Comments about ‘300-plus LDS Church members march in Pride parade’

I'm not LDS or gay but as a teacher I have worked with Mormon teens who are gay. I know it is very difficult for them, and more than one has told me that suicide seemed the only option. I believe the actions of these 350 Latter-day Saints to extend a loving hand toward the LGBT community will literally save lives. Thank you so much for treating people in this community with understanding and respect. I can't begin to tell you how much good this will do in the world.

Beautiful people, every single one of them. Again, thank you!

Awesome to see those in the church who are concerned enough and open-minded enough to show their love and support to those in this unique group within the church!!

I attended the Utah Pride Celebration. It was a mixed crowd where I was viewing the parade and witnessed an important event and statement. The LDS contingent did buoy spirits and a large applause as they appeared. I quickly surveyed the people watching and was impressed with very universal approval and acceptance. These proud, stong LDS members are allies and the LGBT community welcomes them. So many, so many of the LGBT community come from this culture and find this display meaningful. Let the LDS community support continue to flurish. Thank you for being there for us today.

This is an amazingly beautiful story. Let's work together to nurture this spirit to continue to grow and spread. Thanks to all those who participated.

Yah! Everybody ought to be proud of themselves.

I think it was great...and lightening didn't strike once! We need to continue to embrace differences and support each other. Some day everyone will know someone that is gay. And it doesn't change them. They are still the great friend, relative or co-worker.

I wasn't there but am glad that the 300 or so church members were brave enough to participate. The Church does say to love everyone. I've never met a more caring group of people. We just have the certain segment of society who are part of such harsh statements and feelings. It's one thing to believe in heterosexual behaviors but another thing to totally dislike a group of people so much. You'd be surprised at how many you know who are those you dislike so much. And I'm a very active Mormon as well....

I am Lds and would be proud to call these marchers friends and ward members. Jesus said love everyone.

So does this mean that I will be treated better at restaurants and businesses in downtown SLC? Or does my individuality and pride not merit approval?

On a theoretical level, I wholly support gay rights (including marriage). But when my family and I are mistreated because we are obviously LDS or overhear incredibly rude comments about our religion I do have to pause and reassess my position.

Tolerance begets tolerance!

Just recently, another poster on the DN site accused me of thinking gay people were "icky" simply because I am LDS. I'm so glad the people in this article showed those present (and I hope he was among them) that his assumption has absolutely no merit. Love, empathy and support for our brothers and sisters doesn't require us to agree on everything - not even on major issues. We just need to see each other as family!

How encouraging can it possibly be to see "members" being socially responsible and doing the right thing.
I fear the backlash that any of them might receive for their participation but applaud their efforts and expressions of love and support to those that deserve it.

Re: CVgal Smithfield, UT
"You'd be surprised at how many you know who are those you dislike so much."

It is one thing to accept people as children of God, and it is another thing altogether to accept their behavior. Jesus taught that we should love all people but He never suggested that we should embrace immoral behavior.

Frequently those with a same sex attraction assume that just because we disagree with their behavior we must therefore dislike them. Your own statement proves that idea wrong.

Thank you, Mormons Building Bridges.

If we heterosexuals organize a march to proclaim our "pride" in heterosexual unions and lifestyle, will the gays and their supporters support and march with us?

Observenator, let's not pretend that the "persecution" you experience as a mormon in UTAH is anything close to that of a gay person's experience living here. That's laughable at best.

I would definitely support "heterosexual pride" if there were such a thing organized. All people's love is beautiful!

It's great to see so many different people coming together for a common cause--to show pride in life and love! Congratulations to the active LDS folks who had the courage to show their support for their families and friends!

There is so much need for healing and reconciliation between the Mormon and gay subcultures in America, both of which represent a small percentage of the population and have been historically persecuted. It's especially meaningful that this gesture of love from Latter-day Saints would take place right in downtown Salt Lake City.

Observenator
Salt Lake City, UT
So does this mean that I will be treated better at restaurants and businesses in downtown SLC? Or does my individuality and pride not merit approval? But when my family and I are mistreated because we are obviously LDS or overhear incredibly rude comments about our religion I do have to pause and reassess my position.

To Observenator, please share how it is so "obvious" you are LDS when you enter restaurants and businesses in downtown SLC? Do you walk around with the BOM glued to your hip? Or are you walking around with a chip on your shoulder and looking for reasons to be offended? I don't spend a lot of time on SLC because I try to do business in my own community, but when I do go to SLD I've never felt mistreated or had anyone be rude to me. You might want to re-read the talk about how its oud choice to take offense that was given in GC a couple of years ago -- it was a very good talk and obviously there was a reason for giving that message to the entire church membership.