Washington - The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, joined Equality Utah in expressing deep disappointment in recent comments by Mormon Apostle L. Tom Perry disparaging LGBT families and children as “counterfeit.”

Assertions made by Perry, 92, the oldest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of 12 Apostles, only serve to undermine common-ground progress the Church made just last month when it backed Utah’s new non-discrimination bill that extends  employment and housing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“The comments made by Mr. Perry and others at the church’s annual general conference last weekend are disheartening and wrong, and remind us yet again that the journey to full inclusion for LGBT people -- including our families and children -- is not done,” said Jeff Krehely, Vice President and Chief Foundation Officer at HRC. “Mr. Perry needs to understand how damaging his words are to LGBT youth struggling for acceptance in the Church, and in their own Mormon families.”

“As Equality Utah executive director Troy Williams said this week, our families are not counterfeit - they are real and beautiful,” Krehely said. “We encourage Mr. Perry and his fellow Apostles to embrace the diversity that already exists within their own church, and reject the language and practice of intolerance.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.