"Kiss-In" Protest Held Outside Mormon Church

[babylonsister]

Kissers protest near Temple Square

By Arthur Raymond

Deseret News
Published: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:01 p.m. MDT


A "kiss-in" drew about 60 people sporting pink paper hearts to the sidewalk just off of LDS Church property near Main Street and South Temple Sunday to protest actions taken by church security late last week.

Former Salt Lake City Councilwoman Deeda Seed launched the idea from her Facebook page after two gay men, Derek Jones and Matthew Aune, were forced to leave the church-owned pedestrian walkway between North Temple and South Temple Thursday night for "inappropriate" behavior. That behavior, reportedly, was holding hands and a kiss on the cheek and led to the men being handcuffed, led off the plaza and cited by Salt Lake police.

Seed called the actions "heavy-handed," and invited people to meet downtown Sunday morning to "engage in gentle, tasteful displays of public affection." Dozens of gay and straight couples did just that at the feet of a statue of Brigham Young near the entrance to the plaza just after 9 a.m.

Seed said the idea behind the gathering was to illustrate the innocence of a simple display of affection, no matter where it occurs.

"We're giving a visual demonstration of the power of love," Seed said. "And, saying that it should be OK for people to show affections regardless of their sexual orientation or age."

more...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705316423/Kissers-protest-near-Temple-Square.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. :)))))

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. I like it!

What a great way to show people affection is a beautiful and harmless thing.

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. I'm Suprised There Are Still "Ins" In This Late Date In Age (n/t)

[freeplessinseattle]

8. yeah, it should be a sit-out, for a couple of reasons! ;)

this is one time I wish I still lived there.

[Lisa0825]

4. I love it!

What a great idea for a protest! :loveya:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Good for them!

I'm with them in spirit, giving hugs to one and all!

[paulsby]

6. excellent example

of intelligent, legal, non-violent civil protest.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. Well, if God really "hated" gays, here would be His chance to prove it.

Because a queer-hatin' God wouldn't let such a display take place outside His temple, would He?

Any sudden plagues of frogs & locusts dropping from the sky in SLC today?

NO?

Well, I guess Fred Phelps was wrong then. Heavenly Father apparently doesn't give a shit who kisses in front of the Temple.

[TokenQueer]

9. Great story.

:kick:

[donheld]

10. There needs to be more of these

[TokenQueer]

11. Chico's Tacos perhaps...

:think: