This is a Petition to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert guest performers. We ask that you cancel your collaboration and performance with the choir due to the LDS Church's new rules prohibiting children that have a gay parent from becoming members of their church; regardless if the parent is in a same-sex marriage or just living together. In addition, the new policy lists same-sex couples as apostates requiring mandatory church discipline.

We also call on PBS to cancel their annual broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert.

We ask the guest performers to boycott both the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Mormon (LDS) Church due to the discriminatory and homophobic policy.

On Nov 5, 2015, the LDS Church's updated policy handbook was leaked online and these policies are extremely detrimental to the LGBT community, not only within Utah but Worldwide. In an unexpected doubling back on their previous efforts to connect with LGBT families the LDS church has taken aim at children of same sex parents by listing ‘same-sex cohabitation’ as a ‘Serious Transgression’ on the same level with rape and murder.

The new policy prevents children of same sex couples from being baptized or blessed, receive the priesthood, or to serve a mission until they turn 18, and then ONLY if they:

Disavow the practice of same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage

Agree to no longer live with the gay parent

Get approval from their local leaders

Get permission from the highest level leaders at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.

This policy drives a wedge between families and forces children to pick sides between their religion and the people that they love - their own parent.

Not only is this policy for new converts, but it also applies to any child who is currently a member of the church but has a gay parent. Regardless of how long the child has attended church, as of last week they can no longer progress or receive the “ordinances” in the Church until they are 18, even if the gay parent approves.

This new policy is very detrimental to the well-being of children of a gay parent. Many of us at one time were in a mixed-orientation marriage and had children that are currently being raised in the LDS Church, and now those children are no longer allowed to be part of the Church.

Please show the LDS Church that you disapprove of this type of bullying of children and discrimination by canceling your guest performance next month with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for their Christmas performances.



GUEST PERFORMERS:

Laura Osnes , Broadway singer @LauraOsnes

, Broadway singer Erin Morley , Soprano @morley_erin

, Soprano Tyler Simpson , Bass @tylerbenches375

, Bass Tamara Mumford , Mezzo-Soprano

, Mezzo-Soprano Ben Bliss , Tenor

, Tenor Martin Jarvis, acclaimed British screen and voice actor

@metopera @PBS @AdaArtists