Mormon Church Advocates For Gay Rights Ordinances In Salt Lake City
by ERICA LIEPMANN, Causecast Associate Editor
For the first time ever, the Mormon Church has supported the fight for equal rights for gays. With two gay rights ordinances up for a vote this week in Salt Lake City, the Mormon Church publicly endorsed the laws, helping them to successfully pass. Together, the two ordinances make it illegal to discriminate based on gender identity or sexual orientation in employment and housing.
Although the church has expressed that this support of legal protections for gays does not influence or change the church’s official position on homosexuality (ie. that it’s a sin), it can still be counted as a positive step forward by gay rights activists everywhere.
Perhaps this victory could represent a paradigm shift for gay rights struggles around the country, showing what can be gained from collaboration instead of division.
From the Associated Press:
It looked like a stunning reversal: the same church that helped defeat gay marriage in California standing with gay-rights activists on an anti-discrimination law in its own backyard.
On Tuesday night, after a series of clandestine meetings between local gay-rights backers and Mormons in Salt Lake City, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it would support proposed city laws that would prohibit discrimination against gays in housing and employment.
The ordinances passed and history was made: It marked the first time the Salt Lake City-based church had supported gay-rights legislation.
Now, employers can no longer discriminate against gays in Salt Lake City, but it’s still legal to do so in many areas around the country. The national Employment Non-Discrimination Act still hangs in the balance. Let your Congressional representatives know you want them to support equal rights!
For more ideas on how to advocate for gay rights, check out Causecast’s How To guide.
Photo by Kenneth Hynek, flickr.
- Posted by Causecast
Related causes: Human Rights
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