Mormon “trunk or treat” bans cross-gender costumes

[The Straight Story]

When Raquel Smith found the invitation to a Halloween alternative to trick-or-treating sponsored by a local Mormon congregation, she noticed a startling phrase. At the end of the flier, it stated rather simply, “Please no masks or cross-gender dressing.”

“I was furious. Absolutely furious,” Smith, who is not a member of the Mormon Church, said. “I dressed up my husband and son as angels, female angels, and we went around the neighborhood.”

She also posted a photo of the flier on Facebook and it went viral.

“I am befuddled at how much attention it has received,” Smith said. “So many people have shared it.”

The photo of the flier has been posted by queer news outlets around the country.

“It makes me sad to think that my friend’s daughter who wants to be Spider-Man for Halloween wouldn’t be welcome,” Smith said. “I was so ashamed of the community and I knew a lot of my Mormon friends would be too.”

The LDS Bishop in the area, Dennis Toone, defended the flier to the Salt Lake Tribune saying, “I’ll defend the church and anybody who doesn’t like it doesn’t have to come.” He said he believed the rule was part of church policy.

The Mormon Church’s handbook discourages wearing of masks, due to “security and safety reasons.” There are no guidelines for costumes.

http://www.qsaltlake.com/2011/10/28/mormon-halloween-cross-gender-costume-ban/

[Systematic Chaos]

1. A little girl can't be Spider Man? Fuck you and your "special underwear," Mr. Toone.

:eyes:

[Initech]

2. So would it offend my Mormon friends if I showed up next year wearing a dress and high heels?

:evilgrin:

[izquierdista]

3. Sounds like West Hollywood

"There are no guidelines for costumes."

[Initech]

4. Ha ha, at the pier last night it seemed like it that way.

:rofl:

[Goblinmonger]

5. So there are some religious beliefs we don't respect?

My son's friend in elementary school was Mormon. She invited him to go trick or treating at her church but told him, very politely, that he couldn't go as Dora the Explorer that he had planned for "regular" halloween. He was fine with it and found something else to be able to spend time with his friend.

Man, an atheist can't say shit about anything christianity related on this site without screams of discrimination, but we can shit all over the Mormon beliefs? Interesting.

[The Straight Story]

6. Difference here

Is that 'Christians' are a much broader group than mormons.

[TBF]

7. If that is the case wouldn't we want to be more cautious not to prosecute a minority?

I'm not really the one to do a good job here playing devil's advocate since I'm not crazy about the way Mormons treat their women and children (abuse issues), but then again they are not the only religion to do so.

[The Straight Story]

Is it the religion of the followers and how they interpret things?

Christianity is a broad based religion, Mormonism is a slice of that which is much less broad.

[NMMNG]

17. Got it

It's OK if you single out individual denominations. Target the minorities and it's all good.

[Rabblevox]

8. I don't respect ANY religious beliefs that continue to shit on women, LGBTQ's, children...

That means I'm pretty much down with the beliefs of Unitarians, Quakers, and Pagans. Not so much otherwise.

[Mz Pip]

18. That and stupid rules

about what is or is not okay to wear on Halloween. Geez do they think a "cross dressing" costume will turn someone into a cross dresser? Will dressing up like the devil make you evil? Will dressing up like an angel make you good?

IT's Halloween fercrissake. It doesn't need to be turned into a some kind of paranoid bigotry. What possible safety issues are they talking about? Are they afraid some guy will trip wearing high heels?

[Angry Dragon]

10. By your last sentence it sounds as if you do not believe

Mormons are christians.........

[Goblinmonger]

12. Mormons are Christians. My bad on the wording.

I think you would find people here on DU that would argue the point, but not from me.

[darkstar3]

14. Good point.

I've mentioned this a few times, but as bad as the Mormons get treated here, it's nothing on the Scientologists, and this treatment is often handed out by the same people who decry any negativity about their own sacred cow.

C'est la vie. At least they can't punch you or fire you.

[Lucian]

15. No religious belief should be respected, IMO.

It's all based on irrationality, fear, and control.

Why the hell should anyone respect that?

[Goblinmonger]

19. My only problem with religion

is when it impacts my life. Which, still in our society today, is quite a bit. In that regard, I agree with you. If someone has a belief that doesn't impact me, what do I care.

BUT, on DU there is a general trend to talk about evil atheists and how they are mean to the religious. It never ceases to amaze me that some of those same people will come on and shit all over someone else's beliefs.

[Lucian]

24. It may not impact you...

but it impacts others.

Look how women are treated in the Christian and Islamic faiths. They're treated as second-class citizens!

[Goblinmonger]

27. I would included that in impacting me.

If Mormons want to believe in magic underwear; no skin off my back. They push to quash gay rights because of their religion; now we have a problem.

[snooper2]

21. I don't really respect any religous beliefs...I kind of feel sorry for those folks though..

I mean really, to go through life really "BELIEVING" the ridiculous shit ignorant humans wrote thousands of years ago since they didn't understand the cosmos?

it's :rofl: as well as :crazy: as well as :eyes: with just a little :banghead: mixed in

[joeybee12]

25. Thanks for equating bigotry with religious beliefs...nt

[Goblinmonger]

29. So religious beliefs can't be bigotry?

Those two are mutually exclusive? I think a religious belief that tells me I am going to hell because I don't believe JC is the son of god is bigotry but we respect that religious belief.

You can't complain about the pope protecting pedophiles without cries of Catholic bashing but Mormon bashing is apparently good to go.

[LadyInAZ]

9. Smiles. I'm not surprised at all

[uppityperson]

11. A girl in blue jeans and t-shirt would be turned away?

[chollybocker]

13. Maybe it's because at last year's party,

all the Mormon guys showed up as either Liza or Bette, and Ethel Merman won the prize for originality.

lol

[Mimosa]

16. I quit caring about these wedge issues recently.

Economic issues are where we ought to focus our attention.

[seabeyond]

20. what is meant by the trunk in trunk or treat? i saw this on a sign at a church this morning. nt

[WolverineDG]

23. Trick or treat done with cars

usually organized by churchs for parents who are too scared to let their kids go regular trick or treating.

dg

[WolverineDG]

22. So a private organization had a trunk or treat

it wasn't at a public school or city hall, ffs. *THAT* I would have issue with.

However, it was held in the church's own parking lot. If you don't like the church's rules, then don't go.

dg

[LeftinOH]

26. How 'bout a giant Mormon underpants costume?

[quinnox]

28. Uhm, then she doesn't have to go to the Mormon event

A religious organized event is going to have their own rules and policies, duh. If she doesn't feel comfortable about the rules then she is free not to attend. Not just the Mormons, but most church sponsored events are going to have their dos and dont's about what is acceptable.

This has to rank pretty high on the triviality meter anyway. No, excuse me, I mean - THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! CALL THE LAWYERS! LOL