Gay But Not Happy – Again
From the gay but not happy file.
A little story out of Salt Lake City caught my eye. It seems two gay men were walking home from a concert on July 9th and decided to cut through the Main Street Plaza adjoining and owned by the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple. It was there in the middle of the plaza that these two gay men decided they needed to take a little break from their stroll to share a hug and a little smooch on the cheek. It was at that time that security patrolling the plaza approached the two men and informed the pair that their homosexual signs of affection were deemed “inappropriate behavior” and asked the couple to leave.
I must admit I am not the least bit surprised that at that point the two men became argumentative and refused to vacate the premises. Guards were forced to handcuff the two unhappy but gay smitten smoochers and detain them until police arrived and cited the pair for trespassing.
Salt Lake City Police Sergeant Robin Snyder put the entire incident into perspective later when he told reporters “It doesn’t matter what they were asked to leave for. If they are asked to leave and don’t they are trespassing.”
It all seems fairly plain to me, but it is not so plain to the gay community and their supporters in Salt Lake who felt that the pair’s rights had somehow been violated and decided to hold a protest across the street from the Mormon Temple. According to reports some 100 protesters, some of whom wearing brightly colored lipstick, gathered near the Main Street Plaza to share kisses on both the cheek and mouth in support of the two men. Security guards and later police were forced to step in and disband the “kiss off”, preventing the crowd from entering the plaza.
The two original lip smackers were present but decided not to participate in the kiss-a-thon with one later telling reporters “I just wanted to get the message out. We’re very flattered and proud.”
Is this just an isolated incident of two love struck homosexuals being unfairly targeted and treated by the Church of Latter Day Saints, or does this incident serve a greater purpose? Is it by some strange coincidence that this confrontation and the following protest is being held at the same time that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has filed a lawsuit against the United States of America claiming the Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996 and signed into law by Bill Clinton, is unconstitutional and denies federal benefits to gay couples legally married in Massachusetts?
If it is only by coincidence that the Mormon Church and the state of Massachusetts are entering into some fairly public struggles with the gay community at the same time then it is a strange coincidence indeed. But if it is not by coincidence then what is the one factor tying these two seemingly remote entities together? Does the name Mitt Romney ring a bell?
What may seem on the surface seem to be two unrelated incidents may in fact be an early foray into a well planned effort to politically damage the leading Republican candidate’s challenge of the Chosen One in the 2012 presidential election.
Romney is the past Governor of Massachusetts and is a member of the Mormon Church. He has publicly stated his support of the Defense of Marriage Act and as Governor took a stand against gay marriage.
Now, I’m not saying this is part of a greater plan on the part of Democrats or the gay community. But when it comes to politics I’m just not a big believer in coincidence.
