From the Editor

The Kiss Heard 'Round the World

By Michael Aaron

As a couple walked home from the Gallivan Center following the guitar-strains of Bon Iver and the crooning of Jenny Lewis, they made their way through the Main Street Plaza, like they had many times before since they live just to the north. They were talking; they paused; one put his arm around the other and kissed him on the cheek.

That is the story that Matt Aune and Derek Jones said rendered them cuffed, put to the ground and cited for trespassing.

It’s also the story plaza security officers gave the Salt Lake City Police Department, according to the responding officers’ report.

As time passed, however, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the owner of the plaza, issued two statements over the incident with escalating descriptions of what they say happened that Thursday night.

Derek Jones' Account

Jones said he and boyfriend Aune were holding hands, walking through the plaza from the Gallivan Center since it was a direct path to their home.

"Matt paused to say something to me and hugged and kissed me," he said.

He said then "several LDS Church security guards came up to us and asked us to leave because we were being inappropriate."

"Matt moved in closer to me and put his arm around me and asked the security guards, loudly, 'What are we doing wrong?' We were obviously annoyed that they singled us out, especially since we were just passing through and not spending considerable time there. And there were no other people on the easement that we could see."

Jones was under the impression at the time that the easement that existed after the church bought the property in 1998 was still in place. Then-Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson penned an agreement in 2003, after five years of contention that was dividing the community, exchanging the easement for property to expand the west-side Sorenson Unity Center.

"At this point they said that they wanted us to leave because of the public display of affection and that they do not allow any sort of public displays of affection on the easement, whatsoever," Jones continued. "This especially irked us because, having walked through on a frequent basis, there are either marriage ceremonies going on, young Mormon couples cuddling in front the fountain, hugging, holding hands, etc."

Jones estimated that a total of 10 security guards responded after they began arguing.

"One of the security guards then got in Matt’s face and expressed very forcefully that 'we don’t come to your house and make-out on our property,'" Jones said.

Jones said the guards then split them up, forced him to the ground on his stomach and ground his face into the cement to handcuff him. They removed everything from his pockets.

"They did the same to Matt, although he resisted, not violently, and they weren't able to get him on the ground because he’s a big guy and it took four or five of their guys to get him handcuffed," Jones said. "Matt remembered asking 'What are you doing? Why are you doing this?' Then Matt launched into them verbally, telling them that they were hypocrites and did not have the authority to be arresting us."

"Neither of us are violent people," Jones continued. "We were just trying to get them to have a civil conversation with us about the real reasons they wanted us to leave. Matt then asked if what they were doing was legal. The security guards tried to claim that they were the cops. One of them even pulled out a fake badge and said he used to be a cop."

Salt Lake City police officers responded and walked the pair off the plaza, removed their handcuffs and cited them for trespassing.

Church’s First Statement

In the church's first statement, spokeswoman Kim Farah said the two were not singled out for being gay, but were "asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior just as any other couple would have been."

The church's statement set Facebook ablaze with calls for staged kiss-ins. No less than three have happened since the incident. The story went nationwide, paired with an El Paso, Texas, incident where two men were ejected from a fast food restaurant for a similar kiss.

Kiss-Ins

On Saturday night, July 11, an action was quickly organized by University of Utah student Alec Gherke. He and 14 friends donned pink triangles and armbands, and walked through the plaza handcuffed, singing LDS hymns and primary songs. They were met by church security on their second time through and told to leave or be arrested.
Former Salt Lake City Councilperson Deeda Seed organized a larger action for Sunday, July 12 at 9 a.m. Hundreds of protesters joined over the next two hours and kissed on the public sidewalk outside the plaza. A group of protesters broke from the group and entered the plaza and kissed. Church security met the protesters and escorted them to waiting Salt Lake City police officers, who asked the group to respect the church’s wishes to stay off its property. No arrests were made.

Church's Second Statement

The church released a second statement Friday, July 17 saying that Aune and Jones were lying when they said they were stopped for a simple hug and kiss.

"There was much more involved than a simple kiss on the cheek. They engaged in passionate kissing, groping, profane and lewd language, and had obviously been using alcohol," said the statement. "They were politely told that the Plaza was not the place for such behavior and asked to stop. When they became belligerent, the two individuals were asked to leave Church property. Church security detained them and Salt Lake City police were called."

Aune disputed the statement by saying, "I guess they consider hugging groping."

Yet Another Kiss-in

Another kiss-in was called by JJ Clark on his Facebook account for the following Sunday at noon. Called a "Silent Kissing Protest," participants were to meet near the plaza, and at 12:15 "enter the easement and do what comes natural -- KISS!" Clark wrote on the Facebook event page.

Silent, however, it was not. Family members making up the anti-gay group, America Forever, were there with six-foot placards that read "Gays, this is a private religious property ... Keep Out," drawing heated debates between the two sides.

Family patriarch Dr. J.M.R. Filho called the gay-friendly protesters "victims of a campaign. You are being used by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign). You are being brainwashed by a con act."

A man on roller-blades skated by America Forever founder Sandra Rodrigues, kissed her and skated off. Rodrigues’ family called police and demanded they file a report of her "assault."

"Somebody just attacked me," Rodrigues said. "He hurt my shoulder and he kissed me and he jumped on me."

Two protesters -- a straight couple -- chained themselves to metal barriers in a show of support for gay and lesbian couples to show affection in public.

Few church security officers were present throughout the demonstration, though SLCPD officers were on-hand. Again, no arrests were made.

Jones and Aune will face an arraignment hearing on July 23, but according to court records have already pleaded “not guilty” and requested a jury trial.

Salt Lake City Prosecutor Sim Gill said he is waiting for additional information from police and to learn whether any video cameras recorded the episode.

"My office is very carefully reviewing the case," Gill said, "to make sure that it is warranted for prosecution."