Gay Couple Detained for Kissing
July 15, 2009
It used to be Main Street in Salt Lake City – a road through the heart of downtown. Now it seems a stroll down this stretch of land can result in fines and physical restraint if you appear to be a gay couple who shows any type of innocent affection towards each other.
On July 9, on the Mormon Church-owned Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City, a gay couple of five years was roughed up and detained by Mormon church security for what the couple and most media outlets report to be a mere kiss on the cheek.
According to their own accounts, the couple, Derek Jones, 25, and Matthew Aune, 28, were walking home when they paused for a brief hug and peck. Mormon Church security officers demanded the couple leave for engaging in “inappropriate behavior.” Aune demanded to know why they were being kicked out. After a brief argument, the security officers pushed Jones to the ground and then handcuffed both of the men. The couple was detained while waiting for Salt Lake City police to arrive. The police cited both men with misdemeanor trespassing charges.
Matt Aune and Derek Jones pictured in The Salt Lake Tribune
This was a highly visible news story, and received coverage in both the state’s major newspapers, major radio stations and all the local television news shows.
What’s striking is that the coverage of the Mormon Church-owned media outlets – KSL (NBC affiliate) and the Deseret News – reported the story differently than the rest of the media outlets.
A look at the headlines about the incident makes the discrepancy very clear:
· The Salt Lake Tribune: “Trespassing case? Gay couple detained after kiss near LDS temple”
· The Associated Press: “Gay couple detained near Mormon plaza after kiss”
· KUTV (CBS affiliate): “LDS Security Detains Affectionate Couple on Plaza”
· Deseret News: “2 Men Cited in Trespassing on LDS Plaza”
What’s more, every news report about the incident makes clear that it was a kiss on the cheek or a peck, except the Deseret News, which is much less clear about what Aune and Jones were actually doing. The Deseret News description of events is also sparse on details about how many security guards out-numbered the couple and the physical force used by officers to detain the couple. Though neither Aune nor Jones required medical attention, both had bruises and scrapes from the force used by the security officers. KSL, the church-owned NBC affiliate’s story is also heavily one-sided.
In response, former Salt Lake City Councilwoman Deeda Seed organized a Sunday “Kiss-In” at the plaza to publicly demonstrate how Aune and Jones were singled out for engaging in behavior that is otherwise accepted at the same location when engaged in by straight couples.
The follow-up reports by The Salt Lake Tribune recounts, “This time, though, they had an audience of more than a hundred,” when talking about the “Kiss-In.” The Associated Press reports, “About 100 people gathered.” The Deseret News reports, “…about 60 people.” The church-owned NBC affiliate, KSL, reports, “Dozens of people.” It is curious how the church-owned newspaper and television station come up with a number approximately half what other media outlets report.
This could all be circumstantial, but as GLAAD has reported on this blog before, the Deseret News has been widely criticized – even by its own reporters – for not giving accurate and fair accounts of LGBT issues.
In May, the Columbia Journalism Review gave the Deseret News a “Dart,” for “dereliction of journalistic duty” in coverage of the Mormon Church’s involvement in Proposition 8 and the National Organization for Mariage.
The Deseret News is owned by the Mormon Church. However, not until recently has the paper’s journalistic integrity began to be questioned. The Deseret News, and any media outlet, fails to retain journalistic integrity when it ceases to fairly and accurately report on LGBT issues, and downplay any potentially negative coverage of the Mormon Church’s treatment of LGBT issues. This week, the one-sided reports related to Aune and Jone’s brief kiss, and the physical force church officials allegedly used in reaction to that affection, is just another example of why the paper continues to lose credibility.
Related Posts:Is the Deseret News Planning to Stifle Fair, Accurate and Inclusive Coverage?
February 26, 2009
On February 24, 2009 about a dozen reporters at the Deseret News pulled their bylines in an organized protest over the demotion of two editors at the paper.
Some of the employees that protested at the Deseret News allege that Editor in Chief Joe Cannon has been systematically editing news content to either ignore or sugar-coat stories critical of the Mormon Church. The editors in question were demoted after resisting the changes in news content at the paper. Cannon contends that the changes are necessary for the paper’s financial security.
