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From the AFRIMATION Website:
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons. We are an organization of people who believe in the worth of every soul regardless of their sexual or gender orientation. We rejoice in life. We reject the tyranny that would have us believe that WHO we are--gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender--is evil. We view our sexual and gender orientation as a blessing, not a curse. Although many of us are no longer members of the LDS Church we celebrate being part of the great Mormon tradition. We are a family that consists of active members of the LDS faith, former members and non-members. Our membership consists of individuals situated all over the sexual mosaic. We are all at different places in our "coming-out" process.
http://www.affirmation.org/
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| | Affirmation Launches Blog - Comments Can Be Anonymous, But Must Be "Relevant And Respectful"
| | Posted Nov 23, 2005, at 09:01 AM. | FILED UNDER: AFFIRMATION - Gay And Lesbian Mormons
| | ORIGINAL AUTHOR: n/a | | ARCHIVED BY: Infymus | |
 TOP | | In a format similar to the "Question of the Month" that the Affirmation site has featured in the past, Affirmation has launched a blog (web log) to elicit feedback and allow people to exchange opinions. Comments can be posted anonymously.
"Some questions, such as the one we posted about the Denver Conference, will focus on Affirmation issues," says Associate Director Hugo Salinas. "Other, such as the current question about pornography, will help promote a broader debate on topics relating to the Mormon experience."
"Unlike the official LDS publications, our blog is uncorrelated and it won't shy away from controversy," says Hugo. "I don't think there are 'right' and 'wrong' answers to the questions we want to ask. But if you want your comment to be posted, it has to be relevant and respectful."
You can visit the Affirmation blog at http://affirmationlds.blogspot.com.
| | | | Elder Ballard Connects Joseph Smith, The Proclamation On The Family - Does Joseph Smith Add "Clarity" To The Proclamation?
| | Posted Nov 14, 2005, at 08:00 AM. | FILED UNDER: AFFIRMATION - Gay And Lesbian Mormons
| | ORIGINAL AUTHOR: n/a | | ARCHIVED BY: Infymus | |
TOP | | Weeks after denouncing same-sex marriage in General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve continued his anti-gay crusade on November 5 as he spoke about Joseph Smith at the Sons of Utah Pioneers Historical Symposium.
According to a story published in the Deseret News, "Elder Ballard read from the church's 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World,' and said the only reason there is an organization on earth today that can make such declarations—such as the eternal nature of souls and the fundamental principles of gender and families—is because of Smith's work."
"'Now the world is spinning in confusion, in confusion of gender and same-gender relationships,' he said. But Smith's teachings, and the teachings of the church he founded, give 'clarity' to believers and a knowledge of a premortal and post mortal existence, Elder Ballard said."
Elder Ballard forgot to mention that Joseph Smith introduced the eternal principle of polygamy, secretly married some 33 women, and had a rocky relationship with his first wife Emma.
http://www.affirmation.org/news/2005_...
| | | | As one of the themes of the visit was Mormon views on homosexuality, we talked about that too. Like the rest of the population, heterosexual Mormons of course have homosexual family members and friends. And there is no doubt that the number of gays and lesbians in the church reflects the number of gays and lesbians in the rest of society3.The fact that a percentage of Mormons are gay should come as no surprise
The LDS Church says that they are not against gay people, but that they are pro family. With their description of a family being what it is (husband, wife, and children) it seems that being pro-family and against gays is rather the same thing.
The Mormon concept of family has experienced a dramatic change in the past: Until 1890 Mormons allowed polygamy! So maybe the concept could change again --this time to accept same-sex couples. When we asked our hosts if they think that the Mormon family pattern could some day change to accept same-sex couples as a family, unfortunately they were very doubtful.
It may sound paradoxical: On the one hand, Mormons strongly believe that people should live in a solid relationship and live a family life; on the other, homosexuals are required to live alone.
But at least they don't force gay people to live in heterosexual relationships. And as long as you don't act on your homosexual tendencies, you can be a faithful devoted Mormon and an appreciated member of the church. Until now, no Danish gay Mormon has publicly come out. Until this happens, it is difficult to know for sure how he or she would be welcomed.
