Episode 526: Angela Hughey and Michael Soto (LDS Supported LGBTQ Legislation)

My friends Angela Hughey (Co-founder and President, One Community of Arizona, gay) and Michael Soto (Chief Executive Officer of Equality Arizona, transgender man) join us to talk about the LDS supported LGBTQ legislation in Mesa, Arizona that was passed in 2021. Elder Neil L. Anderson, in his April 2022 Conference Talk titled Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker, mentioned this effort (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/15andersen). Thank you to the many Mesa area Church members who worked to get this legislation passed including Mayor John Giles and Councilwomen Julie Spilsbury. Angela and Michael talk about scaling this effort to a become a nationwide law in the “Equality and Fairness For All Americans” effort. They invite you to join this effort by June 24th at www.equalityandfairness.com/. Angela and Michael also talk about being invited and joining senior LDS Church leaders for the open houses for both the Mesa Arizona and Washington DC Temple open houses. They talk about the tender and positive interactions with senior leaders of the Church. This experience was covered by Tad Walch for the Deseret News (www.deseret.com/faith/2022/4/27/23034223/latter-day-saint-leaders-lgbt-advocates-common-ground-washington-dc-temple-faith-religious-liberty). Accompanying Angela and Michael to DC were James and Monica Phillips (LDS Parents of 2 LGBTQ children), Lynette and Cory Braddock (LDS parents of transgender daughter) and Abram and Ashley Ellsworth (LDS allies) This is a remarkable story that I hope all Latter-day Saints listen to and then act on impressions on how to work in each of our circles of influence to build bridges on all types of issues that could divide us. This isn’t theory—this is how to take the doctrine of Christ to love and apply to bring us together as the same human family. I also encourage everyone to go to www.equalityandfairness.com on consider joining this effort. Thank you, Angela and Michael, for your great work. Honored to have you on the podcast. ** Please Check Out My LGBTQ Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773 ** Want to develop church-supported LGBTQ activities in your local area? Please join our FB group below ** https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143