Marie Osmond Out of Tune with Mormon Church on Gay Rights

In an interview with Los Angeles radio station KOST 103.5 on Monday, Marie Osmond confirmed that her oldest daughter Jessica is a lesbian — calling her a "magnificent woman" and stating that she supports her daughter and believes in equal rights for gays and lesbians under the law.

Osmond’s public support of her daughter is significant, because Osmond is the highest profile Mormon thus far to come out in support of marriage equality — or at least giving gay and lesbian couples the same rights afforded to heterosexual couples.

Jessica Osmond, left, with sister Rachael in January 2009

Last week the tabloid The Globe, most likely operating under the above-mentioned assumption that Marie Osmond disapproved of same sex unions, reported that Marie Osmond was so “heartsick” after discovering the sexual orientation of her 21-year-old daughter Jessica that she “refuses to even publicly acknowledge it.”

On Monday, Osmond appeared on KOST 103.5 Lost Angeles and set the record straight, telling the host when asked about it, "That's not a sensitive topic. I love my daughter."

Later on, Osmond stated, "When it comes to marriage, you know, I think that civil rights need to be for all:"

You know, I think each of us has the right to choose who makes that medical decision for us, I think everybody should have the right to share homes and finances with somebody that they care about. You know on those types of things I'm very supportive. When it comes to marriage ... I think that civil rights need to be for all. When you start mixing religion into that and beliefs, you know, I do believe in the Bible. My daughter understands my beliefs. And, and, uh, you know, God said to be married and be productive with your children and, and, you know, replenish the earth or whatever. She understands those things. My daughter is sharp. And we have a great relationship and I think she would tell you that.

Many people, in fact, assumed that Osmond was opposed to marriage equality by virtue of her membership in the Mormon Church. Of course, it didn’t help that her brother Donny, when asked about his view on same-sex marriage, wrote the following on his website in December:

My beliefs about marriage is beautifully stated in The Family — A Proclamation To The World, a document published by the leaders of our church back in 1995. I am going to include it here.

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

I’m guessing Donny was never spotted walking around town with a “No on 8” t-shirt.