Singing Loud And Proud: Choir For LGBT Mormons Breaks Out
by ANDREA SMARDON
December 14, 2012 5:51 PMhttp://www.npr.org/2012/12/14/167253404/singing-loud-and-proud-choir-for-lgbt-mormons-breaks-out
(Photos: Andrea Smardon/KUER) The One Voice ChoirToday, he's a part of a new choir — one that's open to gays, lesbians and Mormons. The ensemble of roughly 15 members, called the One Voice Choir, is not officially part of the LDS church in Utah, but they've been invited to perform at a Mormon church-sponsored outreach event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
For their first rehearsal, the group congregated at a historic LDS chapel near downtown Salt Lake City. Bryan Horn, the group's musical director, resigned from the church after coming out as gay, but says he's still a Mormon in his heart.
"The primary purpose is to create a space where everybody is loved and everybody is welcome..."
Unlike Pitcher's son, 18-year-old choir member Grayson Moore says he hasn't felt compelled to leave the church. Moore identifies as a female-to-male transgender and holds a Temple Recommend — meaning he's a church member in good standing.
"Most people who grow up in the church, when they transition, they just say, 'I'm not allowed to be LDS anymore', and they just give up and walk away," Moore says at a rehearsal. "I want to show people that you don't have to walk away, that just because it can be hard to be LDS and transgender, that doesn't mean it's not worth it."
Before Moore finished his thoughts, an official from the church where the choir was rehearsing requested that the group end practice and leave.
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Original story includes link to listen to the 5 minute 25 second feature on All Things Considered program. - Madeline
