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"It's time to stop harming gay people—even when it is done in a nice tone of voice."

—David Melson, Executive Director of Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Gay Mormons Challenge LDS Claim of Being "Reasonable and Respectful"

12 March 2009

In a March 9 media release, LDS leaders warned of stereotyping of Mormon characters in the upcoming HBO series, "Big Love," and bemoaned previous media attacks—including gays using media to accuse Mormons leaders of being "hateful."

In response, leaders of Affirmation, a worldwide organization of gay Mormons, challenged the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

"Mormon leaders need to understand that their center stage role in the anti-gay campaign in California contributes to Mormons being stereotyped as, using their words, 'unsympathetic figures who come across as narrow and self-righteous,' which they sincerely want to avoid," said David Melson, Executive Director of Affirmation.

"We agree that the depiction of temple rituals, the most sacred part of Mormon worship, as a plot line in a television show is in very bad taste," Melson said. "But we are hoping that such stereotyping of Mormons can help the leaders of the LDS church to understand the feelings of many of its gay members when they are stereotyped and disparaged.

"In the March 9 media statement, LDS Church leaders stated that 'the Church has refused to be goaded into a Mormons versus gays battle and has simply stated its position in tones that are reasonable and respectful.' But, LDS leaders need to understand the harm done to all Americans when civil liberties in California and other parts of the country are eliminated no matter what tone of voice is used.

"And, we challenge LDS leaders to live up to their goal of fairness in media by announcing a hands-off policy at the LDS-owned Deseret News. In recent weeks, nine reporters of the Deseret News, the largest newspaper in Utah, announced that they received an editorial directive before the marriage campaign in California which prohibited them from publishing any negative news stories toward the Mormon Church or positive toward gay people. The LDS church must be 'reasonable and respectful' by reversing the demotion of editorial staff due to their disputes with Editor Joe Cannon over this directive.

"Finally, we challenge LDS leaders to be "reasonable and respectful" by supporting civil rights for gay people like job protection, housing protection and freedom from violence. Despite public statements that the church is not in conflict with extending these protections, when related legislation came to the Utah legislature recently, the church, which holds vast political influence in Utah, maintained a public silence, and no legislation passed.

"Affirmation Mormons—and all Mormon families whose sons and daughters, brothers and sisters are gay—want to see LDS leaders be 'reasonable and respectful' by truly supporting all civil liberties for gay people and by announcing to all Mormon families to accept their gay family members for who they are—children of God. It's time to stop harming gay people—even when it is done in a nice tone of voice."

Affirmation is the largest support and advocacy organization for gay Latter-day Saints and their families, and is obligated to speak out on these issues. Leaders of Affirmation have invited the leaders of the LDS Church to meet with them to discuss areas of mutual concern, and the Church has stated that such a meeting will take place in 2009, but has not yet agreed to a date.

RESOURCES:

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-7468-media-bylines-on-strike.html

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

www.affirmation.org