This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
— In major move, Mormon leaders call for statewide LGBT protections — Salt Lake Tribune
"Top leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called Tuesday for passage of laws granting statewide protections against housing and employment discrimination for gay and lesbian Utahns — as long as those measures safeguard religious freedom. ..."
"Senior LDS leaders reiterated Tuesday the church's longstanding support for laws that ensure fair access to housing and employment for LGBT people while safeguarding religious freedom. ..."
— Mormon church backs LGBT rights — with one condition — CNN
"In at least one big and bruising culture-war battle, the Mormon church wants to call a partial truce.
"Convening a rare press conference on Tuesday at church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Mormon leaders pledged to support anti-discrimination laws for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, as long the laws also protect the rights of religious groups.
"In exchange, the Mormon church wants gay rights advocates — and the government — to back off. ..."
— Mormon leaders wisely back LGBT protection law — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
" ... They should find that their expression of compassion will be reciprocated. That the right of religious orders to abstain from participation in rites that they disagree with — which was never really threatened — is preserved.
"Church leaders, though, do not have the right, or the realistic expectation, that their faith's view of same-sex relationships, marriage and parenting will be seen by most Americans, or by U.S. law, as anything other that what it is, a discriminatory mind-set destined for the dust bin of history. ..."
— Fairness for all in religious liberty protections and LGBT anti-discrimination laws — Deseret News Editorial
" ... One of the extraordinary accomplishments of our unique republican form of government has been its capacity to accommodate a plurality of deeply rooted but potentially contradictory beliefs and identities into productive processes and policies that understand the practical limits of absolutist positions. There is no reason that true friends of religious liberty and true friends of anti-discrimination cannot find common ground. ..."
— Mormon Church Wants Freedom to Discriminate — Andrew Rosenthal | The New York Times
" ... That's fake 'war on religion' speak. What they want is legal permission to use their religion as an excuse to discriminate. ..."
— Mormon church backs legal protections for LGBT people — with one big exception — German Lopez | Vox
" ... "As a matter of policy, there's no 'there' there," Fred Sainz, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, told the Washington Post. "The so-called religious exemption is the size of five Mack trucks. It entirely neuters their proposal. ..."
— HRC to Mormons: True protections shouldn't leave anyone behind — San Diego Gay and Lesbian News
" ... "Symbolically, seeing the church leaders advocating so openly for these protections will no doubt be deeply meaningful to Mormon families with LGBT members, and provide encouragement to LGBT youth in the church," HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said. "But, as a matter of public policy, it appears deeply flawed. ..."
— The Terms of Our Surrender — Ross Douthat | The New York Times
" ... Christians had plenty of opportunities — thousands of years' worth — to treat gay people with real charity, and far too often chose intolerance. (And still do, in many instances and places.) So being marginalized, being sued, losing tax-exempt status — this will be uncomfortable, but we should keep perspective and remember our sins, and nobody should call it persecution.
"But it's still important for the winning side to recognize its power. We are not really having an argument about same-sex marriage anymore, and on the evidence of Arizona, we're not having a negotiation. Instead, all that's left is the timing of the final victory — and for the defeated to find out what settlement the victors will impose."