Utah and the Mormon Church backs gay rights laws: Where is Anchorages yes vote?
Earlier last week, in what could be called a historic event, the Mormon church gave a yes vote to anti-discrimination laws that would ban gay persons from being fired from their jobs or barred from housing because of sexuality. The Utah-based church’s support of the vote came despite its unwavering opposition to gay marriage, reflected in the front page role it played last year in California’s Proposition 8 ballot measure that was against such unions. This was the church’s first public endorsement of such specific legislation, but it is not the first time the church has demonstrated support for some gay rights. In August 2008 the church issued a statement saying it supports gay rights related to hospitalization, medical care, employment, housing or probate as long as they “do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.” Anchorage, Alaska, a state just as conservative as Utah, is still behind the times. Dan Sullivan, mayor, has voice
