In a Historic First, the Mormon Church Donates to Utah Gay Youth Program

By Alison Lesley --
14 Jul 2015 --

By Ludovic Bertron from New York City, Usa [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The church told the Utah Pride Center they were “grateful to be able to serve your efforts in this worthy project.”

In what is sure to be a profound moment in the long history between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the LGBTQ communities, the church has made a quiet donation to the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City. The donation amount wasn’t announced, however it has been said by KTSU that the amount is $2,500. In spite of the fact that, historically speaking, the LDS church has been actively against gay marriage, even more so since the Supreme Court’s recent decision, the church has always shown kindness and generosity in the face of those in need, making it an unsurprising donation from the Church.

First Ever Donation to LGBTQ

The Utah Pride Center provides food and housing to LGBTQ homeless youths. Roughly 40% of the homeless youth population identify themselves as LGBTQ. There has always been a rapidly growing number of homeless youths, which tends to total to more than the beds that are available. The Utah Pride Center put out a notice requesting donations in the form of nonperishable foods that they can use to feed the homeless youths in their community. However, instead of food, the Church sent $2,500 in a grant to donate to their cause. In the grant letter, the church wrote that they were “grateful to be able to serve your efforts in this worthy project.”

The Utah Pride Center has expressed their gratitude through the lips of Kent Frogley, the Pride Center board chairman. He said he was not surprised by the Mormon Church’s donation due to their history of taking “to heart the mission of helping people who are in need.” In addition, he says that they were very generous with their donation and he is grate for the “emerging relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”