Elder Dallin Oaks, a high-ranking Mormon, delivered a speech on Tuesday at Brigham Young University claiming that backlash by gays against the Church of Latter Day Saints following the passage of Proposition 8 was like the treatment of Blacks in the South during the civil rights movement.
Watch a FOX 13 report and interview with Equality Utah and Mormon Elder Dallin Oaks, AFTER THE JUMP…
"Elder Dallin H. Oaks refers to gay marriage as an 'alleged civil right'in remarks prepared for delivery at Brigham Young University- Idaho, aspeech church officials describe as a significant commentary on currentthreats to religious freedom. In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Oaks suggests thatatheists and others are seeking to intimidate people of faith andsilence their voices in the public square…In an interview Monday before the speech, Oaks said he did not considerit provocative to compare the treatment of Mormons in the election'saftermath to that of blacks in the civil rights era, and said he standsby the analogy. 'It may be offensive to some — maybe because it hadn't occurred tothem that they were putting themselves in the same category as peoplewe deplore from that bygone era,' he said."
Asks Dan Savage: "How many Mormons were lynched after Prop 8? how many Temples were firebombed?"
Adds John Aravosis: "It really is the height of arrogance, and rather un-American to boot,for the Mormons to spend their money freely, in state after state, inan effort to force Americans to live under Mormon law, and then suggestthat no one in America is permitted to even disagree with what theMormons are doing, lest we oppress their efforts to oppress."
In related news, Senate Majority Leader and Mormon Harry Reid, who has been surprisingly outspoken as of late in his support for gay rights (he penned a letter publicly endorsing last weekend's National Equality March), struck out at his own church last week, criticizing the LDS for backing Proposition 8, saying they should have stayed out of it.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports: "Three organizers of thepast weekend's National Equality March said Reid brought up the topicduring a conversation in his office. 'He said that he thought it was a waste of church resources andgood will,' said Derek Washington, a Nevadan who worked as the outreachdirector for the march. 'He said he didn't think it was appropriate.' Reid spokesman Jon Summers would not discuss the private meeting, but he didn't deny the conversation took place. 'While Senator Reid agrees with his church that marriage is betweena man and a woman,' Summers said, 'he also believes that the resourcesthat went into the Proposition 8 effort could have been put to betteruse.' LDS Church officials declined to comment Monday."
Watch a FOX 13 report and interview with Equality Utah and Mormon Elder Dallin Oaks,
AFTER THE JUMP…
