Love, Friendship, and Music in Highland

From left to right: Berta Marquez, Amy Larsen, Erika Munson, Kendall Wilcox, Affirmation President Randall Thacker, and Karen Brinkerhoff were some of many LGBTQ Latter-day Saints and allies who attended the event.

LGBTQ Mormons, Allies Start New Christmas Tradition

By Kufre Ekpenyong

Friends and allies from many points along the spectrum of belief came together in Utah this Christmas season for a new tradition of gathering, support, and love. For several observers, it was curious to note the way in which music and song developed as the emerging icebreaker and uniting theme of the event.

The night featured a special guest performance by Chris Holmes, director of the Utah Lyric Opera. Later in the night, the room as a whole sang a round of “Love One Another” as guided by a piano accompaniment. As the night continued and the party began to lean into full swing, a small crowd of carolers gathered around the piano to sing Christmas carols in English, Spanish, German, and other languages.

Speaking thousands of years ago at his own gathering of friends, Socrates once described music as an exploration of “the principles of love in their application to harmony and rhythm.” As we continue this new annual Christmas tradition in the years to come, it is our hope that we will come to more deeply understand and appreciate the ties that bind us together in love within the community of Saints.

We are so grateful to Yvette and Wade Zobel for hosting this event. For more information about joining us for future socials in the Salt Lake City/Provo/Ogden area please contact Ron Schow or Kufre Ekpenyong of the organizing committee.