"Kiss-in" Protest Held near Mormon Temple

100 People Exchange Kisses to Protest Treatment of 2 Gay Men who Were Detained by Police

(AP)  About 100 people gathered near the Mormon church's downtown temple to stage a "kiss-in" protesting the treatment of two gay men who were detained by security guards on a plaza owned by the church and later cited by police for trespassing.

Matt Aune said he and his partner, Derek Jones, were confronted by guards after they hugged and kissed on the plaza.

Former Salt Lake City Councilwoman Deeda Seed helped organize Sunday's kiss-in, which occurred on public property.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on its Web site that heterosexual and gay couples exchanged small kisses and pecks at the plaza's south entrance, which faces downtown. Church security was present, but the Deseret News of Salt Lake City reported on its Web site that no altercations occurred.

The church has been the target of protests over its support of a ban on gay marriage in California.

Aune said he and his partner, Jones, were walking home from a concert nearby on Thursday night, cutting through the plaza near the Salt Lake City Mormon temple.

Aune, 28, said he gave Jones, 25, a hug and kiss and that the two were then approached by a security guard, who asked them to leave, telling them they were being inappropriate and that public displays of affection aren't allowed on the property. He said other guards arrived and the men were handcuffed.

"We asked what we were doing wrong," Aune told The Associated Press.

Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said in a statement Friday that the men were "politely asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior - just as any other couple would have been."

"They became argumentative and used profanity and refused to leave the property," she said. The church did not immediately respond to a request for more comment.

Police later arrived and both men were cited with misdemeanor trespassing, Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Robin Snyder said.

"It doesn't matter what they were asked to leave for," Snyder said. "If they are asked to leave and don't they are ... trespassing."

[LDSFAITHFUL]

Sunday Morning I attended Music and the Spoken Word which was held in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. After the program, I began my walk to my car which was parked a few blocks away. While walking to my car, two men in a tan chevy pickup truck began shouting slurs towards me because of my faith. I was wearing my white shirt so obviously I am LDS right. Well, that was not all, two more vehicles cursed at me from their windows.
I walked back to my car wondering why someone would have so much hatred towards another human being.
Monday Morning at work I when I was telling my co-workers about the incident they informed me of a Gay Rights Protest held at Temple Square.
WAS THIS the reason I was targeted? This is the thought that has plagued my mind all day long.
The funny thing to me is that these men and women believe they are fighting for their rights. THAT I can understand. BUT, what they fail to realize is that the right that allows them to protest us also allows us to protest Gay Marriage.
Gay Marriage was voted on and denied by the People of California in 2002, 1998 and 1996, LONG BEFORE the LDS Church, MY CHURCH ever entered the equation.
The Fact remains that there were over 7 million voters in Cali who voted against GAY MARRIAGE, of that number only 250,000 were Mormon (LDS).
You don't see a group kiss held at St. Peters Square at the Vatican, you don't see this kind of reaction held towards the Baptists.
WE are not alone in our beliefs, and sorry to disappoint you but we weren't even the majority of the PRO- Prop 8 Campaign.
Do some research before you decide to go and target a smaller faith group just because they happen to make an easy target.

[LDSFAITHFUL]

Sunday Morning I attended Music and the Spoken Word which was held in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. After the program, I began my walk to my car which was parked a few blocks away. While walking to my car, two men in a tan chevy pickup truck began shouting slurs towards me because of my faith. I was wearing my white shirt so obviously I am LDS right. Well, that was not all, two more vehicles cursed at me from their windows.
I walked back to my car wondering why someone would have so much hatred towards another human being.
Monday Morning at work I when I was telling my co-workers about the incident they informed me of a Gay Rights Protest held at Temple Square.
WAS THIS the reason I was targeted? This is the thought that has plagued my mind all day long.
The funny thing to me is that these men and women believe they are fighting for their rights. THAT I can understand. BUT, what they fail to realize is that the right that allows them to protest us also allows us to protest Gay Marriage.
Gay Marriage was voted on and denied by the People of California in 2002, 1998 and 1996, LONG BEFORE the LDS Church, MY CHURCH ever entered the equation.
The Fact remains that there were over 7 million voters in Cali who voted against GAY MARRIAGE, of that number only 250,000 were Mormon (LDS).
You don't see a group kiss held at St. Peters Square at the Vatican, you don't see this kind of reaction held towards the Baptists.
WE are not alone in our beliefs, and sorry to disappoint you but we weren't even the majority of the PRO- Prop 8 Campaign.
Do some research before you decide to go and target a smaller faith group just because they happen to make an easy target.

[abbeysue]

The whole thing sounds staged to me. These two men just happened to choose to make out on property belonging to the Mormon Church, knowing the Mormon Church's stance on homosexuality? Yup, obviously staged. Gays are just trying to get back at the Mormon Church for the whole prop 8 thing. They've decided to target the Mormon Church and other churches that don't believe in their lifestyle. They just can't stand the fact that there are still places around where they can't shove their lifestyles down people's throats.

