Organizers of Utah's biggest parade
have denied a float application from a gay Mormon group, saying their
entry would be too controversial.
According to The
Salt Lake Tribune, Mormons Building Bridges, which is
“dedicated to conveying love and acceptance to same-sex attracted
and LGBTQI individuals,” won't participate in this year's Days of
'47 Parade.
“The parade is very specific in its
requirements that no float can enter that will create controversy,”
Executive Vice President Greg James said. “We wouldn't have the
Mormons Building Bridges float in there any more than we'd have the
NRA [National Rifle Association] of something else that might turn
people off.”
The parade, which takes place July 24,
celebrates the Mormon pioneers' 1847 arrival in the Salt Lake Valley.
James said the decision to exclude
Mormon Building Bridges was based on “trying to stay as neutral as
we can.”
Bridges co-founder Kendall Wilcox said
the group “worked hard to stay within their guidelines.”
“Members of the LGBT community are
part of the Utah community,” he said. “... They really are
pioneers today leading to a better Utah, so why not celebrate them?”
Other LGBT groups have also been denied
entry into the parade. But most of those groups are politically
active. Bridges, on the other hand, doesn't endorse candidates or
campaign for LGBT rights.