UTAH: Gays Banned From Mormon Parade

The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

Days of ’47 Parade organizers have denied a float application from Mormons Building Bridges, saying an entry from the group founded to improve relationships between Latter-day Saints and the gay community would be too controversial. "The parade is very specific in its requirement that no float can enter that will create controversy," Executive Vice President Greg James said Tuesday. "We wouldn’t have the Mormons Building Bridges float in there any more than we’d have the NRA [National Rifle Association] or something else that might turn people off." The July 24 event, which celebrates the Mormon pioneers’ 1847 arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, is Utah’s biggest parade. "We’re nonpartisan. We don’t take a position on any issue," James said. "One of the problems in the country right now is everyone is too polarized. We’re just trying to stay as neutral as we can."

Other groups rejected for the parade: PFLAG, Utah Pride, Equality Utah. (Tipped by JMG reader Chris)