Mormon church fires employee for having gay friends
In November 2009, in the wake of criticism for its role in reversing marriage equality for gays and lesbians, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints made a big show of promoting an anti-discrimination ordinance in Salt Lake City. The ordinance made it illegal to fire someone or to deny housing based on a person’s sexual orientation, but contained an exemption for religious organizations.
This "do as I say, not as I do" way of thinking on the part of the LDS Church became apparent this week when the church fired a man for having gay friends.
According to the Salt Lake City Weekly, Drew Call, 32, a returned missionary who is gay, was a supervisor in the church’s printing department until March 7. He had been employed by the church for over a decade, but to continue his employment, had to renew his "temple recommend." Call alleges that he was told that he needed to give up his gay friends before he would receive the temple recommend; otherwise, he would be fired.
Ross recorded the conversation. The Weekly reports,
The stake president says on the recording that the question Call could not answer honestly asks, “do you support, affiliate with or agree with any group or individuals whose teaching or practices are contrary to or opposed to those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?” The stake president goes on to say that that question applies to Call’s gay friends “because of the moral decay that is going in the world and that’s part of it. The church opposes the relationship between a man and a man and a woman and a woman, and you’re associating with those individuals. I don’t know how to get around that.”
“So what are you going to do?” Call asked.
“You’re going to have to look for a job,” the stake president replied.
Rather than fight the church, Call is looking for employment elsewhere.
via Mormon church fires employee for having gay friends | God Discussion.
