Anti-Gay LDS Activities     

Source: San Francisco Press Release

An official letter was distributed to male members in California LDS churches on Sunday, March 10, 1996. Affirmation believes this letter is a shameful example of the extremes to which the church will go in its campaign to oppose civil rights for gays and lesbians. The covert action advocated by this letter shows that the church is well aware that its actions are highly questionable, despite the moral cover it invokes to hide its obvious political goal. The Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3), states that non-profit organizations are not to be involved in substantial part in activities attempting to influence legislation. The LDS church is abusing its tax-exempt status through secret instructions to its members to influence legislation that serves its homophobic interests. This kind of duplicity is an abuse of the political process, harms legitimate moral authority, and must be exposed. Church leaders, who frequently remind members of their duty to obey "the law of the land," apparently believe this rule does not apply to them. Affirmation decries all such activities as a gross misuse not only the church’s moral authority but of its tax-exempt status.

The following is a copy of the directive distributed to the Priesthood members in church on March 10, 1996. Faxed original is available upon request. (all emphasis in original):

ASSEMBLY BILL 1982
By mid March 1996 the California State Senate will vote on Assembly bill #1982. The bill would PROHIBIT the recognition of same-sex marriages legalized in other states. Naturally, we SUPPORT the passage of this bill.
Our local State Senator is Hilda Solis, Democrat, 24th District. Contact with her office in SUPPORT of this bill is to be made by letter, e-mail or phone by individual constituents only. No representation of the Church is to be expressed or implied. Form letters and postcards will not be tallied by her office.

LOCAL ADDRESS/PHONE:
The Honorable Hilda Solis, State Senator
4401 Santa Anita Blvd., 2nd Floor
El Monte, CA. 91731
(818) 448-1271
SACRAMENTO ADDRESS/PHONE:
The Honorable Hilda Solis, State Senator
State Capitol, Room #4090
Sacramento, CA.. 95814
(916) 445-1418
senator.solis@sen.ca.gov (e-mail)

Questions? Call Randy Pico, DPA
818-335-4680 (home)
818-852-2644 (office)
818-852-2646 (fax)
818-858-7923 (pager)

CALL TO ACTION
The following has been requested by the Church Area Public Relations department, through the Stake Presidency.

KEY POINTS:
- We SUPPORT Assembly Bill (AB) 1982 which will be having State Senate Judiciary Committee hearings this week.
- Hawaii is considering legalizing same-sex marriages. Under current California law California would have to recognize these marriages. AB 1982 will prohibit this recognition.
- We are requested to write, as individuals. The Church should not be mentioned. We can state that, as Christians, we are against same-sex marriages and in support of AB 1982.
- This is a moral issue, and therefore of the highest concern to Church membership.
- We are to write Senator Hilda Solis. Although Senator Solis is not the Senator from our district, her district is adjacent to ours and she is on the Judiciary Committee. (See attached sheet for information on Senator Solis.)
- Both husband and wife should write separate letters. The letters should be brief.
- DO IT NOW!

The following is a sample letter. Form letters are not as effective, so put the points in your own words. Hand written letters are the most effective.

Dear Senator Solis:
AB 1982 is coming before your committee this week. This Bill will prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states. As a Christian who believes strongly that the traditional family is the basis of our society, I feel that California's recognition of same-sex marriages will undermine the very foundation and purpose of the family. I urge you, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, to vote in support of AB 1982.

Should you have any questions, please call Rick Pousard 963-7724 or Randy Pico Stake Public Relations Officer (numbers listed on the attached sheet).

[end of directive]

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, is a nonprofit educational fellowship group serving gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints, their families and friends since 1977. It is a place for open, honest dialogue, friendship and support. All are welcome, regardless of gender, orientation or religious affiliation. Affirmation may be contacted at its headquarters, P. O. Box 46022, Los Angeles CA, 90046.