Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 26 January 2018

Imagine Dragons front man

advocates for LGBT Mormons in film

By BRADY McCOMBS and never go away. But the and hopes to continue do-
RYAN PEARSON church reminded members ing so but said the church’s
Associated Press that being in an intimate “platitudes are empty
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The same-sex relationship is a words” until and unless it
Mormon front man of the sin because it violates fun- changes its doctrine to ac-
rock band Imagine Drag- damental doctrinal beliefs commodate gay marriage
ons hopes the Sundance that will not change. and homosexual sex.
Film Festival documentary In the film, Argott follows The Mormon church has
that follows his journey to Reynolds and former Mor- shown no indication it will
Director Don Argott, left, and Dan Reynolds pose for a portrait becoming an advocate mon Tyler Glenn, a gay consider changing the
to promote the film, “Believer”, at the Music Lodge during the for LGBT Mormon youth lead singer of Neon Trees, belief. Members believe
Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Park City,
Utah. triggers real change by his as they plan the LoveLoud church doctrine can be al-
Associated Press church’s leaders and puts Festival, a concert last tered only through revela-
an end to what he calls summer in Utah headlined tions from God.
“shaming” of gay and les- by Imagine Dragons that Asked by reporters last
bian kids in the faith. raised funds for organiza- week about how the faith
Singer Dan Reynolds said tions supporting at-risk LGBT will deal with LGBT issues
he and director Don Argott youth. going forward, new church
made the film “Believer” to The Mormon church sup- president Russell M. Nelson
put a “face to the faceless ported the festival, prais- and one of his top coun-
and a voice to the voice- ing organizers for bringing selors said they are trying
less.” His goal is to show “people together to ad- to balance the “love of
leaders from The Church dress teen safety and to ex- the Lord and the law of the
of Jesus Christ of Latter- press respect and love for Lord.”
day Saints that opposition all of God’s children.” Nelson previously defend-
to same-sex relationships is Church spokesman Eric ed the church’s 2015 de-
damaging the self-worth of Hawkins said in a statement cision to adopt new rules
gay, lesbian and transgen- Tuesday that the religion’s banning children living
der kids. support of that festival was with gay parents from be-
“These kids are being told part of a message that’s ing baptized until age 18
their most innate sense of not new for the faith. and clarifying that people
being is sinful,” said Reyn- “We have repeatedly de- in same-sex relationships
olds, a Mormon from Las nounced cruelty, rejection, are considered apostates,
Vegas. “Shaming is so de- bullying, and the mistreat- meaning they can be
structive.” ment of others,” Hawkins kicked out of the religion.
The film received a stand- said. “We lobbied in sup- Reynolds said rising suicide
ing ovation at its premiere port of Utah’s strong anti- rates in Utah were a big
Sunday in Park City and is discrimination laws. reason behind his decision
showing a fourth and final The church’s message is to make the film, which fol-
time Saturday night. It’s set one of hope, compassion, lows his life for a year as he
to air on HBO in the sum- and understanding. We and Tyler decide to create
mer. want our LGBT brothers and the LoveLoud Festival.
The Utah-based Mormon sisters to know that there is The number of yearly sui-
faith of 16 million members a place for them and their cides for youth ages 10-17
worldwide is holding firm to contributions in the church. in Utah has spiked to alarm-
doctrinal opposition of gay There is more to do, and ing levels in the last five
marriage and homosexual we remain fully committed years — more than double
activity while trying to fos- to these efforts moving for- the average from the pre-
ter an empathetic stance ward.” vious decade.
toward LGBT people and Reynolds, 30, said in an LGBT advocacy groups
end bullying. interview this week that theorize that it could be
Last year, church leaders “platitudes” from church linked to the struggle by
updated a website cre- officials about love for LGBT gay and lesbian Mormon
ated in 2012 to let mem- Mormons and telling them teens to feel accepted.
bers know that attraction “there’s a place for them” As many of two-thirds of
to people of the same sex isn’t enough. Utah’s 3 million residents
is not a sin or a measure of He has talked with church are members of the Mor-
their faithfulness and may leaders about the issue mon church.q

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