LDS Church Invites Gay Leaders to Christmas Concert

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invited prominent gay activists including Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black to its Christmas concert in Salt Lake City over the weekend.

According to ABC 4 News, Black, software entrepreneur Bruce Bastian, and a handful of Utah gay activists were among the VIP guests at the Saturday concert in Salt Lake City.

Black, who grew up in a Mormon household, spoke to the news station by phone about the invitation, which he called an "extraordinary act of goodwill." He said that the church and the gay community have started conversations in an effort to find common ground.

A source told ABC 4 News that the LDS church might be willing to conduct outreach including assistance for homeless LGBTQ youths.