Mormon LGBT Float Denied Participation In Utah Parade
SALT LAKE CITY (CBS/AP) -- For the second straight year, organizers of two of Utah's most popular parades have rejected a Mormon LGBT group's request to participate.
Organizers of the Days of `47 Parade in Salt Lake City and the Freedom Festival Grand Parade in Provo denied the bid by Mormons Building Bridges to take part in the July events.
Greg James of the Days of '47 Parade said organizers consider Mormons Building Bridges an advocacy group and the event's rules bar advocacy of any kind.
Provo parade organizers didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Erika Munson of Mormons Building Bridges says she believes her group's message of inclusion and love is consistent with values espoused by the Mormon church and she's disappointed by the decisions.
Both parades are operated by private nonprofit foundations.
According to the mission statement on their website, the Mormons Building Bridges community "is made up of faithful Latter-day Saints who are dedicated to conveying love and acceptance to all who identify as LGBTQI and those who experience same-sex attraction."