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Tech billionaire Jeff Green, CEO of The Trading Desk and thought to be the richest person from Utah, has made waves after publicly cutting ties with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church.
Green formally left the church by writing a letter to its President Russell Nelson in which he lambasted the church's stances on women's equality and LGBTQ+ rights and said he believes the church is "actively doing harm in the world."
He accompanied his departure with a sizable donation to LGBTQ+ rights organization Equality Utah and the creation of a scholarship fund for LGBTQ+ students in the state.
Businessman Jeff Green wrote in a letter that the church "is actively and currently doing harm in the world," including to LGBTQ rights.https://nbcnews.to/30NCFLl— NBC News (@NBC News) 1640145612
Green's scholarship includes funding for LGBTQ+ students who need money in order to leave Brigham Young University, the Mormon church's prestigious college infamous for its draconian "honor code," which includes a ban on same-sex relationships between students enforced in part by police surveillance.
Such an approach is characteristic of the Mormon church as a whole, which forbids same-sex relationships and expects woman to adhere to rigid gender roles.
Green called the church out for these beliefs, as well as its approaches to race issues, in his withdrawal from the church. Green stipulated that while most of the church's members are "good people trying to do right," he believes the church is "actively and currently" causing harm with its policies.
Green wrote:
“I believe the Mormon Church has hindered global progress in women’s rights, civil rights and racial equality, and LGBTQ.+ rights."
Green also criticized the Church's extravagant, multi-billion-dollar tax-free wealth, painting a picture of a church that is fleecing its members.
“This money comes from people, often poor, who wholeheartedly believe you represent the will of Jesus. They give, expecting the blessings of heaven.”
In a statement, Equality Utah thanked Green for his financial support in the wake of his resignation, crediting him with allowing the organization to continue its work into the future.
"Jeff’s financial support will ensure that we will remain a prominent force in Utah politics for years to come."
On Twitter, people applauded Green's move and the candor with which he made it.
Combine this @nytimes story with Pew Research showing nones now outnumber #evangelicals and it is becoming clear that #Conservative #religions are rightly under pressure for their #extremist positionshttps://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1473395368171823104\u00a0\u2026— Hal Donahue (@Hal Donahue) 1640176490
Green said #LDS "hindered global progress in women\u2019s rights, civil rights and racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights," according to The Salt Lake Tribune.\nWow. Just wow!— Carla Pennington (@Carla Pennington) 1640165966
I commend him also for standing up for change!— Ms.Elise_Inventor (@Ms.Elise_Inventor) 1640166057
\u201cThe church leadership is not honest about its history, it\u2019s finances and it\u2019s advocacy\u201d. \nGreat respect for Jeff Green. Thank you for taking a stand.https://www.thedailybeast.com/utahs-richest-native-jeff-green-blasts-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-in-resignation-letter\u00a0\u2026— Tapir1 (@Tapir1) 1640057752
This is a very big deal.https://twitter.com/AmyYanni/status/1473733343674052615\u00a0\u2026— LeoMomma \u2603\ufe0f\u2744 (@LeoMomma \u2603\ufe0f\u2744) 1640202362
Some great news to start your day off with :) Jeff Green sent a letter to the church telling them they are doing more harm then good then proceeded to donate to the LGBTQ advocacy group\u00a0"Equality Utah". Bless him https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/utah-billionaire-leaves-mormon-church-donates-600k-lgbtq-group-rcna9523\u00a0\u2026— nick :) \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udc19 (@nick :) \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udc19) 1640167510
Another POSITIVE MOVE in the dismantling of the farce that is man-made religion full of HARMFUL IMPACT against those who do not fit their mold.\n\nBillionaire Jeff Green resigns from Mormon church, says he's donating $600K to LGBTQ group https://news.yahoo.com/billionaire-jeff-green-resigns-mormon-150558720.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr\u00a0\u2026 via @Yahoo— Marie Wilson (@Marie Wilson) 1640206625
The article states he has pledged to give 90% of wealth away during his life or at death. I\u2019d like to see a certain wealthy religious organization make a pledge like that.— Adam (@Adam) 1640187855
Quite remarkable that a Christian remembered they are a follower of Jesus & courageously chose to do unto others rather than meekly follow their church's admonition to "Do what we say, or else!"— A L Katz (@A L Katz) 1640186661
He writes a scathing letter quit the Mormon church a then gives a big to the church by donating $600K to a local LGBTQ charity. We'll done Jeff Greenhttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/utah-jeff-green-mormon-church-b1980285.html\u00a0\u2026— Marc Elias stan account (get vaxcinated)\ud83e\udd18 (@Marc Elias stan account (get vaxcinated)\ud83e\udd18) 1640192941
In addition to his $600,000 donation to Equality Utah, Green has pledged to give away 90% of his $5 billion fortune during his life and at his death.