“There’s still work to do, but this policy reversal is a very welcome change that moves the church closer to a day where LGBTQ Mormons can see themselves affirmed and included within their faith community.”
— Chad Griffin, Human Rights Campaign president
“It’s not often that I get emotional in the middle of a meeting, but when I read the new church policy change today regarding our LGBTQ friends, I was so happy! Now it’s up to each of us to love ALL of humankind in a more Christlike way.”
— Aimee Winder Newton, Salt Lake County councilwoman
“We hear from LGBTQ young people in crisis every day who struggle to reconcile being part of both the LGBTQ and faith communities, and decisions to end policies of exclusion can help LGBTQ youth feel seen, loved, and less alone.”
— The Trevor Project, suicide prevention organization
“Affirmation has been a firsthand witness to the damage caused to families within and beyond membership in the church affected by this policy. … Affirmation acknowledges the steps today as positive but recognizes there is still much work to be done to make the chapels of the church and the homes of families within the church safe and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ persons.”
— Affirmation, support group for LGBTQ Latter-day Saints
“While we hope the elimination of this policy will be beneficial for many going forward and lead to a church that is eventually more inclusive, we continue to sit with those individuals who are most affected by the adoption and enforcement of this policy.”
— Wendy VonSosen, president of Mama Dragons support group
“It just frustrates me to no end that people can look at the reversal of a profound mistake and still believe there was no mistake. Furthermore, they can drift through the whole sorry episode with no awareness of their blithe acceptance of institutional cruelty and the damage they, personally, have done to their brothers and sisters with their indifference.”
— Jim Bennett, former Utah congressional candidate