Leaders of Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons both praised and called to task the leaders of the LDS Church for recent statements by the Church regarding gay men and women. In an August 13 press release, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledged that it "does not object to rights [for same-sex couples] regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference, ...