SALT LAKE CITY -
The Reconciliation Foundation and those backing LGBT rights, many who are also of Mormon faith, delivered a petition to leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City Wednesday afternoon. The petition is a "plea for reconciliation" regarding problems with suicide and homelessness of LGBT Mormons, which concerns the Church's policy toward excommunication, according to the foundation. The petition also carries with it written memorials of LGBT suicide victims.
As a symbol of those left behind, LGBT supporters delivered the petition using a replica of a Mormon pioneer handcart with about 50 people in a city street march. The walk symbolized Mormon handcart pushers who needed assistance from LDS community scouts when trapped in blizzards while trekking to Salt Lake City during the 1800s, say organizers.
The foundation had gathered 2,000 signatures for the event and the group delivered the message on the anniversary of the passage of Prop. 8 in California, which banned gay marraige.
Marchers walked from This is the Place Monument to the steps of the LDS Church headquarters in downtown Salt Lake. A representative from LDS Public Affairs greeted the crowd and accepted the petition. The marchers were hoping to meet with LDS Apostle Dallin Oaks and Elder Bruce Hafen. Oaks and Hafen have been outspoken regarding the rejection of same-sex attraction while indicating gay rights as an "alleged" human right.
"The decision wasn't an attempt to change any doctrine, but it is to say, let's try to be more loving, inclusive and less rejecting and work together for reconciliation," said Peter Danzig from the Foundation for Reconciliation. "We're hoping this will be the start of a long and fruitful dialog."
Marchers say that gay, lesbian and transgendered youth from Mormon families often end up homeless, depressed and sometimes resort to suicide.
FOX 13's Arikka Von reports.
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As a symbol of those left behind, LGBT supporters delivered the petition using a replica of a Mormon pioneer handcart with about 50 people in a city street march. The walk symbolized Mormon handcart pushers who needed assistance from LDS community scouts when trapped in blizzards while trekking to Salt Lake City during the 1800s, say organizers.
The foundation had gathered 2,000 signatures for the event and the group delivered the message on the anniversary of the passage of Prop. 8 in California, which banned gay marraige.
Marchers walked from This is the Place Monument to the steps of the LDS Church headquarters in downtown Salt Lake. A representative from LDS Public Affairs greeted the crowd and accepted the petition. The marchers were hoping to meet with LDS Apostle Dallin Oaks and Elder Bruce Hafen. Oaks and Hafen have been outspoken regarding the rejection of same-sex attraction while indicating gay rights as an "alleged" human right.
"The decision wasn't an attempt to change any doctrine, but it is to say, let's try to be more loving, inclusive and less rejecting and work together for reconciliation," said Peter Danzig from the Foundation for Reconciliation. "We're hoping this will be the start of a long and fruitful dialog."
Marchers say that gay, lesbian and transgendered youth from Mormon families often end up homeless, depressed and sometimes resort to suicide.
FOX 13's Arikka Von reports.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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