Tech Billionaire Leaves Mormons to Donate $ 600,000 to LGBTQ Activists

Mass for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah

Photo: George Frey / REUTERS

American tech billionaire Jeff Green left the Mormon faith community with a surprisingly sensational move.

According to the daily newspaper "Salt Lake Tribune", the head of the advertising company "The Trade Desk" announced that he wanted to donate 90 percent of his assets of around five billion dollars to good causes - starting with a donation of 600,000 dollars to a group of LGBTQ activists.

"While most believers are good people trying to do what is right, I believe the Church is active and present in causing harm in the world," Green wrote in a public resignation letter.

"I believe the Church has hindered global progress on women's, civil and racial equality, and LGBTQ + rights."

The entrepreneur also expressed criticism of the way the religious community deals with donations.

An investment portfolio worth more than $ 100 billion has been the subject of a whistleblower complaint in recent years.

An employee accused the church of misappropriating donations to buy stocks and bonds.

Conservative positions

According to his own statements, Green has not been active in the religious community for more than a decade, but has now wanted to make his exit official.

Eleven family members and a close friend did the same for the entrepreneur.

In the past, the religious community had repeatedly been criticized for its conservative positions.

Black men could not become priests until the 1970s, and women are still excluded from some high offices today.

Mormons see themselves as a Christian church, officially called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In addition to the Bible, they also believe in the Book of Mormon, which was written in the 19th century.

AP / rai