Listen to this articleIf you are an LGBTQ youth or young adult in search of a safe and affirming place to enjoy Christmas, some members of Mormons Building Bridges are reaching out to welcome you.
If you are uncertain or shy, organizer Berta Marquez will reach out to the families on your behalf to make introductions. Email her at frufruwawa <at> gmail.com. All confidences will be honored, she said.
Marquez is with several organizations that work at the intersection of Mormonism and the LGBT community, including Mormons for Marriage, Affirmation, Mormons Building Bridges, the Dragon Moms, Out in Zion, Utah LGBTQ Stories and LDS Walk With You. She has collaborated with Equality Utah and the ACLU on social justice work specific to LGBT rights and is working with Operation Shine America which works with and advocates for homeless youth, which is perhaps her greatest passion. She and her wife live in Springville, Utah.
The families, by city, can be contacted below:
| STATE | CITY | FAMILY | CONTACT |
| Alberta | Calgary, AB, Can | The Cartwrights, Amy Isaksen Cartwright | amy.isaksen (at) gmail.com |
| Ariz | Chandler | The Montgomerys, Wendy Williams Montgomery | wendybird75 (at) aol.com |
| Ariz | Gilbert | The Werners, Erika Martinez Werner | erika.bbwerner (at) gmail.com |
| Ariz | Mesa | The Johnsons, Vicky Wimmer Johnson | 602.697.7976 , text please |
| Ariz | Mesa | The Jacksons, Becky Bodine Jackson | jacksonfinancial (at) live.com |
| Ariz | Mesa | The Barnhart, Marianne Barnhart | mab541 (at) aol.com |
| Ariz | Phoenix | The Curtis’, Emily Clyde Curtis | clydecurtis (at) gmail.com |
| Ariz | San Tan Valley | The Lenskis, Brenda Lenski | getangel10 (at) gmail.com |
| Ariz | Scottsdale | The Cross’, Stefanie Ann Cross | stefaniecross2 (at) gmail.com |
| Ariz | Tucson | The Melbys, Guenevere Nelson-Melby | nelsonmelby (at) yahoo.com |
| Calif | Antelope | Sara Jean | 916.217.0582, text please |
| Calif | Carlsbad | The Pulsipher, Linda Hardy Pulpsipher | pulsipher.linda (at) yahoo.com |
| Calif | Culver City | The Barham, Laurel Heninger Barham | shloral (at) gmail.com |
| Calif | Lincoln | The Rogers, Tamie Crane Rogers | tamraloo (at) hotmail.com |
| Calif | Oakley | The Swensons, Julie Welsh Senson | mathjulie (at) yahoo.com |
| Calif | Perris | The Rodriguez’, Beatrice Rodriguez | bgaecia69 (at) gmail.com |
| Calif | San Francisco | The Berryessas, Guy Berryessa | guyberr (at) gmail.com |
| Calif | SanDiego | The Farr-Knickerbockers, Amanda Farr-Knickerbockers | afarr04 (at) gmail.com |
| Calif | Santa Barbara | The Nebekers, Joanna Shaw Nebeker | joscrapbookqueen (at) yahoo.com |
| Calif | Temecula | The Campos’, Cassy Taylor Campos | mokilehua (at) verizon.net |
| Colo | Denver | The Oviatts, Melissa Oviatt | mjoviatt (at) gmail.com |
| Colo | Denver | The Sniders, Susan Van Patten Snider | susanvsnider (at) gmail.com |
| Conn | Rigfield/NYC | The Hawkers, Audrey Fanning Hawker | audrey.hawker (at) gmail.com |
| Idaho | American Falls | The Wards, Emily Pugh Ward | wardemi2 (at) isu.edu |
| Idaho | Boise | The Cottles, Christy Cottle | christycottle (at) gmail.com |
| Idaho | Boise | The Lindsays, Kristen Talmage Lindsay | lindsay (at) gmail.com |
| Idaho | Boise & Nampa | The Walkers, Brittany Ursenbach Walker | mrswalker091606 (at) gmail.com |
| Idaho | Rexburg | The Wrights, Chris Wright | filmscore_guy (at) sbcglobal.net |
| Idaho | Burley | The Pincocks, Camille Judd Pincock | camillep 1977 (at) gmail.com |
| Idaho | Rexburg/Idaho Falls | The Burkes, Madison Burke | madisonburke11 (at) gmail.com |
| England/UK | London, Eng | The Reynolds, Wendy Reynolds | wattsup70 (at) hotmail.com |
| Fla | Leesburg | The Hulets, David Hulet | dhulet (at) gmail.com |
| Mass | Boston | The Mooneys, Danielle Kristine Mooney | 617.276.7253, text please |
| Mass | Boston | The Jones’, David Jones | dklinejones (at) yahoo.com |
| Nev | Las Vegas | The Stephens, Anita Stephens | alstephens3 (at) cox.net |
| NJ | Kenilworth | Mary Hargrove | luckycharmer010 (at) gmail.com |
| NM | Las Cruces | The Bensons, Diane Holindake Benson | dianeemma (at) gmail.com |
| NY | Rochester | The Goettlers, Bobbie Givens Goettler | bobbieanne (at) gmail.com |
| NC | Concord | The Kistlers, Brandy Lynn Kistler | superkza (at) yahoo.com |
| Ore | Portland | The Pearsons, Jennifer Wilkins Pearson | jenn_wilkins (at) hotmail.com |
