Kate Kelly (feminist)

Kate Kelly
Born (1980-10-29) October 29, 1980
Arizona, United States
Alma mater Brigham Young University (B.A.)
American University (J.D.)
Occupation Human rights lawyer
Known for Founder of Ordain Women
Spouse(s) J. Neil Ransom (m. 2006; div. 2015)
Website www.katekellyesq.com

Kathleen Marie "Kate" Kelly (born October 29, 1980) is a Mormon feminist and human rights lawyer who founded Ordain Women, an organization advocating for the ordination of women to the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Kelly was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 2014. Since 2015, she has worked for Planned Parenthood.

Biography

Kelly was born in 1980 to Jim and Donna Kelly as the first of four children. She grew up in Hood River, Oregon, with both her parents working outside the home. Both parents were converts to the LDS Church, and her father at one time served as bishop of a local congregation.[1]

Kelly graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a bachelor of arts in political science in 2006.[2] She took an 18-month hiatus from school to serve an LDS mission in Barcelona, Spain. While at BYU, she organized a campus protest of nearly 100 students concerning the firing of a university employee for criticizing student elections.[1][3] Kelly went on to study law at American University, graduating in 2012.[2]

Kelly married J. Neil Ransom in the Salt Lake Temple in 2006.[4] The couple were "childless by choice,"[5] and they divorced in 2015.[6] In September 2015, Kelly joined Planned Parenthood as a strategic advocate and policy counsel.[7]

Ordain Women

In May 2013, Kelly founded Ordain Women, an organization advocating for the ordination of women to the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[8] Kelly was encouraged by local church leaders to cease her campaign, once in December 2013 and again in March 2014.[9][10] Kelly subsequently protested on Temple Square during the church's April 2014 General Conference,[9] after which she was ultimately excommunicated in June 2014 in absentia after failing to attend a disciplinary council.[11]

In the weeks before and after her excommunication, Kelly urged followers to stay in the church and "raise hell" if they could do so while maintaining their mental and emotional health,[12][13] but later she appealed her excommunication, first to her stake president,[14][15] then to the First Presidency, all of whom rejected the appeal.[16][17]

Kelly no longer claims any religious affiliation,[18] but she participated in the ordination of a Roman Catholic female priest in October 2015,[19] and she officiated a same-sex marriage in May 2016.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Marostica, Laura (March 7, 2014). "Feminism in Faith: Kate Kelly's Mission to Ordain Mormon Women". BuzzFeed BuzzReads.
  2. 1 2 "Sista Beehive and Sista Laurel" (January 26, 2014), "Ordain Women (Kate Kelly & Suzette Smith)", SistasInZion.com, Sistas in Zion
  3. ↑ "BYU Students Protest Firing". KSL.com. KSL-TV/KSL News Radio. AP. April 1, 2006.
  4. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (June 22, 2014). "Mormon Bishopric Wants More Time to Decide Kate Kelly's Fate". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  5. ↑ Kelly, Kate, "488-490: Neil Ransom and Kate Kelly – After Kate's Excommunication", Momron Stories Podcast
  6. ↑ "Kate Kelly's Divorce". Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. ↑ ANNIE KNOX and Rachel Piper The Salt Lake Tribune. "Ex-Ordain Women leader Kate Kelly joins Planned Parenthood of Utah | The Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  8. ↑ Peggy Fletcher stack and Michael McFall The Salt Lake Tribune. "Kate Kelly out as leader of Mormon group Ordain Women | The Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  9. 1 2 Walch, Tad (June 11, 2014). "Two Mormon activists say they are facing church discipline". Deseret News. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Letter to Kate Kelly - The Washington Post". Apps.washingtonpost.com. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  11. ↑ Walsh, Tad (June 23, 2014), "LDS bishop excommunicates Ordain Women founder", Deseret News
  12. ↑ Kelly, Kate, "Episode 112: Kate Kelly on Being Disciplined by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", Feminist Mormon Housewives Podcast
  13. ↑ Kate Kelly of Ordain Women speaks about her excommunication from the LDS (Mormon) Church, The Salt Lake Tribune, June 24, 2014
  14. ↑ Carlisle, Nate (July 24, 2014), "Kate Kelly appeals excommunication from Mormon church", The Salt Lake Tribune
  15. ↑ "Nancy" (July 23, 2014), "Kate Kelly's Appeal to Her Stake President", Ordainwomen.org
  16. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (October 31, 2014), "Kelly loses appeal, keeps fighting for Mormon membership", The Salt Lake Tribune
  17. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (February 28, 2015), "Ordain Women's Kate Kelly loses last appeal; husband to resign from Mormon church", The Salt Lake Tribune
  18. ↑ Bill Allred (2016-06-13). "The Let's Go Eat Show". The Let's Go Eat Show (Podcast). Event occurs at 3:37. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  19. ↑ Kristen Moulton The Salt Lake Tribune. "Salt Lake City woman is first in Utah to claim ordination to Catholic priesthood | The Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  20. ↑ "Kate Kelly at Highland Gardens". Retrieved 27 June 2016.
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