Eideard

The reach of God extends everywhere

A gay couple says they were detained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints security guards after one man kissed another on the cheek Thursday on Main Street Plaza.

“They targeted us,” said Matt Aune, 28. “We weren’t doing anything inappropriate or illegal, or anything most people would consider inappropriate for any other couple.”

Aune and his partner, Derek Jones, 25, were cited by Salt Lake City police for trespassing on the plaza, located at 50 East North Temple, according to Sgt. Robin Snyder.

In a written statement, church spokeswoman Kim Farah denied the two were singled out for being gay. “Two individuals came on church property and were politely asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior — just as any other couple would have been,” she said. She declined to comment on what is considered inappropriate behavior, and on the rules governing the plaza.

Though Salt Lake City sold the property to the church in the late 1990s, it remains a popular pedestrian thoroughfare, and a site where couples often pose affectionately for photos.

Snyder refused to name the reason security guards gave for alerting police, saying it is “irrelevant.”

I keep forgetting Utah is a theocracy. I guess we all need reminding from time to time that parts of America have their own version of Sharia law.

Here’s the tale of woe from one of the targets of state religion.

UPDATE: Kiss-ins have become a regular occurrence. Prompting – one would hope – some reflection on civil rights among the chosen few.