Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sen. Dean Heller says Mormon church has always preached equal rights

dean heller

Steve Marcus

Senator Dean Heller listens to speakers during a dedication ceremony for the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Las Vegas Medical Center (VASNHS) in North Las Vegas Monday, August 6, 2012.

Republican Sen. Dean Heller said the Mormon church’s recent call for anti-discrimination laws protecting gays, lesbians bisexuals and transgenders shouldn’t be a surprise.

Heller, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the church has always preached equal rights.

“I think that’s where the church always was, in my opinion, but I think we just clarified that,” he said.

Mormon church leaders announced a campaign Tuesday for new laws to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination while requesting laws to protect people who assert their religious beliefs.

Heller, one of 15 million worldwide members of the Mormon church, also implied the church’s most recent shift in tone wouldn’t change his views on LGBT equality and same-sex marriage.

Heller’s views on LGBT rights have evolved in Congress.

In 2013, he voted for the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which bans workplace discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.

In 2010, as a member of the House representing a more conservative Northern Nevada district, Heller voted against a similar bill and against a bill to allow gay and lesbian military members to serve openly.

Heller opposes same-sex marriage, saying in June that he believes marriage is between a man and a woman, “but that doesn’t mean there aren’t different variations of that, and I’ll continue to follow the issue.”

There are 16 Mormons in Congress, according to the Pew Research Center.

Three out of Nevada’s six congressional lawmakers are Mormon, including the Democrats’ Senate leader, Harry Reid.

Reid’s views on LGBT rights have also evolved.

Reid has said he personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman, but in May 2012 he indicated he’d “follow [his] children and grandchildren” and support legalizing same-sex marriage in Nevada.

The delegation’s other Republican Mormon, Rep. Cresent Hardy, is opposed to same-sex marriage and has said anti-discrimination laws amount to “segregation.”

Gay marriage is legal in Washington, D.C., and 36 states, including Nevada.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy