Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Marriage Equality

Gay Latter-day Saints during the march

Big Water mayor and Affirmation member Willy Marshall

Gay Mormon exhibit

Gay Mormons Participate in Utah Pride, Fight for Freedoms
"We Are Fighting for the Same Freedoms That Captain Moroni Fought for"

By Hugo Salinas
June 2004

In the midst of a state and national controversy over the matter of marriage equality, thousands of gay Mormons, along with their partners, children, and relatives, participated in the 2004 Pride celebration held in Salt Lake City on June 13.

Big Water mayor and Affirmation member Willy Marshall participated in the parade, waving at the crowds from his car. Gay philanthropist Bruce Bastian, who was the parade marshal, waved high in the air a "Don't Amend" sign. Bastian is supporting a state-wide campaign to counter recent efforts by legislators to write marriage discrimination into Utah's constitution.

A coalition of gay Mormons marched with a banner that read "Gay Latter-day Saints" and ran a lavish display that was visited by thousands. The coalition includes members of Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Gamofites, Gay LDS Young Adults, LDS Family Fellowship, and LDS Reconciliation. Members of the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, who are also part of the coalition, staffed their own booth.

Hundreds of gay and lesbian returned missionaries marked on a giant world map the areas where they served their missions. The Mormon exhibit included several passages from LDS scriptures that affirm equality and free agency.

One of the featured scriptural passages suggested that the current anti-gay efforts toward amending the Utah and the US constitution will infringe on the "inalienable rights" spoken of in the Doctrine and Covenants and in the declaration of Independence. Another passage reminded visitors of an episode in the Book of Mormon in which the people fought to preserve their liberties, their homes and their families (see Alma 43:9, 45, 47-48). As stated in one of the displays, "Gays and Lesbians today are fighting for the exact same freedoms that Captain Moroni, the Nephites and the Stripling Warriors fought for."

"We didn't want to get too political," says display organizer Russ Gorringe, who participated in the Pride march with his daughters. "But because of the currently proposed [anti-gay] legislation, we wanted to give visitors some tools so that they can dialogue with their LDS family and neighbors."

Says Russ: "As described in the Book of Mormon, the Nephites fought for their rights, their privileges, and their liberties. The recent proposals to amend the constitution, both at the state and federal levels, would limit personal freedoms and make certain freedoms available only to a segment of society."