LGBT rights and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has been involved with many pieces of legislation relating to LGBT people and their rights (e.g. housing, job discrimination, and same-sex marriage).[1] These include playing an important role in defeating same-sex marriage legalization in Hawaii (Amendment 2), Alaska (Measure 2), Nebraska (Initiative 416), Nevada (Question 2), California (Prop 22), and Utah (Amendment 3).[2]: 2, 65, 69, 71, 78, 85 The topic of same-sex marriage has been one of the church's foremost public concerns since 1993.[2]: 1 Leaders have stated that it will become involved in political matters if it perceives that there is a moral issue at stake and wields considerable influence on a national level.[3][4][5] Over a dozen members of the US congress had membership in the church in the early 2000s.[6] About 80% of Utah state lawmakers identied as Mormon at that time as well.[7][8][9][10] The church's political involvement around LGBT rights has long been a source of controversy both within and outside the church.[11][12][13] It's also been a significant cause of disagreement and disaffection by members.[14][15][16]