Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

LGBT Community to Hold Service Events During General Conference Weekend
“We want to harness that energy for productive means”

Community activist Jacob Whipple

From a story in The Salt Lake Tribune
March 2009

Members and supporters of Utah's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community plan to take up garden tools and medical-supply kits for “General Service Weekend” on April 4 and 5. Note: Because of snow, dates have been changed to April 11 and 12.

“We wanted to harness that energy for productive means,” said organizer Jacob Whipple. “We don't feel that there is a need to protest [the LDS Church] further.”

Whipple launched the Salt Lake City protest that drew 3,000 people to Temple Square three days after the November election.

Salt Lake City police Sgt. Robin Snyder said no permits for protests outside of general conference have been requested -- as of Thursday -- although a permit is not required. In recent weeks, a viral e-mail spread false rumors about a massive and violent gay-rights rally planned near the conference, a semiannual event that features speeches from prominent LDS leaders.

Whipple said he knows of no plans by gay-rights supporters to demonstrate during the conference. Instead, he has arranged several service projects in Ogden and Salt Lake County, including cleanups at Dimple Dell Park and the Jordan River Parkway, gardening for the nonprofit Utah G.A.R.D.E.N.S. and social-work visits to refugee families. He expects 300 to 600 volunteers to participate.

The projects will be carried out April 4-5. For more information, visit www.allforoneinitiative.org.