LDS Hosted Halloween Party Criticized for No 'Cross-Gender' Costume Rule

A LDS hosted Halloween party in Sandy, Utah, has drawn some criticism for a rule that specified no "cross-gender" costumes.

The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper reports that the ban meant no girls dressed as Harry Potter, for example. Fox 13 on the controversy:

Raquel Smith, who has lived for years down the street from the Mormon meeetinghouse that is hosting the party, says she was "appalled" when she read the party flier taped to her door. She is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Smith calls the ban "fear-mongering and hate-driven," and said to the Tribune "I have several friends who are transgender or drag queens for a profession."

LDS Bishop Dennis Toone says he thought the rule was church policy, but it wasn't.

He says anyone who didn't like the rule didn't have to come.

A representative for the Salt Lake City Pride Center said that party organizers for"Trunk or Treat" likely did not intend to hurt any nonconforming or transgender kids, but were just unaware of the potential consequences of such guidelines.

Another area resident shared similar concerns to Smith.

“I don't think anyone should be excluded. I think if you're a Christian-loving person. I think everyone should love everybody. To exclude somebody is not fair," said Gilbert, who asked FOX 13 not to use his name.