Gay groups disagree with Elder Oaks

Four gay advocacy groups that include Mormons and former church members released a joint statement Friday disagreeing with points made earlier this week in a speech on freedom of religion by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The statement called the church's decision to advocate for traditional marriage an attempt to force its belief system on others and strip existing rights from people and religions.

The statement was signed by the Foundation for Reconciliation/LDSapology.org, Mormons for Marriage, Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons and the LDS Safe Space Coalition.

The groups called for the LDS Church to reconsider the funding it has provided for public campaigns to support traditional marriage.