Washington - The Human Rights Campaign - the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization - continues to call on Elder Boyd K. Packer, president of the Mormon Church's Quorum of Twelve Apostles, to correct his inaccurate and dangerous statements calling same-sex attraction "impure and unnatural," claiming that it can be corrected and characterizing same-sex marriage as immoral. Earlier today, the Mormon Church changed one set of words and eliminated an entire passage from Elder Packer's sermon online. They didn't go far enough.

"People across this country still need to hear from Elder Packer that he was wrong and that his statements were dangerous," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Trying to re-write history is simply not good enough. Elder Packer and the Church must immediately and fully correct the factual record. Sexual orientation and gender identity is an immutable characteristic of being human and no matter how hard you pray, that won't change."

On Tuesday HRC, Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Equality Utah, and the Utah Pride Center will hold a press conference calling on Elder Packer to make it right and will then present the Church with over 100,000 petition signatures calling on them to correct the record.

Elder Packer's misstatement that sexual orientation can be changed has been debunked by both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Both organizations have concluded that same-sex attraction is normal and that "reparative" therapy - like the kind being advocated by the Mormon Church - is unhealthy and harmful. Elder Packer or Church representatives have not corrected their statements in spite of the fact that they are dangerous and can result in self-loathing and potentially suicide by those struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity.

WHAT: Press Conference calling on Elder Packer to correct his statements and delivery of petition signatures to Church World Headquarters

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 12th, 2010 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Utah Pride Center, 361 N. 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT followed by delivery of petition signatures

WHO: Joe Solmonese, HRC President
Bruce Bastian, Utah Philanthropist
Dave Melson, Affirmation Executive Director
Brandie Balken, Equality Utah Executive Director
Valerie Larabee, Utah Pride Center Executive Director

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.