The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a statement applauding LoveLoud Festival’s motives after receiving multiple inquiries from journalist.
“We applaud the LoveLoud Festival for LGBT youth’s aim to bring people together to address teen safety and to express respect and love for all of God’s children,” the LDS Church’s statement said. “We join our voice with all who come together to foster a community of inclusion in which no one is mistreated because of who they are or what they believe.
“We share common beliefs, among them the pricelessness of our youth and the value of families. We earnestly hope this festival and other related efforts can build respectful communication, better understanding and civility as we all learn from each other.”
“We join our voice with all who come together to foster a community of inclusion in which no one is mistreated because of who they are or what they believe.” — LDS Church
Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds organized LoveLoud Festival — an event in Orem, Utah intended to support the LGBTQ community — after struggling with the lack of understanding between orthodox religion and the LGBTQ community.
“One thing that has been on my mind and on my heart very heavily for the last year has been what seems to be a divide between orthodox religion and the LGBTQ community,” Reynolds said in a promotional video. “This is a divide that can sometimes lead to broken homes, to people feeling judged or cast out, to feeling like there is no place for them within the walls of faith if they are LGBTQ.”
The performance lineup includes Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, Krewella, Nicholas Petricca of Walk the Moon and Joshua James. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the various nonprofits that support the LGBTQ community including the Trevor Project, Encircle, GLAAD and STAND4KIND.
“This is going to be a safe place for everybody to come together to hopefully foster a conversation,” Reynolds said in a video.
LoveLoud Festival is at the Brent Brown Ballpark on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on smithtix.com.
LOVELOUD Festival from LOVELOUD Festival on Vimeo.