[jankebenzone]

Reply to this comment ..by Yeah-Me July 14, 2009 6:16 PM EDT
Are you actually saying that me being gay is affecting your ability to "Go forth and be fuitfull and multiply"? Thank you so very much for that level of influence. Really.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
No, I am pointing out that because homosexuality goes against the order and law of nature, your kind creates confusion and disfuntion. If that was'nt bad enough,the pro gay propaganda to force recognition on the public is more than detrimental to the well being of society. Unfortunately, the gays can't see the dangers of their actions because of shortsightedness in perception and comprehension.

[Yeah-Me]

I would have to counter that "confusion and disfunction" stem from a lack of understanding about homosexuality. I'll grant that homosexuality does go against the natural laws of procreation, true. But even those barriers can be easily overcome, should a gay couple seek to have and raise children of their own.

I however do find it to be rather disingenuous, to say that "forcing recognition on the public is more than detrimental to the well being of society". Homosexuality is by far nothing new to society. It's by recognizing that it exits, and is in truth, no threat to the "traditional family" (unless you alow it to threaten you) that a level of understanding can be learned about it. It's this awareness that is going create an atmosphere where both straight and gay people will be able to live together in society without fear of being punished/persecuted for being one or the other.

The dangers I see without this understanding would be a continued raise in suicide rates of teenagers because of nonacceptance for being gay. As well as, a continued belief that it's "OK" for people of the GLBT communities to be harmed, both physically and emotionally, because of their sexuality. It's those things I see as being the real threat to an evolving society that claims to respect all of its citizens as equals in the eyes of the laws of the land.

You know, there are 24 states currently that offer protections based on sexual orientation. That, to me, is a great diservice to our nation that was founded on the belief that "All People are Created Equal".

[whateva2u]

"When will the obama/media complex stop trying to force the gay lifestyle on the american people?"
A better question would be when will the Mormon Church stop trying to force their ideals on the general population, and stop looking down their noses at those who are not Mormon? If we want to call the kettle black the pot should stand up with it's handle raised high!

[cs4466]

What can people do to diminish prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people?

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who want to help reduce prejudice and discrimination can be open about their sexual orientation, even as they take necessary precautions to be as safe as possible. They can examine their own belief systems for the presence of antigay stereotypes. They can make use of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community?as well as supportive heterosexual people?for support.

Heterosexual people who wish to help reduce prejudice and discrimination can examine their own response to antigay stereotypes and prejudice. They can make a point of coming to know lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, and they can work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals and communities to combat prejudice and discrimination. Heterosexual individuals are often in a good position to ask other heterosexual people to consider the prejudicial or discriminatory nature of their beliefs and actions. Heterosexual allies can encourage nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation. They can work to make coming out safe. When lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people feel free to make public their sexual orientation, heterosexuals are given an opportunity to have personal contact with openly gay people and to perceive them as individuals.

Studies of prejudice, including prejudice against gay people, consistently show that prejudice declines when members of the majority group interact with members of a minority group. In keeping with this general pattern, one of the most powerful influences on heterosexuals? acceptance of gay people is having personal contact with an openly gay person. Antigay attitudes are far less common among members of the population who have a close friend or family member who is lesbian or gay, especially if the gay person has directly come out to the heterosexual person.

[jankebenzone]

by Yeah-Me July 14, 2009 5:29 PM EDT
I would have to say that the freaks are those who would seek impose their moral/religious beliefs on others without regards to their rights. Especially when when those actions are harming no one.
----------------------------------------------------------------
So you and others would say, but the age old order of nature and natural laws would prove you wrong. Their actions are hurting others and themselves by disrupting nature,just as we are finding out the hard way by air pollution. It was'nt visible at first so most said fossil fuels were not harmfull. They were wrong!

[Yeah-Me]

Are you actually saying that me being gay is affecting your ability to "Go forth and be fuitfull and multiply"? Thank you so very much for that level of influence. Really.

Seriously... I tried playing the "good boy" role of being married. Guess what... It didn't work. I was miserable, and by extension, so was my ex-wife. Living that lie was the disruptive/harmful thing to do, not my sexuality.

In the end, we are both now happier. Me being true to who I am, and she is now happily married to someone who could give her the child she wanted.

Why homosexuality is here, who knows... only God does, I'd imagine. But we are here. Arguably, yeah, we could be termed as "dead ends", but it by no means diminishes us as living, breathing, human individuals. And, despite being "evolutionary dead ends", here we still are. Thanks to the heterosexual people out there.

[Kelsie-Ferg]

Disrupting Nature? There Is Nothing Wrong With Being Gay. Why Does It Matter Lesbians, Gays, Straights, Bisexuals We Are All People. And We All Deserve To Be Treated With Respect.

[diamruby]

After living & working for years around Mormons & researching their religion, I can attest to the fact that they are a cult & the temple rites that they perform are morally wrong. They do not treat non-members the same & only associate with you if you go to their church. They believe in & practice polyogamy, they have a very high amount of incest, child & spouse abuse. Their lives & thoughts are completely controlled by the church & the church members spy on each other & report all to the head bishop. I am sure one of these days one of the head "nuts" will have a vision from "God" (what do they smoke??)telling them to let "Gays" into their church same as they did with the black people, then all will be fine. Why do people get involved with these "nuts"??? They of course are brainwashed from birth. They are a big business making money off of the name of "God" & should be taxed the same as others, just think of the money the government is out. All their businesses should be made public so that no money would be put in their hands unknownly.