| Ore | Portland | The Johnsons, Betty Johnson | bwjohnson49 (at) yahoo.com |
| Penn | Pittsburg | The Kellers, Rachel Deere Keller | rachellkeller (at) gmail.com |
| Tenn | Christiana | The Bohlings, Laura Bohling | laura.bohling (at) gmail.com |
| Tenn | Nashville | The Sullivans, Emily Runyan Sullivan | 1emilysullivan (at) gmail.com |
| Texas | Allen | The Haws, Julienna Viega | viegashaws (at) gmail.com |
| Texas | Aubrey | The Chatwins, Erin Clement Chatwin | always_erin7 (at) yahoo.com |
| Texas | Heath | The Downings, Lisa Torcasso Downing | downinglt (at) aol.com |
| Utah | Bluffdale | The Leavitts, Sean Leavitt | tanis666 (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Bountiful | The Gentrys, Anna Corinne Gentry | annacorinnegentry (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Cottonwood Heights | The Harrisons, Peter Harrison | peterf.harrison (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Farmington | The Fox family, Rebecca Fox | becafox (at) hotmail.com |
| Utah | Farmington.SLC | The Boulters, Sara Boulter | saraboulter (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Highland | The Zobells, Yvette Barrus Zobell | yvettepz (at) yahoo.com |
| Utah | Holladay | The Bells, Brian Kelly Bell | bel06025 (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Ivins | The Ertels, Susan Ertel | yodaertel (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Kaysville | The Newmans, Shana Newman | ssnewman2 (at) msn.com |
| Utah | Kearns | The Oviatts, Sarah Guild Oviatt | sarahoviatt (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Layton | Cheryl Nunn | cheryl.nunn (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Lehi | The Lindseys, Alisa Davis Lindsey | alindseyjjc (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Mapleton | The Drapers, Roni Jo Draper | roni.jo.draper (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Midvale | The Welchs, Jon Welch | joncwelch (at) att.net |
| Utah | North Ogden | The Evans, Jen Evans | scjeevans (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Ogden | The Barnums, Jacy Morgan Barnum | twingogirl (at) yahoo.com |
| Utah | Orem | The Bergins, Sue Bergin | sue (at) suebergin.com |
| Utah | Park City | The Mikesells, Susan Mikesell | shoshannahtikvah (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Provo | The Kellys, Jim and Donna Kelly | happyvalleykellys (at) hotmail.com |
| Utah | Provo | The Valentines, Abby Valentine | goingfullhippie (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Saint George | The Lenskis, Brenda Lenski | getangel10 (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Saint George | The Youngs, Mindy Fabrizio Young | mammamindy (at) yahoo.com |
| Utah | Saint George | The Freis, Liisa Lowe Frei | 435-632-3345, text please |
| Utah | Salt Lake City | The Baayds, Jami Kimball Baayd | jami337 (at) hotmail.com |
| Utah | Salt Lake City | KL Sanders | klsanders18 (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Salt Lake City | The Hirschis, Julie Hirschi | hirschikisses (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Salt Lake City | The Otterstroms, Crystal Young-Otterstrom | crystalmarayoung (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Salt Lake City | The Kramers, Brad Kramer | bhkramer (at) umich.edu |
| Utah | Salt Lake City | The Otterstroms, Crystal Young-Otterstrom | 891.652.0737 (text is best) , crystalmarayoung (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Sandy | The Bakers, Pilar Lopez Baker | plbaker23 (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Sandy | The Forbes’, Kellie Jo Robinson Forbes | kellie.forbes (at) ifa-coop.com |
| Utah | Saratoga Springs | The Petersons, Jena Lowry Peterson | authenticjena (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | South Jordan | The Tates, Lark Tate | tatelark (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Springville | Trihex Ghold | batteredmettle (at) gmail.com |
| Utah | Syracuse | The Allgood-Moores, Neca Allgood | neca (at) mooregoodideas.com |
| Utah | Syracuse | The Packs, Ry Ann Pack | annpack (at) yahoo.com |
| Vir | Healthsville | The Schaefers, Chris Schaefer | thepastlane1 (at) gmail.com |
| Wash | Renton | The Longs, Rochelle Thompson Long | rochelle (at) mystickiwi.com |
| Wash | Seattle & Redmond | The Birds, Chystell Hunter Bird | steilbird (at) gmail.com |
