Video: LGBTQ faith leaders 'speak up' at Salt Lake City conference

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A traveling display of thousands liturgical stoles and sacred items representing the lives of LGBTQ faith leaders that have been kicked out or forced to leave their church, religion, or faith community are displayed during the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
People rise up as Bishop Yvette Flunder delivers an impassioned keynote address to two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the four-day gathering focuses on elevating the voices of LGBTQ faith leaders, addressing attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians using religion to discriminate against them, and providing communities of faith with tools to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Bishop Yvette Flunder delivers the keynote address to two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the four-day gathering focuses on elevating the voices of LGBTQ faith leaders, addressing attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians using religion to discriminate against them, and providing communities of faith with tools to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Reverend McKenzie Jr. speaks to the two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A traveling display of thousands liturgical stoles and sacred items representing the lives of LGBTQ faith leaders that have been kicked out or forced to leave their church, religion, or faith community are displayed during the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Charlene Moore of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, CA., raises her hand as Reverend McKenzie Jr. quotes his grandmother's words, "Cheerios, Cheerios, push me to the bottom of the bowl and we will rise up!". Two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Charlene Moore of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, CA., brings music to the two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the four-day gathering focuses on elevating the voices of LGBTQ faith leaders, addressing attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians using religion to discriminate, and providing communities of faith with tools to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people.

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Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A traveling display of thousands liturgical stoles and sacred items representing the lives of LGBTQ faith leaders that have been kicked out or forced to leave their church, religion, or faith community are displayed during the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune People rise up as Bishop Yvette Flunder delivers an impassioned keynote address to two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the four-day gathering focuses on elevating the voices of LGBTQ faith leaders, addressing attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians using religion to discriminate against them, and providing communities of faith with tools to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Bishop Yvette Flunder delivers the keynote address to two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the four-day gathering focuses on elevating the voices of LGBTQ faith leaders, addressing attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians using religion to discriminate against them, and providing communities of faith with tools to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Reverend McKenzie Jr. speaks to the two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A traveling display of thousands liturgical stoles and sacred items representing the lives of LGBTQ faith leaders that have been kicked out or forced to leave their church, religion, or faith community are displayed during the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Charlene Moore of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, CA., raises her hand as Reverend McKenzie Jr. quotes his grandmother's words, "Cheerios, Cheerios, push me to the bottom of the bowl and we will rise up!". Two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Charlene Moore of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, CA., brings music to the two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocates and faith leaders participating in the Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit in Salt Lake City this week. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the four-day gathering focuses on elevating the voices of LGBTQ faith leaders, addressing attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians using religion to discriminate, and providing communities of faith with tools to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people.

By Rich Kane The Salt Lake Tribune

· October 21, 2015 3:21 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Over 200 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer advocates and religious leaders are meeting in Salt Lake City through Friday at the annual Faith & Family LGBTQ Power Summit conference.

According to the National LGBTQ Task Force, which is sponsoring the event, the purpose of the gathering is to mobilize LGBTQ people of faith by encouraging them to come out to their congregations, to provide tools to defend against attacks by anti-LGBTQ politicians, and to encourage churches to be more inclusive of LGBTQ people.

"Much of the language and understanding of faith has been taken over by people who aren't supportive of our communities," said Rev. Mykal Slack of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, N.C. "So it matters that we speak up and go out into the world and tell our stories and let folks know that we're here."