LDS (Mormon) Church members march in Gay Pride Parade!

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. When I tell people that I inevitably get asked how many wives I have, or told how prejudiced and racist Mormons are. I'm not gay or a Mormon, but I do believe that all people are equal and that faith and sexuality are an individual choice. Knowing as many LDS people as I do, and how accepting and KIND the majority of them are, I wasn't in the least bit surprised to read this:

SALT LAKE CITY — The Iverson family spends most Sunday afternoons at an LDS Church meetinghouse in Highland, singing hymns, reading scriptures and discussing the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This week, Greg Iverson said he felt it was important for his family to be in downtown Salt Lake City to "live those teachings and show our love and support" for Utah's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Greg and Vickie Iverson and their 17-year-old son, Cade, were among the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, many dressed in their Sunday best, who marched in the Utah Pride Parade.

About 350 Mormons marched under a sign that read "Mormons Building Bridges."

Seems maybe the Mormons have at least one thing right - we should accept our fellow man's individual choices and judge people based on their character, and not their sexuality.

"Christ loves everybody," Iverson said. "We're all God's children."

Amen!


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reply to post by TinkerHaus


i got laid over in salt lake once for like 10 hours i decided to go to the genealogy center to look up my family tree, i looked up my grandfathers name and a list came up of everyone that had his name, some of the names had a c next to them, i wondered what c meant i figured it either meant Caucasian or colored which is how they identified race back in the day so i asked for assistance from one of the Mormon nuns there and asked her what the c means, and she nonchalantly said yeah that means nig*er. i was shocked and appalled that people still talked like that so its good to see there not all bigoted aholes

reply to post by TinkerHaus


I grew up raised in the LDS church and I agree the majority of them are very kind a compassionate.

But I do believe the Mormon supporters of the LGBT community are few and far between. True believing Mormons take doctrine very seriously and believe it a serious sin to commit acts of "sexual transgression".

My sister is still in the Church as is the majority of my family, and from what I hear from all of them is basically the same thing "Oh I don't mind them at all, in fact many are really nice people. Jesus said to love one another, I just don't approve of their lifestyle."

Its always that last bit which gets me "I just don't approve of their lifestyle", I think that is absurd. It is not a "lifestyle", it is their "life" who they "are". And then I always remind myself that they believe that homosexuals WILL be judged for that life. Makes me sick how anyone could believe such nonsense, that the omnipotent, omnipresent, all loving, compassionate, perfect being known as God will JUDGE someone by who they love and who they physically express that love with.

I really hope these Mormons marching in this parade realize that their beliefs totally contradict the religion they belong to. Until people can realize their holy books are myths and not to be taken literally, we will still deal with bigotry and racism.

It's odd you say that, I was talking with another ATS member a few days ago who had similar experiences in Provo, Utah.

I've lived here for a long time and aside from some of my friend's parents, haven't seen very much racism at all. I don't think it's a Mormon thing as much as it's an old white person thing.

Sorry you had to deal with that. I would have called that lady a wacky cracker and left. I'm white.

It is a nice act , but I question the timing, with a mormon running for president in about 6 months.

Maybe if they did it, say maybe 2 years ago or maybe a year ago.

All I know is i went to Utah 2 weeks ago and IT WAS BAD ASS DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! Canyonlands, AMAZING.....Moab,,AWESOME.......cant wait to go back, but on subject, Maybe mormons are like christians in a way, all christians dont handle snakes OR speak in tongues, Im in South Carolina, Christians ALL OVER HERE...Never met one that did that stuff,,and I know what You mean about those stereotypes..look where I live,,It is on the beach though. But I loved Utah...WOW!........glad to see the parade was blessed with some good folks..