chess! The church will intentionally lose a battle if they think it'll help them win a war. Keep a wary eye on 'em!
Posted by: sean in dallas | Nov 10, 2009 9:31:01 PM
Bullshit pure and simple!
Posted by: Lucifer | Nov 10, 2009 9:33:12 PM
I wouldn't vote for Mitt if he held a gun to my head.
Posted by: alfredo | Nov 10, 2009 9:35:32 PM
Congrats to all the people who put pressure on this cult. If it wasn't for you - the outcome would have been different. Two things though.
1.) They are an easy target becuz most of the attendees are white. Where is the pressure on all the African-American churches who urged donations and votes against our liberties?
2.) "Violence" aganist the institution of marriage? Pls - you could have picked a better word than that.
Posted by: Mike | Nov 10, 2009 9:38:17 PM
DO NOT TRUST ONE WORD FROM THE MOUTH OF MITT ROMNEY! AS A MA RESIDENT HE IS ONE LOATHSOME SOB WHO PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS A MODERATE WHILE RUNNING AS BOTH A SENATE CANDIDATE AND THEN AS A GOVERNOR HERE IN MA..... IT WAS HE WHO CAME OUT WITH THE 1913 LAW TO STEM OUT OF STATE GAY MARRIAGES.... SINCE REPEALED BY A DEM GOV.. ANYWAY HE IS ONE MAN I WOULD NOT TRUST TO HAUL MY TRASH./////
Posted by: alexinboston | Nov 10, 2009 9:38:27 PM
Flame me all you must, but I think this is a great step in the right direction.
They could have issued a statement opposing the ordinance, but instead they chose to issue one in support of it. It doesn't make up for their recent and previous support of anti-gay measures (by any stretch of the imagination), but it is something. Give them at least that.
I know all the cynics out there will call it political gameplay or posturing, but with as much as Mormons get bashed around here for making poor decisions, I think they deserve some credit when they make a good one. Maybe, just maybe, the tide is starting to turn with even the upper-echelon of mormon authority.
Let the bashing begin!
Posted by: Aaron Rowland | Nov 10, 2009 9:43:28 PM
Keep in mind, the LDS church was OPPOSED to and helped kill similar bills that were proposed in the Utah state legislature in January. Why the change now?
Posted by: Stenar | Nov 10, 2009 9:50:58 PM
It's A TRAP!
Posted by: Admiral Ackbar | Nov 10, 2009 9:51:15 PM
So, Aaron, what you're saying is that if they do the right thing for the wrong reason, it's okay? Are you hoping that next time, they'll get both the thing and the reason right? History is against you.
"I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when we disagree." Those ads they ran in Maine were sure respectful, weren't they?
Posted by: Gary | Nov 10, 2009 9:59:54 PM
I'm pretty surprised by this announcement for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, given the LDS history regarding gay rights and the synergistic relationship the LDS church has with the state of Utah, all I can offer to the commenters griping about this announcement is two old sayings, which have similar meanings:
- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Beggars can't be choosers.
It's Utah. In 2009, this is about the best you can get from Salt Lake. Take it.
Posted by: Alex | Nov 10, 2009 10:03:03 PM
Oh, how wonderfull Yes.. Affirmation go kiss some ***. they are minimally extending your 'Mo Jim Crow Laws. We must bow and scrape and praise them... NOT.President Obama is the #1 Fierce Advocate of 'MO Jim Crow Laws..and others are so happy to follow along.(e.g. no equality for the perverts.. at work, in the military, and especially not as couples or families)
Posted by: LOrion | Nov 10, 2009 10:07:20 PM
Exactly. They killed several bills aiming to do the same in the Utah Legislature. They're in full damage control mode and anyone with at least half a brain sees that very clearly.
Posted by: superg | Nov 10, 2009 10:21:21 PM
"The Church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage."
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Translation: we reserve the right to continue funneling millions of dollars against any legal referendum which might possibly give gays equal marriage rights.
And what's with that over the top extremist language, anyway? Do violence to marriage? What the bloody fuck?
Posted by: sparks | Nov 10, 2009 10:23:03 PM
It's all bullshit...especially Mitt...he is so two faced...we in Mass know him...don't trust him or LDS...there's a hidden agenda there somewhere
Posted by: Mark | Nov 10, 2009 10:48:14 PM
Having grown up within the church until I was 29, I feel it is within my right to say that this is nothing more than a political dance at which the church has exceptional skill. For decades to come, they will now be pointing to that one time once when they endorsed an anti-discrimination bill in that one city in Utah proving thus that they are wholly accepting of gays (just not their lifestyle, partners, choices, attire, style of speech, the way they do their hair, ...).
Posted by: Pend | Nov 10, 2009 11:02:16 PM
Well gee thanks that's really big of you. What, you're trying to get into heaven now?
Posted by: Tone | Nov 10, 2009 11:10:24 PM
The phrase "violence to the institution of marriage" invalidates everything else in this announcement.
Posted by: JeffNYC | Nov 10, 2009 11:13:25 PM
there's a reoccurring line in one of my favorite books, "the man who fell in love with the moon" that goes like this: ain't it delicious to be so pernicious? fuck them mormon son's a bitches.
Posted by: psgoodguy | Nov 10, 2009 11:25:18 PM
So gays can't marry, but they can have protection in housing, and their workplace. Is it possible that they realize that gays pay rent as well as any one else? And they might just happen to own a lot of property? Or that gays spend money like everyone else, and the mormons businesses might suffer if gays have less money to spend due to problems in the workplace? If we trust these people, we get what we deserve.
Posted by: Reggie | Nov 10, 2009 11:45:22 PM
Do violence to the institution of marriage? The only reason these lousy Indian-killers (Mountain Meadows massacre) gave up polygamy is to get statehood for Utah. And they wouldn't if they didn't have to.
I wouldn't trust a Mormon to take out my garbage.
Posted by: Attmay | Nov 10, 2009 11:52:58 PM
Funny...I just finished watching V and find the similarities striking between the Visitors and the Mormons.
Posted by: zeddy | Nov 10, 2009 11:52:59 PM
I (grudgingly) praise the LDS for this small positive step toward common decency. Hopefully, this will not be the last.
Posted by: niles | Nov 11, 2009 12:09:55 AM