Utah's most prominent gay and lesbian newspaper, QSaltLake, has named Latter-day Saints church president Thomas Monson as its person of the year.
Monson led the charge to pass Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in the Golden State. Monson signed a letter, which was read at Mormon church services across California, that urged all LDS believers to do everything they could to pass Prop. 8 by donating their time and money. In response, church members gave tens of thousands of dollars to the cause and traveled to California knocking on doors, conducting phone banks, developing websites, and filming commercials.
The decision to put the controversial Monson on the cover of QSaltLake's December 18 issue has some scratching their heads. QSaltLake editor and publisher Michael Aaron explained his decision: "Our criteria for 'Person of the Year' was 'what person made the greatest impact, good or bad, to Utah's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.' That person is President Monson," Aaron said in a press release. "The fact is, Monson has sparked a fire under our community. More people are becoming active and aware in the movement to secure equal rights. Monson has greatly benefited Utah's gay community."
Rallies and other grassroots activism across the nation have sprung up in Prop. 8's wake, Aaron points out. "Utah may never have seen such activism for gay and lesbian rights in its history," Aaron said. "The community is united and invigorated." (Neal Broverman, Advocate.com)
