‘A Hug and Kiss’ lands gay couple in handcuffs at Mormon plaza
A gay couple say they were detained by LDS security guards on a plaza owned by the Mormon church and later cited by police, claiming it stemmed from a kiss on the cheek.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said that the men became argumentative and refused to leave after being asked to stop their “inappropriate behavior.” The men say they were targeted because they are gay.
Matt Aune said he and his partner, Derek Jones, were walking home from a concert nearby on Thursday night, cutting through the plaza near the Salt Lake City Mormon temple.
Aune, 28, said he gave Jones, 25, a hug and kiss and that the two were then approached by a security guard, who asked them to leave, telling them they were being inappropriate and that public displays of affection aren’t allowed on the property. He said other guards arrived and the men were handcuffed.
Police later arrived and both men were cited with misdemeanor trespassing, Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Robin Snyder said.
The Mormon church has been the target of protests over its support of Proposition 8, a ban on gay marriage in California.
Category: Around the Nation, Iowa
Honestly, when I read “public displays of affection aren’t allowed on the property” I took that to mean across the board… gay or straight. And since it isn’t public property the determination about what’s appropriate and what’s not is really up to the owner. Kind of like My house, My rules. I doubt some of the things I’ve done in public would be welcome there either. I can respect that. Just my opinion.
Ugh, I bet if it was a straight couple, they would just turn a blind eye to it.
Why do I say that? Because I see it all too much everywhere. I’d go to school and I literally see straight couples humping on each other and teachers and security guards would turn a blind eye even though it’s a rule that there shall be no PDA.
Or how there would be those couples walking around a plaza at the center of my town with their hands together and lips would lock every 5 seconds.
It’s no surprise that people freaked out over gay people kissing each other because they’re so intolerant of it goddamn, no PDA period and no condoning it.