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Utah reacts to Prop 8 ruling


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Updated: 2/07 10:08 pm | Published: 2/07 4:31 pm
Salt Lake City (ABC 4 News) – News of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling California’s Proposition 8 unconstitutional was welcomed happily but cautiously by Utah’s gay community.

Valarie Larabee, the executive director of Utah’s Pride Center, told ABC 4,

“I think it’s important it plays out in the courts, but I am much more concerned with how it plays out in the hearts and minds of Americans."

But the LDS Church did not join in the celebration.

In a lengthy and strong statement, the Church said:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regrets today's decision. California voters have...determined...marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We have always had that view."

In 2008, not only did the LDS Church strongly support Prop 8, members gave both money and time to help pass it.

Even though protests in California and Utah erupted over the Church's involvement, its opposition to gay marriage remains strong.

But if you ask as Utah's gay community, it believes time and justice are on its side.

According to Larabee,

"Those of us working on the side of equality do believe that the day is coming when LGBT Americans are going to have the full rights and privileges of straight Americans."


FOLLOW CHRIS VANOCUR ON TWITTER: @cvan4
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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of ABC4

xxAOGxx - 2/9/2012 11:09 AM
1 Vote
You people remind me of the Nazi's. You have your own flag and are trying to force your beliefs on everybody else. Nobody cares that you choose to be gay. All you want to do is fight about wether someone else agrees with you on one stupid, overplayed topic. You're here, you're gay, GET OVER IT. Stop spreading your disgusting hate and help bring some peace back into this world. You will never be able to force people to agree with what you are doing by using hate.

jam777bsm - 2/9/2012 12:32 AM
1 Vote
AND, (luv1another), if you read your comments with an "open mind", you would hear how judgemental against the LDS people you sound. The way you talk is extremely degrading. I find it amusing to read comments on here so often putting down the "mormons" beliefs, calling them judgemental, closed-minded, self-rightious....etc., etc., But it's all so hypocritical! What are YOU doing? YOU are the one being rude, insulting, and judgemental, (etc.), just because we disagree

jam777bsm - 2/9/2012 12:18 AM
1 Vote
ummmm...actually...I DIDN"T grow up "that way", or in "that culture". I grew up in an extremely open culture in NY! What are you talking about? Just because I don't agree with you, doesn't mean that I'm closed minded, unintelligent, ignorant, or a non-thinker, as some claim. If it were about equal rights, as the gay community claims, they would be ok with receiving equal rights! But, like I said, it isn't. They are intent on trying to force their beliefs, their agenda, on the rest of the population to the extent of actually changing the definition of a word! And we don't want to!

Luv1Another - 2/8/2012 8:01 PM
0 Votes
The problem with Utahns is they are too closed-minded. But its not their fault. Its the way they are raised. Utahns are the most vain people in America--they care too much about image--what everyone around them thinks about them. Thus, they avoid anything and everything that is seen as 'different', 'unusual', or 'lowly'. This leads them to be incredibly homophobic. They aren't stupid. They're scared. Even gay utahns are scared--hence the high suicide rate of gay utahns. Gay Utahns don't kill themselves because they can't get married--they kill themselves because they aren't accepted and they don't believe they ever will be. There is no need arguing with any Utahn about gay rights--they just don't get it. Nobody is trying to force anything here--we are simply begging people to step down from their high and mighty, golden thrones--down to 'our level'--and try to understand our perspective. Civil unions, marriage, whatever--the issue isn't about a definition. The issue is that only allowing civil unions and not marriage screams segregation. We aren't good enough for your holy ritual of marriage. And yet--gay couples are staying together in committed relationships longer than man/wife marriages across the nation these days. If you ask me, marriage statistics could use a little help from us. There is nothing wrong with having an open mind.

jam777bsm - 2/8/2012 1:40 PM
1 Vote
Those of us who are against changing the definition of the word "marriage", feel just like you do! Stop trying to force us to believe like you do! We don't WANT to change the definition. In fact, apparently, most people in our country don't. It's not just the Mormon church. In fact, they were WELL in the minority of those that upheld prop. 8 in Calif. This has nothing to do with equal rights. Most people, including most members of the LDS church ARE willing to support "unions" giving gays equal rights. The REAL issue is, they want to FORCE people to change a definition.

redtiger - 2/8/2012 11:21 AM
2 Votes
Should a few pro-homosexual judges have the power to overrule 7 million people in California? Is this judicial activism? What happened to ruling by the people? Also, There ALREADY is EQUALITY under the law, only being able to marry the opposite sex applies to everyone, EQUALLY. Men can't marry anyone they love. If a 30 yr. old man loves a 15 yr old girl. Tough luck, you can't get married. Let's not be homophobic, but let's not be homophile either. homosexuality is an activity that leads to 1 in 5 gay men having AIDS. If you love those with same-sex attraction, be their friend, encourage them to use their bodies as God and nature intended. Remember when people used to say, "How does a boy and girl having sex outside of marriage affect you?" Increased crime, poverty, objectification of women, and broken homes 50 years later. The nation cannot last if it does not uphold the family and marriage, both of which have already been abused and beaten badly by false ideas.

artistlimited - 2/7/2012 11:49 PM
0 Votes
AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I welcome this decision. According to polls, most Americans support Same Sex marriage anyway. Even if it wasn't the case, the opinion of the majority shouldn't infringe the rights of minorities. This is a victory in the name of personal freedom. Oh, and I can't wait to hear the "then lets legalize rape, child prostitution, etc" arguments. Too bad studies continue to show that homosexuality (and more specifically, homosexual parents) have no negative psychological effects on children, and that children raised in gay families are no more likely to be gay than if they were raised in straight ones.

mstant57 - 2/7/2012 7:36 PM
0 Votes
The LDS church will again stick their nose in where nit is not wanted. That appears to be the main mission. TO FORCE EVERYONE TO LIVE BY THE LDS CHURCH RULES. Stay out of other people's lives. I am not gay, but I feel every one has the ability to make their own choices. WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE LDS CHURCH. You now try to control everything in Utah, and you want to control everyone in the country. STAY OUT OF OUR LIVES!!!!!!
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