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"We saw the pain caused for our gay and lesbian friends, and there were suicides and divisions within congregations," Compton said. "It felt really wrong to say we want to protect families while at the same time destroying our gay and lesbian friends."Īmong the signs the group carried in the June 24 NYC Pride March were David Lumb Laura Compton, a California Mormon and one of the co-founders of Mormons for Marriage, said she knows that they are the minority in the LDS Church, but she believes those attitudes are changing as more anti-gay-marriage legislation is put in place. The Church's involvement in supporting legislation that prohibits same-sex marriage has led to the formation of websites and groups like Mormons for Marriage and Mormons for Marriage Equality, which seeks to unite Mormons who support marriage equality. A recent Pew Research Center survey of Mormons found that nearly a quarter of polled Mormons disagreed with the LDS Church on same-sex marriage. The LDS Church has historically opposed same-sex marriage, citing a law of chastity that prohibits sexual relations outside of a heterosexual marriage. "I feel passionately about speaking up and making sure my voice is heard," she said. “It teaches me to avoid judgement and leave that judgment up to God."Īs the group gathered for photos before the march, Cowley said she was worried there were still many Mormons afraid to voice their support of gay rights publicly. "My Mormon faith teaches me and encourages me to reach out and love other people regardless of their differences,” she said. Some talked about their experiences of being ostracized from their families and their decisions to leave their respective wards others shared their gratitude over the surprising amount of support they received from their family and friends.Ĭowley shared her experience as a straight ally who witnessed the difficult coming out process for her gay Mormon friends. The Affirmation marchers discussed faith and politics, and shared stories of their own personal journeys as they waited for the march to begin. "Hopefully, I'm welcoming him into a more loving, accepting world," Cowley said as she and husband Jed took turns holding a sign that read, "We love you.
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In an interview with Piers Morgan on CNN last year, Romney emphasized that he was not a spokesman for the LDS Church and that he kept his personal views separate from his politics.Īmong the group of Mormons lining up to march in New York City was Kate Allgood Cowley, a soon-to-be mother whose due date is only days away.
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In campaign speeches this year, Romney reaffirmed his opposition against same-sex marriage, though he also said he does not consider his views to have been a result of his Mormon faith. Kate Allgood Cowley, a straight Mormon ally for the LGBT community, marched in the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 24. He would be the first Mormon in the White House if elected. The LDS Church's view on gay marriage is in the spotlight now that Mitt Romney, an active member of LDS, is running as the GOP presidential candidate.
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Over a dozen marches are scheduled for 2012, and over half have already taken place-from Salt Lake City to Santiago, Chile. Mormons who support marriage equality are perceived as a minority within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but Sunday's participants hope to change that statistic. They marched as part of the New York City chapter of Affirmation, an international organization of gay and lesbian Mormons who, along with Mormons for Marriage Equality and Mormons Building Bridges, helped organize and advocate for nationwide pride marches. Approximately 30 Mormons marched down Fifth Avenue to cheers and applause from the parade route crowd.