[SamThornton]

Mormons. Go figger.

[babooph]

Utah has more porn use than all but a couple states-this will go beyond kissing for those nuts fast !Must be something about that "funny" underwear.....

[Kelsie-Ferg]

Why Do Mormans Make A Big Deal Of This. They Need To Suck It Up. And Realize They Are A Bunch Of Freaks. People Have The Right To Like The Same Sex. And Show A Public Display Of It. And People Shouldnt Tell Them Weither Or Not To. Especially Not Mormans.

[jankebenzone]

Who are the freaks? the homosexuals with their unnatural and weird desires , or the ones who do what nature and God intended for us?

[Yeah-Me]

I would have to say that the freaks are those who would seek impose their moral/religious beliefs on others without regards to their rights. Especially when when those actions are harming no one.

[Kelsie-Ferg]

Obviously The Freaks Are The Mormons Who Think They Know What God Wants For Us.

[daisyjingles]

I would rather see people kissing in public than stealing purses, being drunk, shooting passersby and littering.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

Now the real test in the next year is to have a Hetro Couple do the same thing and see what happens.

Utah is pretty Homophobic anyway.

[daffy64]

Jesus kissed fellow men all the time in the bible. No big deal.

Sheesh, Mormons, let it go.

[jankebenzone]

Your false statement is indicative of the lack of general bibical knowledge the general public has, thus their wayward ways.

[Kelsie-Ferg]

Umm It Does Say In The Bible That Jesus Had Hookers. He Kissed Guys. You Mormans Just Find It Wierd And Changed It Around. Why Do You Think Its Called The Book Of MORMANS! Of Course They Changed It Around.

[endurorob]

mswolfestock July 14, 2009 2:26 PM EDT
EXACTLY! And most of the Mormons have very little in common with the rest of the planet.


Other than their irrational belief in a supreme being and an afterlife.

[cleric60]

Is it true that Elohim and his consort have sexual relations and thus
producing "soul babies" that need physical bodies, thus Mormons are to
produce many children and don't believe in birth control?

[endurorob]

cs4466 July 14, 2009 2:13 PM EDT
To really see what Mormonism is all about and to see how it is actually a cult with very little resemblance to Christianity, look up "Mormon cosmology" in wikipedia. It gives a very nice run down of the really strange beliefs they hold.

Now as an American I fully support their right to believe whatever they want to. But when their church expends those tax-free dollars to affect political change (or lack of change) in California regarding gay marriage, that's when they've stepped over the line. If they want to interfere in the civil rights of Americans, then they should lose their tax-free status.


I would agree with your second paragraph that dabbling in politics should cost them their tax exempt status as I believe should be the same for any church and quite frankly they all probably dabble in polotics. As for your assertion that they are a cult any religion that is based on a god or supreme being of any kind is living in a fantasy world and is basically cult like. Other than differing beleifs all religions tend to function the same.

[cs4466]

To really see what Mormonism is all about and to see how it is actually a cult with very little resemblance to Christianity, look up "Mormon cosmology" in wikipedia. It gives a very nice run down of the really strange beliefs they hold.

Now as an American I fully support their right to believe whatever they want to. But when their church expends those tax-free dollars to affect political change (or lack of change) in California regarding gay marriage, that's when they've stepped over the line. If they want to interfere in the civil rights of Americans, then they should lose their tax-free status.

[Yeah-Me]

http://www.scari.org/Mormons.United.html

[cs4466]

More from Wiki - which is accurate, by the way:

[edit] Origin of Elohim (God the Father)
According to Mormon theology, God the Father is a physical being of "flesh and bones"[9] and he inhabits a throne in space near a planet or star called Kolob. Mormons identify him as the Biblical god Elohim. Latter-day Saint leaders have also taught that God the Father was once a mortal man who has completed the process of becoming an exalted being.[10] According to Joseph Smith, God "once was a man like one of us and?once dwelled on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did in the flesh and like us."[11]


They're partyin' down near the star of Kolob. They just don't allow beer.

[Yeah-Me]

http://www.aliendave.com/Article_Elohim120703.html

[cs4466]

From Wikipedia:
However, the foundations of Mormon theology are distinctive in many ways from most traditional Christianity. Historically, Mormonism is associated with the doctrine of plural marriage, which is still practiced within Mormon fundamentalism, though long been abandoned by the LDS Church. Mormon theology does not follow the Nicene Creed, in that it views the Trinity as three persons with distinct physical (or, in the case of the Holy Spirit, spirit) bodies. Mormonism includes a distinctive Mormon cosmology, a unique Plan of Salvation that includes three heavens, and a doctrine of Exaltation which includes the ability of humans to become gods and goddesses in the afterlife.

In some ways, this particular religion has VERY little in common with traditional Christianity.

[mswolfestock]

EXACTLY! And most of the Mormons have very little in common with the rest of the planet.