Letter: It's wonderful to see gay marr..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I cried with happiness when I read all the coverage about same-sex marriage now being legal in Utah ("After same-sex marriage ruling, Utah seeks to keep status quo," Tribune, Dec. 21). Both my partner and I are Mormon and live in Washington state, where marriage is already legal, but it's wonderful to see it available in Utah as well. I know many devout Mormons also cried when they heard the news, but their tears were tears of sadness.

The LDS Church has said that it wants to deny same-sex marriage "while teaching that all people should be treated with respect." That's an oxymoron, guys. You can't treat someone with respect while denying them equality and justice. It's impossible.

But there's no reason to be sad, guys. Equality and justice are GOOD things. Try reading some books written by gay Mormons: "Latter-Gay Saints," "The Abominable Gayman," "The Mormon Victorian Society." Or are you afraid to discover we're really not demons? It's easier to hate us when you don't know us.

Try getting to know us.

Johnny Townsend

Seattle, Wash.

Letter: It's wonderful to see gay marriage legalized in Utah