LDS Church: we support laws to protect LGBT Americans

Efforts to pass laws in Utah and around the nation to protect LGBT individuals against employment and housing discrimination are getting support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Photo credit: California Office of Historic Preservation.

<span>SALT LAKE CITY – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is publicly supporting legislation at all levels of government that would provide protections in housing, employment and other areas for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.</span>

<span>Among the LDS church leaders who spoke at a news conference held Tuesday was Elder Dallin Oaks, who said there also should be more laws to protect religious freedoms.</span>

<span>”We call on local, state and the federal government to serve all of their people by passing legislation that protects vital religious freedoms for individuals, families, churches and other faith groups,” he said, “while also protecting the rights of our LGBT citizens.”</span>

<span>The announcement comes as state lawmakers are scheduled to consider </span><a href=”http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/SB0100.html” target=”parent”>Senate Bill 100</a><span>, which would modify the Utah Anti-discrimination Act and the Utah Fair Housing Act to strengthen definitions regarding gender identity and sexual orientation.</span>

<span>State Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, who is openly gay, said support from the church is nothing short of historic.</span>

<span>”For the LDS church to stand up and so broadly say that they stand for nondiscrimination against LGBT people in housing and employment – it’s a landmark statement,” he said.</span>

<span>Dabakis said the church openly supported a nondiscrimination ordinance in Salt Lake City in 2009. Now, he said, the church is taking a further step with its support for LGBT protections at the state, national and international levels.</span>

<span>The bill is online at </span><a href=”http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/SB0100.html” target=”parent”>le.utah.gov</a><span>.</span>

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