Former Mormon Tabernacle Choir member Janet Chamberlin formally resigned over the choir’s plans to perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration later this month, according to a Friday report from RawStory.
The Choir announced it planned to perform at Trump’s inauguration last week, and several members voiced their concerns over the decision. Mormons largely backed Trump in November, according to the report.
“I’ve tried to tell myself that by not going to the inauguration, that I would be able to stay in Choir for all the other good reasons,” Chamberlin wrote in her resignation letter.
“I have highly valued the mission of the Choir to be good-will ambassadors for Christ, to share beautiful music and to give hope, inspiration, and comfort to others,” she continued. “I’ve tried to tell myself that it will be alright and that I can continue in good conscience before God and man. But it’s no use. I simply cannot continue with the recent turn of events. I could never look myself in the mirror again with self respect.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn’t require members to attend the performance at the inauguration, and insists that the performance isn’t a political statement of support for Trump.
“I only know I could never ‘throw roses to Hitler,’” Chamberlin concluded in her letter. “And I certainly could never sing for him.”
The other group slated to perform at the inauguration could also lose some members over the decision. Members of the Rockettes said they planned to oppose the move up to and including losing their jobs.
“If I had to lose my job over this, I would. It’s too important,” an unnamed dancer told Marie Claire. “And I think the rest of the performing arts community would happily stand behind me.”
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