Savannah, 12, came out as lesbian at a Mormon church in Utah.
Her parents were initially reluctant to let her do it because of the potential rejection but finally agreed.
But, as she was speaking at the church near Salt Lake City, the microphone was turned off and she was asked to sit down.
Savannah began by saying she wanted to “share my testimony with you”.
“I believe I am a child of heavenly parents. I don’t know if they talk to us, but I feel in my heart that they made me and that they love me. I believe I was made the way I am, all parts of me, by my heavenly parents,”
“They did not mess up when they gave me brown eyes, or when I was born bald. They did not mess up when they gave me freckles or they made me to be gay. God loves me just this way because I believe that he loves all his creations.
“No part of me is a mistake. I do not choose to be this way and it is not a fad. I cannot make someone else gay and being around me won’t make anyone else this way. ”
“I believe that God wants us to treat each other with kindness, even if people are different – especially if they are different. Christ showed us this.”
“I believe that we should just love. I believe I am good. I try my best to be nice to each other and stick up for those that are hurting. ”
“I know I’m not a horrible sinner for being who I am. I believe God would tell me if I was wrong.”
She said she hoped to one day go on dates, to school dances and eventually to find a partner, get married, have a family and find a “great job”.
“I know I can have all of these things as a lesbian and be happy. I believe that if God is there, he knows I’m perfect just the way I am, and would never ask me to live my life alone or with someone I am not attracted to,” she said.
“He would want me to be happy. I want to be happy. I want to love myself and not to feel shame for being me. I ask you…”
The microphone then went dead and Savannah was asked to sit down.