“It is oppressive to live in the city of St. George as a non-Mormon,” St. George City Council applicant Tara Dunn announced to a crowd comprised of some of Southern Utah’s most influential people, many of whom are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...Some members of the LDS church have said they actually agreed with much of what Dunn said in her speech. “I think there’s truth to what she’s saying,” said Bryan Hyde, host of the popular political talk show “Perspectives” on FOX 1450 AM. “Particularly this sense of people feeling disenfranchised and not fitting in because they are not LDS. I think that’s a legitimate concern.” ...Dorothy Engelman and Tara Dunn both spoke about small-business owners they know who have lost business when customers discovered they are not LDS. Dunn mentioned a realtor she knows who said many LDS people will not list their homes with non-LDS realtors. “If your livelihood is dependent upon being accepted by folks of the LDS faith, and they are paying you for your services, then you have to be very careful where you step,” said Engelman...Hansen paused, however, when asked how overlooking non-Mormon businesses or job applicants was any different than shunning, for instance, Jewish businesses and employees because they do not recognize the divinity of Jesus.
In light of the article links below -- published this week as well as last two going back to November 2009 --
-- seems like Mormons might be more focused advocacy-wise on how transgenders are treated in employment, housing and by extension, bathroom issues, than even the Mormon treatment of non-Mormons in general in parts of Utah!
* November 2009:Mormon church supports Salt Lake City's protections for gay rights
* November 2009: Mormons Back Salt Lake City Gay Rights Laws
Oh crap...for as long as I lived there (Utah) the Mo’s messed with me.
They see it as their state. They have a point. Whatever.
What was funny was the fact that it was mostly converts who act that way. And seein’ as how I’m related to half of Northern Utah since some of the earliest Mormons were my relatives - coming West on the Emigration with Young - I thought that was hilarious. They’re acting like I’m the newcomer?!
Piffle. The Mormons are always gonna promote their own feelings of victimhood. They still use it in their promo videos: Oh Poor Us, hunted and murdered in Nauvoo and Independence. Yeah well, when ya show up in town and try to make off with all the girls, whadja expect?!
The old time folks in rural Utah - and that means 1 mile outta town in St. George! - are all nice people.
Really? Mormons are out there picking on the elderly, disabled and rape victims? A bit over the top, IMHO.
She’s in desperate need of a campaign manager—perhaps Cottam who seems to bridge both cultures. This was not the way to kick off a winning campaign.
“People who practice this faith and believe this religion are different,”
Wee, right there is an understatement for you. “Weird” is the word that I’d use.
I had to go to St. George on business three times and each time I was asked: “Are you a member of The Church?”.
I know in one case it cost me a sale.
Remember Henry Lee, the leader of the ‘Mountain Meadow Massacre’, lead the men that came from St. George and the surviving children were parceled out to LDS families.
The area was very puritanical LDS and probably remains so.
(Most small towns in Utah are the same.)
To the headline: DUH?
No coffee, no alcohol...to each their own, but jeez...
When I lived in Layton, my wife applied as a teller at Zion Bank.
The application had all the normal stuff. But, one question confounded her so she put a question mark in the space.
The question was “In which ward do you live?”____________.
She was not hired. We later learned from our neighbors we lived in the Fox Creek Ward.
I’ve always been told they do.
I used to live in Pocatello, ID which is about 65% LDS. My observation is that when Mo’s become the majority in an area all of the non-Mo’s become Gentiles and are most definitely discriminated against in business, professional, and social situations. The worst thing is, they don’t even realize that they’re doing it - nor do they care.
Is the pope Catholic?
As a native on a southern Utah small town, and ex-mormon I can confidently answer the title questions with....
Yes, and no.