Though the Deseret News is owned by the Mormon Church, it has historically – until Cannon’s leadership – sought to be perceived as a credible mainstream media publication, dedicated to fair coverage of news stories. Though the paper’s editorial positions have always been closely aligned with those of the Mormon Church, the news coverage has been generally consistent with impartial, non-partisan mainstream journalistic standards.
The reporters who protested this week allege that Cannon has decided to turn Utah’s second largest daily paper in to a “niche” paper – catering specifically to Mormon readers. The reporters say that they believe that under his direction, stories have been edited to present news through the filter of Mormon religious beliefs. In some cases, the protesters suggest stories were completely pulled because they did not strictly adhere to Mormon religious teachings and political views.
The Deseret News presents itself to major business interests as a mainstream newspaper when seeking advertising dollars. Whether advertisers will choose to continue to pay for advertising in a publication that appears to be moving from mainstream news outlet to a religious publication remains to be seen. .
The reporters who pulled their by-lines aren’t happy with the decisions being made by Cannon, which they allege are stifling fair coverage of certain topics. According to Government and Politics Editor Josh Loftin, who led Tuesday’s by-line protest, “In doing so, he [Cannon] has made the decision that saving the newspaper means sacrificing the news value of the newspaper.” Loftin continued, “We were carving out a niche as the best newspaper in the city and that is being undone to be the best Mormon paper in the city.”
In a move that could lead to the stifling of fair, accurate and inclusive coverage of LGBT and other issues, the Deseret News runs the risk of abandoning basic journalistic standards necessary to remain recognizable as a credible media source.
Share Your Story: Utah’s “All For One Initiative” Founder Jacob Whipple
January 21, 2009
Like in California, activists in Utah rose up after the election to rally against Proposition 8 and against the heavy involvement of the Mormon Church in Prop 8’s passage. Jacob Whipple, one of the leaders of the grassroots efforts in Utah, helped organize events and rallies and brought national attention to the state.
Jacob continues to lead a new grass roots organization in Utah, the “All for One Initiative,” partnering with other Utah groups to promote the “Common Ground” bills aimed at gaining some level of equality for Utah’s LGBT population. They hope this will be achieved by focusing on areas in which the LGBT community and the Mormon Church agree on issues. Additionally, Jacob is leading efforts to better organize the community through town hall meetings, community service projects, and other forms of grassroots organizing.
Below Jacob shares his story and some insight on his involvement on the local level.
You really stepped up and took a leadership role in the Utah LGBT community immediately after the election. Tell us how that went? How’d you go from being a citizen upset over the California Proposition 8 election to leader of a new movement in your local community?
It was nothing that I had expected or had hoped for. The true reason for my involvement comes down to having met the man of my dreams and asking him to marry me. Because the wedding plans that I had with my fiancé, when Proposition 8 was passed it was a very personal and very debilitating blow.
Once rallies started to take place in California, the realization dawned on me that our community was not going to lie down and take it like we have when so many other amendments and laws had passed against us. That is when I decided that Utah, too, should be part of these demonstrations and rallies. I thought that being in Utah, we had the responsibility to directly reprimand the Mormon church for their heavy-handed influence in passing Prop 8 and let them know that we would not tolerate their interference in our personal lives again.
Due to the success and turn out of that first rally around Temple Square I was incredibly encouraged. I saw that not just dozens or hundreds, but thousands of people were willing to brave the cold and march with us. I didn’t want that energy or fervor to end. I didn’t want to see that wave of rallies be the end of what could become our renewed Gay Rights Movement. And I, personally, didn’t want to stand by idly, as I had before, while legislators and the general population vote on my rights, protections and freedoms. I had resolved to make a difference.
Through brainstorming and a coalition that includes other grassroots activists in Utah we’ve been able to come up with ideas and events to keep our momentum going. We have a set of 6 bills, called the Common Ground Initiative, that would guarantee our LGBT community protections such as fair housing, fair employment, along with health care and wrongful death rights. I only hope that our community can keep up with the pace and determination that we’re setting for them.
Your Salt Lake City Mormon Temple rally gained widespread media coverage. Your efforts were highlighted in national and international media stories. You were profiled on the cover of Q Salt Lake, the state’s LGBT newspaper. How do you feel about all this media attention? What do you hope to gain from the coverage?