We had a good, honest, and open talk about homosexuality. Although our views on homosexuality are quite different, we felt welcome in this church.
http://www.affirmation.org/voices/gay...
| | | | David Johnson stopped believing in the Mormon Church about three years ago, when he came out of the closet after returning home from a proselytizing mission in Thailand. At 24, he is ignoring strict principles of a church that teaches that homosexuality is a serious sin by living the life of a gay man. He has moved away from his parents' home in southern Utah--his father, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has little to do with him--but he hasn't moved as far as you might imagine.
He chooses to live in Salt Lake City, the capital of one of the nation's most conservative states, which is shadowed by the worldwide headquarters of a church that suffuses nearly every aspect of life in Utah. The Mormon Church, one of the world's fastest-growing faiths with about 12 million members worldwide, won't accept gays until they are "spiritually rehabilitated." "It's not that I'm angry with the church. I understand that they don't understand," Johnson said. "I would rather spend my energy elsewhere on something I can actually change."
During the Pride Week Festival that ran through Sunday, plenty of people like Johnson gathered around Salt Lake City--a yearly reminder of just how large the gay population there has grown. It culminates Sunday with a parade that organizers say is the second largest in the state, behind the annual July 24 "Days of '47" parade commemorating the Mormon settlement of the Salt Lake Valley.
Click Here For Original Link Or Thread.
| | | | Dear Friends:
We have learned that the Advocate issue which hits the newsstands on March 29 will have as its cover story an article examining the Church's role supporting efforts to pass anti-gay (which the Church calls "pro-family") legislation. The article will include the human interest angle of how this affects gay people who are giving a lot for the Church--recently returned missionaries, for example. (Please note that we had originally announced that this article would appear on March 15, but the Advocate re-scheduled its publication).
Because this is a rare opportunity to be noticed by gay and lesbian Mormons within the gay community, the executive committee has decided to place an advertisement in this issue. National advertisements are expensive, however, and we invite you to support this outreach effort by making a special one time donation (tax deductible!) to Affirmation. The advertisement will cost $2,295.00, with the ad design and graphics work being donated by a supportive graphic designer. If you can help, send a check to:
A.N.O.
P.O. Box 6369
Long Beach, CA 90806
Write "advertising fund" in the memo area or cover letter. You may also write a letter authorizing credit card charges.
We encourage all Affirmation members to check out this issue of the Advocate.
Olin Thomas
Executive Director
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
http://www.affirmation.org/news/2005_06.asp
| | | | From Affirmation:
In view of recent statements made by LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Executive Committee of Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian
Mormons has issued the following statement:
As gay and lesbian Mormons, we are confused by recent statements made by Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a recent CNN interview with Larry King, President Hinckley claimed he is not anti-gay, but rather
pro-family. This claim seems inconsistent with the Church's support, including extensive political fund-raising, for initiatives
which would ensure that gay and lesbian couples can not be legally recognized as families. The laws which the Church supports
would allow hospitals to deny visitation rights for partners and children of gay and lesbian patients, and could allow or even
require the State to forcibly separate families and place the children of gay or lesbian partners into foster care upon the death
of the biological parent. The laws that make such circumstances possible do not protect families. They single out gay households
and punish both parents and children.
Continue Reading Story.
| | | | From Affirmation:
Excerpted from Ryan Oliver Hansen, "Gay Utah Dads Enter Fight for Family Equality," Salt Lake Metro, June 10, 2004, p. 7.
A typical day in the Butterfield household includes multiple diaper changes, cleaning up scattered toys, and resolving
battles--such as a tear-soaked, screaming fight over a favorite toy car--between the Butterfield's two year-old twin boys.
But the battles between the twins are the least of Tony Butterfield and Paul Redd-Butterfield's worries. They've taken on a
bigger fight: the fight for gay marriage equality under the law.
They say they're just as deserving of marriage as any heterosexual couple since they've been together for 12 monogamous years and
their twins have been with them from the moment they were born through a surrogate mother. They're aware of the upcoming conflict
over gay marriage on a state and national level, and they're ready for the battle.
http://www.affirmation.org/news/2004_24.asp
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