LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley

(Excerpt)
Q: The church has issued a statement concerning the campaign for legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Hawaii and other states. And the church has asked its members to write to their legislatures opposing this.

A: Yes. We've been involved in some action against same-sex marriages. Now, we have gays in the church. Good people. We take no action against such people — provided they don't become involved in transgression, sexual transgression. If they do, we do with them exactly what we'd do with heterosexuals who transgress. We have a very strong moral teaching concerning abstinence before marriage and total fidelity following marriage. And, regardless of whether they're heterosexuals or otherwise, if they step over that line there are certain sanctions, certain penalties that are imposed.

Q: What about gay people who feel God made them that way? You're saying they must lead a celibate life?

A: Well, yes, I suppose, essentially. A lot of people live a celibate life. Lots of them. A third of the people in the United States are now single. Many of them live a celibate life.

Q: But what homosexuals say is they don't have the opportunity to marry and be monogamous and faithful.

A: We believe that marriage, of a man and a woman, is that which is ordained of God for the procreation of children. That's a very sacred thing and is ordained of God and ought to be observed.

Administrator's note: This interview is noteworthy because this is the first time that a church leader, let alone the prophet, has publicly used the word "gay" to reference homosexuals. The policy of the church had recently been to avoid calling anyone gay or lesbian in an effort to make it seem that no one is really "that way," that we just have a "problem" with same-sex attraction. Affirmation applauds Bro. Hinckley's break with tradition by recognizing that we really do exist. Now if he could only take the next step by asking God what He felt about all of this . . . . Until then, we encourage all Latter-day Saints to follow the prophet's example by recognizing that gay and lesbian Mormons really do exist.