
Mormon Church Supports Gay Rights Laws in Salt Lake City
(Analysis:)
The Church's Official Endorsement of these laws is sure to generate its own brand of controversy. Critics will say that the Church is making huge concessions to a group that it has battled since the Gay Rights movement began. In the words of one anonymous critic:
"The Church should have just stayed out of this. By endorsing this legislation they now appear to be promoting the Gay Agenda instead of fighting it. The law would have gone through without their endorsement. Its an embarrassment that did not need to happen. We need leadership, not concessions."
"... the Church "does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights or probate rights."
"Its demoralizing," explained another critic, "We worked so hard in California to push back the Gay Agenda. I just don't understand this at all. This is about our Constitutional Right to enjoy "Freedom of Association". Salt Lake City is only 30% Mormon. Homosexuals only make up 1-3% of the population nationwide. There are plenty of housing and employment opportunities out there for them."
Some small businesses across the valley are even even thinking of relocating outside of the City limits:
"If I am forced to hire someone that I don't trust for my family business, its time to move. This city used to be about Family Values. My business is a Family business and I don't plan on bringing in cross-dressers, transvestites, or openly Gay employees anytime soon. Its just not good for business." (SLC businessman)