This really happened, two weeks ago in Salt Lake City. On July 9th, Matt Aune and Derek Jones sa

That's the thing about Main Street Plaza. It is private property; the LDS church aquired it from the city in a controversial land swap in 2003. The church wanted control of the land next to their temple so they could prohibit protests, smoking, sunbathing and other "offensive, indecent, obscene, lewd or disorderly speech, dress or conduct," according to church officials.
According to the Salt Lake City Tribune, "it remains a popular pedestrian thoroughfare, and a site where couples often pose affectionately for photos." I wonder if hand-holding, hugging, or kisses on the cheek are included in that definition of "affection." No doubt the couples in those cases are straight, and left alone by church security guards.
Of course, church spokesperson Kim Farah had a different version of the story. "They engaged in passionate kissing, groping, profane and lewd language, and had obviously been using alcohol." Farah doesn't specify that the "profane and lewd language" occured after the pair were handcuffed and manhandled by church guards. It's also fair to point out that what constitutes " passionate kissing" and "groping" is probably in the eye of the beholder. In the end it's the church's word against the couple's. Who do you believe?
This past Sunday, a protest was held near Main Street Plaza. About 100 people showed up and held a mass "kiss in." Both gay and straight couples took part, engaging in "gentle displays of affection"; hugs and pecks on the cheek. This, of course, was met with counter protesters, carrying signs denouncing homosexuality, and the two groups engaged in shouting matches. Dan Savage has some beautiful photos of the protest here.
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