Gay couple protest Utah kiss citation

SALT LAKE CITY, July 11 (UPI) -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints security guards detained a gay couple after they kissed near a Utah LDS temple, one of the men says.

Matt Aune, 28, says he and his partner, Derek Jones, 25, was stopped by security on Salt Lake City's Main Street Plaza Thursday after he kissed Jones on the cheek, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Saturday.

"They targeted us," said Aune. "We weren't doing anything inappropriate or illegal, or anything most people would consider inappropriate for any other couple."

Sgt. Robin Snyder of the Salt Lake City police said the pair were cited by police for trespassing on the plaza, which is owned by the church.

Church spokeswoman Kim Farah denied the Aune and Jones were singled out for being gay, telling the Tribune in a statement, "Two individuals came on church property and were politely asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior -- just as any other couple would have been."

Farah, however, declined to explain to the newspaper what is considered inappropriate behavior or the rules governing the plaza.

Aune and Jones said they protested their detention because they often see heterosexual couples holding hands and kissing there.