Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

LDS President Thomas Monson

Southern Utah University Students May Protest President Monson's Address
LDS Leader to Speak at Graduation

From a story posted at www.SSUnews.com
January 2009

Southern Utah University administrators are working on preliminary planning to handle unprecedented attendance and possible protests for this year's Commencement speaker, Thomas S. Monson, 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Along with addressing SUU's graduates in May, Monson, who was named president of the LDS church in February 2008, will also receive an honorary degree from SUU, according to a press release.

Vice President for University Relations Dean O'Driscoll said he and the graduation committee are working on a plan to manage the crowd expected at graduation.

Online readers at suunews.com began leaving comments on the announcement that Monson will be visiting SUU. Many of the comments have come from posters claiming to be students intending to walk out or wear armbands in protest, based on the position Monson and the church have taken on homosexuality.

O'Driscoll said university administrators anticipated some opposition to Monson as a speaker.

“That was expected,” he said. “The church has been a very visible player in an emotional issue … people will express their opinions how they want.”

So long as demonstrators are not endangering or disrupting anyone at the ceremony, no one will interfere, Benson said.