Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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LGBT & Mormon?

If this is your first time contacting Affirmation, you may be amazed to discover that LGBT Latter-day Saints even exist! Of course it's true. In our own church you will find LGBT people from every walk of life and in every position of service. Virtually every family in the church has someone somewhere on their family tree (and more likely on several branches).

Affirmation is a fellowship of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, and their family and friends who share the common bond of the Mormon experience. Its purpose is to provide a supportive environment for relieving the needless fear, guilt, self-oppression and isolation that LDS LGBT people can experience in an era where willful ignorance about human sexuality is too often a reality. We believe that a same-gender orientation and same-gender relationships can be consistent with and supported by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We affirm that we are children of Heavenly Parents who love us the way they created us and will judge us, as they do all, based on what we make of our lives here and how we have treated our sisters and brothers.

Our goal of understanding and acceptance of gays and lesbians as full and equal members of society and church is furthered by:

Encouraging spirituality, prayer and Christ-like behavior among all people, and affirming the inherent dignity of all God's children, regardless of sexual orientation.

Providing support and understanding for people experiencing difficulty reconciling their gay identity and their LDS faith with the popular attitudes of church members and leaders that often reflect misinformed ideas about homosexuals and homosexuality.

Influencing church leaders and members to follow scriptural admonitions in their treatment and perception of homosexual church members, rather than the unchristian ideas of hate, violence, fear and prejudice.

Providing a forum for open and respectful discussion of issues of concern both to gay/lesbian LDS people and to other members of the church.

Providing gay/lesbian LDS people with positive opportunities for social, intellectual, emotional and cultural development.

What Do We Do?

Affirmation provides a variety of opportunities for service, fun, friendship, personal enrichment, and spiritual growth. We work together to help remove barriers to acceptance and promote dignity and respect for sexual minorities, focusing on issues relevant to those from a Mormon background.

Types of Activities:

Annual Conferences

Held in the U.S., our weekend conferences offer us a chance to meet as an entire organization. Here we renew friendships, learn from interesting speakers and workshops, participate in community events and outings, laugh together at banquets, shows and parties, and cry together at devotionals and AIDS memorials. It can be a life-changing experience. Learn more about our next conferences
Local Chapter Meetings

Affirmation chapter meetings may include social educational or spiritual aspects, depending on what each chapter feels would best serve its member's needs. Examples include: open discussions, guest speakers, potluck socials, parties, scripture study and outings. See where local chapters are organized
Online Participation

Affirmation sponsors a number of online forums, including a Facebook page, a Yahoo group (Q-Saints), a blog ("Proclamation"), and a Twitter account. Several chapters and groups also have presence in social media. In these virtual forums, LGBT Mormons share thoughts and experiences, debate ideas, and start friendships.

Your First Time at an Affirmation Activity

It's completely normal to feel apprehensive about attending your first Affirmation activity. After all, you probably don't know anybody there, and it's hard for most of us to walk into a room of strangers and feel right at home. In addition, this may be the first time that you've ever done anything gay "in public." What if there's someone there who knows you? Relax. You'd be surprised how many good friendships have grown out of unexpected encounters with acquaintances at an Affirmation meeting.

Diversity

Affirmation draws all kinds of people to its activities. At any meeting, you might find people who are totally active in the church and people who are no longer active. You will find people who are struggling to come to terms with their homosexuality, and others who have come to complete peace about their sexuality. In between, the rest of us are at various levels of church involvement and acceptance of our sexuality. Affirmation doesn't try to make people accept a particular set of beliefs in order to be welcome. What we ask for of everyone is respect for other people's process.

Not Anti-Church

Affirmation is not "anti-church." We have many Affirmation members who are active in church. We have no policies against the church and let our members decide the attitude they choose to have. Many of our members have been hurt by the church, but the pain and betrayal many of us have suffered should not be confused with a rejection of our faith in God or of everything we have learned from the church. We believe that our lives and relationships can be compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, and that LGBT individuals are a special part of God's Creation. One of Affirmation's main purposes is to encourage spirituality, prayer and Christ-like behavior. We promote a positive attitude to being LGBT and Mormon and discourage people form holding on to anger or bitterness.

Fun!

People in Affirmation will be very happy to see you. It's exciting to meet new people who have found us, and to let them know they're not alone. We'll be anxious to hear your story, and we'll want to share our stories with you too. You're bound to make some new friends.

Join Us!

So, what will you find at an Affirmation meeting? You will find good people who are bound together by their Mormon background, and their belief that being LGBT is not a mistake but an asset to their lives. We might be having a spiritually oriented meeting, such as a family home evening or a fireside, or we might have an educational night with a special speaker. We might be having a social event, or going out to a movie together. We might just hang out and have an open discussion night. Each chapter and group decides what kind of activities it wants to have. But whatever the activity, you will be welcome and your contributions will make a difference. So come on out! We're anxious to get to know you! Check out the listing of Affirmation chapters and groups around the world.

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