Mormon church expresses support for marriage equality law in surprising move
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Tuesday that it supports legislation to protect same-sex marriages.
In a statement posted on the church’s website, officials say that the faith’s doctrine related to marriage between a man and a woman “will remain unchanged.” However, the church will support the bipartisan effort to preserve the rights of same-sex couples as long as those rights don’t infringe upon what the church calls protections to religious freedom.
“We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters,” said a news release from the nearly 17 million-member faith.
“We believe this approach is the way forward. As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding,” the Utah-based church added.
Equality Utah, the state’s largest LGBTQ civil rights and advocacy group, celebrated the unexpected move in a tweet Tuesday night, saying that “despite our differences, we can work together and find common ground.”
Troy Williams, the group’s executive director, said that the announcement “makes clear that equality is and always has been an American value. No American should face discrimination simply because of who they love. We are heartened to see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publicly take this stance today, and are certain it portends a successful vote in the Senate later this week.”
If passed, the Respect for Marriage Act would require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if that marriage was valid in the state where it was performed.
A joint statement from the bipartisan group of five senators who are behind the proposed legislation calls it “a needed step to provide millions of loving couples in same-sex and interracial marriages the certainty that they will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages.”
The bill, which passed the House in a bipartisan vote in July, is expected to go to a final vote in the Senate as early as later this week.
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