Honestly, I’m very glad for all of the media attention. Whether it’s me that they’re focusing on or other grassroots activists here in Utah, and around the country, I think it’s necessary that we change public opinion about our community. I think that the majority of the country forms their opinions about us based upon Will & Grace, Pride Parades, and scandals that usually include drug abuse or elected officials being caught in sex-stings.
I believe that one of the most important things that we can do is to come out to our families, neighbors and co-workers so that they know that they know one of us. I want the world to see us as normal people, as family members, as contributors to our local communities, and as people deserving to have the same rights and benefits that they do. I hope that our stories are told to show that we have the same hopes and desires. When they know us personally, instead of as “the gays,” they are less likely to vote against us, as they know that it will directly and personally affect someone that they know in a very real way.
And I think that national and even international coverage is necessary. We need to keep these issues out and in the public mind constantly. We can’t let our losses be swept under the rug any more. We must decry every instance of discrimination: being fired, beatings and murders, tyranny of the masses in voting to limit our rights. I think these issues need to become as prevalent in the everyday lives of the straights as it is for us. Only then, I think, will they realize what our community has been suffering and will stand with us.
You are engaged to be married to your partner Drew, and were planning a California wedding. With the passage of Proposition 8, what are your plans? How has your activism impacted that?
We’re still going ahead with out plans. We want to get married on the beach in California on April 11th, and we’re not going to let the misguided popular vote of Californians ruin our plans. We will still say our vows before God, our family and friends. The State is welcome as well, so we’re crossing our fingers that the California Supreme Court overturns Prop 8 before our wedding day. If it takes longer than that, or, God forbid, Proposition 8 remains on the books, then we will see about making a trip somewhere just to make it official: Toronto, Boston, Spain, Copenhagen, etc… There are a lot of options.
I don’t think that my activism has impacted our wedding plans that much. Though, I must admit that it can be pretty crazy trying to plan a wedding, a rally, the Queer Lounge at Sundance, as well as attend press conferences and meet with the Mayor all at the same time. If anything, Drew is worried that my activism would affect our relationship and would keep me away from him. Fortunately, that hasn’t been the case yet. And I hope and pray that those two important aspects of my life never conflict with each other.
As an advocate on the ground in Utah, what do you think about local mainstream media coverage of LGBT stories?
We have our allies and we have our skeptics and enemies. The Mormon church does own media here in Utah, so the likes of KSL or the Deseret News paint our events as annoyances, if they’re mentioned at all. I also read through the comments for the stories posted online by those media outlets, so that I know what the arguments are of the right-wing conservative traditionalists here in Utah.
On the other hand the local FOX affiliate, incredibly, has been one of our strongest advocates, as well as the state’s major paper, the Salt Lake Tribune. They’ve covered every event and tell personal stories as well. Q Salt Lake, our local gay magazine, is also very cooperative in every aspect, including helping me network, locate door prizes for events, etc.
All in all, it’s what I expect, just like any audience. You have those that will agree with you and those that won’t. Some will put you in the best light possible, and some in the worst. But again, I’m a strong believer that by repetition, by keeping our stories and our issues out there, we will continue to gain traction, to gain sympathy, and in the end gain equality.
How do you think LGBT people and allies in Utah can help get media there to tell more fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBT stories?
I think that the only thing that we can do is to continuously tell our stories and hold events, hoping that through time and repetition that the media and their viewership and readership are softened to our cause. And those that do have contact with the media should know that they are, perhaps unfairly, being used to represent the whole of our community and they should remember that and act accordingly.
What’s the most important way LGBT people and allies in your community can help change hearts and minds?
That’s something that I’ve pondered over for months now. I’m sure that it’s personal interaction that can change hearts and minds. I know I’m repeating myself, but I really do believe that this is the key. We need to come out to everyone we know. We already have relationships and the trust of our family and neighbors and co-workers. Therefore, I believe it’s important to show those with whom we interact that we are still the same people that they’ve known for years, and we still deserve the respect, trust and love that they’ve had in us before they knew. They need to know how LGBT bills would affect you, for good or for bad, so that they know how to vote or in which way they should support those measures. We need to initiate that dialogue and convince them through our personal lives and stories to stand with us.
