Gay couples can now kiss on LDS Plaza

A federal court in Denver ruled yesterday against the LDS Church, granting all citizens free speech rights on the Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City. The LDS Church has been involved in a controversy since it struck a secret deal with then Mayor Deedee Corradini to buy a section of Main Street from the city and build a plaza. Although the city council reserved the easement, it had given the LDS Church power to restrict speech, behavior, and manner of dress in the area. The new ruling reverses such restrictions.

In October 2000, when the plaza was first open, gay couples held hands and kissed on the plaza to protest the restrictions, but LDS security guards have since harassed and stopped people attempting to exercise free speech rights.

Although LDS officials have already announced that they will appeal the ruling, Utah ACLU attorney Stephen Clark would like to see the Church accept the court’s decision. "I would hope the Mormon church would have enough confidence in their ideas to accept this decision and create, in addition to ‘a little bit of Paris,’ a little bit of Hyde Park in downtown Salt Lake City so all viewpoints are heard."