Protest of Mormon LGBT policy planned in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A day after the Mormon church stood behind its new rules targeting gay members and their children, while issuing clarifications, several hundred people are expected at a rally in Salt Lake City to protest their displeasure with the policy changes.

The attendees will join together in renouncing their membership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Brooke Swallow, one of the event organizers. She grew up Mormon but drifted from the faith in her early 20s and formally renounced her membership two years ago.

The policy changes have lit a fire for Mormons who already had other doubts, Swallow said.

The rules ban baptisms for children living with gay parents until they turn 18, disavow same-sex relationships and get approval from global church leaders. They also make gay marriages a sin worthy of expulsion.

"Any policy that affects children is going to evoke a lot of emotion," Swallow said. "These are defenseless people that are being shunned."

Mormon church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement that officials hope the expanded clarification issued Friday will provide understanding and context to Latter-day Saints who were considering leaving the faith.

Officials said the rules are intended to prevent children from being caught in a tug-of-war between teachings at home and church. They clarified that the rules apply only to children living primarily with a same-sex couple.

They also said that while children of gay parents won't be given the full spectrum of ordinances, they aren't barred from attending worship services.

"It's extremely important that our members read what leaders have said, and do not rely on other sources or interpretations or what people think they have said," Hawkins said.

The rules, issued to local leaders around the world on Nov. 5, prompted a flurry of discussion on Mormon websites, with the idea of targeting kids ruffling even conservative Latter-day Saints who rarely question church decisions.

After the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last summer to make gay marriage legal nationwide, church leaders wanted "to draw a firm line and encourage consistency among local leaders," the Friday news release said.

Swallow said that they want to give hope to Latter-day Saints considering leaving the religion.

"We want to let people know there is a life after leaving Mormonism," Swallow said.

Brady McCombs. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Gayly - 11/14/2015 @ 11:50 a.m.