Thousands Of Pro-Gay, Anti-Mormon Protestors Surround Temple Square In Salt Lake City To Speak Out Against LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer's Speech

Organized by prominent Utah gay activist Eric Ethington, thousands of pro-gay protestors descended upon Temple Square in Salt Lake City on October 7th, 2010 to sound off against Boyd K. Packer's Conference speech in which President Packer challenged the popular notion that any persuasion to enter into any relationship not in harmony with the principles of the gospel might be "pre-set", saying that our Heavenly Father would not do that to anyone. Another purpose of the rally was to focus public attention on an increase in gay suicides. The rally took on somewhat of an anti-Mormon character.

Crowd estimates vary. Although Ethington himself claims 4,500 showed up, a report by KSL Channel 5 said that police counted only 600. The Deseret News is splitting the difference, saying 2,000-3,000. QSaltLake counted over 1,100 people lying down and walking along West Temple, one of the six blocks lined with protesters. So perhaps not everyone was counting the same area. I suspect the Deseret News estimate may be the most realistic. KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

And a news video from KSTU Channel 13 is also available:

 

According to Eric Ethington, who also edits the PrideInUtah blog, what gay kids are hearing from Church leaders is that they're nothing but evil and they need to change an aspect of themselves considered unchangeable, and that is a message kids can only take for so long. As a result, some of them snap and top themselves. Ethington went so far as to characterize Packer's talk as "hate speech". The full text of Boyd Packer's speech is now available HERE, and you can read it and decide for yourself. Radicals have learned from Saul Alinsky to characterize anything they disagree with as "hate"; the tactic is getting old and more people are wising up to it.

Once again, the LDS Church reiterated that its doctrine on marriage and family is based on respect and love. "Of course, the Church recognizes the right of groups to voice their opinion in the public square. However, those familiar with the Church's doctrine on the importance of marriage and family know it is based on principles of respect and love for all of God's children. We have continually emphasized that there is no room in this discussion for hatred or mistreatment of anyone."