Inside This Issue Editorial: Happy Pride Month! Upcoming Events News from the Trenches The AWA Contest: What Can You Share? Chileans Launch Afirmación Chile Phoenix Chapter Celebrates Pride Tia Owen Speaks to Social Workers

Darren Holman

Editorial: Happy Pride Month!

by Darren Holman, Assistant Executive Director

For much of the world--especially in the US--June represents that time of year when we stand up and shout, "I'm Proud!" And well we should be. GBLTI folks have come a long way in the past decade or so, and there is much reason to rejoice. We can have civil unions in Vermont, we can register our domestic partnerships in California (and several other states and municipalities), we cannot be fired just for being gay in most places, and on and on. Our victories are many.

Unfortunately, while there is much to celebrate, there is plenty of work yet to be done. We have civil unions in only one state, most places do not recognize our domestic partnerships, there are places where we can still be fired for being gay, and there is much work yet to be done on the gay marriage front. There are those that do everything in their power to make sure that we are denied our equal rights. Yes, there is much work to be done.

Let's not focus on that for now, though. It's June! It's Pride Month! It's time to focus on all the great things in our life and have a party!

We were discussing Pride on Q-Saints recently, and someone posted the following:

"Pride is MY holiday. It is when I get together with people I love and for whom I lust and stand in the sun in scanty clothes, drink overpriced beer, dance into the night, and cruise voraciously. It is about drag queens, and absurdly "Nellie" Mexican guys in feather head pieces ten feet high. It is about Asian Pacific Islanders clad in tiny little sarongs. It is about baton twirlers and all the gay nerds in your high-school band marching again. I appreciate the PFLAG groups, and the folks from all the churches, and all the AIDS service providers, and the contingent from the Gay & Lesbian Center. I even enjoy a few politicians and celebs, but for me it about MY gay life. It is about the stuff that the rest of the world just doesn't get because they don't understand."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Enjoy.

Upcoming Events, 2003 June Pride events held across the world June 6-8 Cornerstone (regional get-together) in Washington DC June 8 Affirmation Chat June 13-15 Gamofite Retreat in Long Beach, CA June 14 Mark Packer and Ernie Hortsmanshoff's commitment ceremony in Long Beach, CA August 15 Deadline to submit an entry to the Writing Awards Contest September 15 Deadline to register to the Annual Conference at the best rate October 10-12 2003 Affirmation Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

News from the Trenches

A New Day Rising: Join Us in Washington, D.C., June 6-8, 2003

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons invites members, friends, and allies to a regional Cornerstone gathering to be held in Washington D.C. on June 6-8, 2003. With the theme, "A New Day Rising," we will share social events and explore Affirmation strategies for an ever changing world.


Affirmation Relaunches Chat

After a long recess, Affirmation is relaunching its chat program. The first session will take place in the chatroom of Q-Saints on June 9. Even though it is necessary to sign up onto Q-Saints in order to login, it is possible to set up an account that does not deliver Q-Saints messages in your mailbox.


October Conference will Include a Sunday Afternoon Event

Duane Jennings has just announced that Affirmation's Annual Conference will include a Sunday afternoon event. Family Fellowship will screen the movie "The Blessing," a short film by Stephen Williams exploring the issue of worthiness among gay Mormons. A panel will follow. Free of charge and open to the public, the event will be held at 5:00 pm at walking distance from the hotel. Dinner will not be served on Sunday, but some refreshments will be served in connection with this event.

Monday, October 13, is a federal holiday. Affirmation is not providing official conference activities for that day. Conference attendees may reserve rooms at the University of Utah Guesthouse through Monday at conference rates. Those who already have a reservation through Sunday can call the hotel (toll-free 1-888-416-4075) and extend the reservation one more day. For more information about the conference, and how to register, visit the conference webpages.


Share Your Pride!

Affirmation chapters are invited to submit to E-Affinity pictures and one-paragraph reports describing what chapter members did during Pride. Please submit text and pictures before June 25 to Hugo Salinas.


Affirmation Members Invited to Festival

Kraig and Chris, from Cedar City, would be pleased to open their home to Affirmation folks planning to visit the Utah Shakespearean Festival this summer. Go to www.bard.org for festival information.


The AWA Contest: What Can You Share?

by John-Charles Duffy

August 15 is the deadline for submitting entries to the 2003 Affirmation Writing Awards Contest. Now in its fourth year, the Contest has served an important role, encouraging and recognizing quality writing about GLBTI Mormon experience.

Whether you're a published writer or a novice, whether your style is personal or academic--if you feel you have something of value to say about what it means to be GLBTI and Mormon, this Contest is for you.

Winning entries from past years have taken many forms:

• A journal entry describing a gay Mormon's last visit to the temple.
• An analysis of the arguments used by conservative Mormons trying to fire a lesbian teacher.
• A theological argument on behalf of same-sex unions.
• A tribute to a little-remembered gay Mormon writer and scholar.
• A scholarly essay about the impact of religion on gay Mormons from a counselor's perspective.

Several winning entries have been personal essays:

• A gay BYU student writes about the pressures experienced by gay BYU students and faculty.
• A Mormon lesbian writes about her first lover's decision to return to the Church.
• The mother of a gay Mormon son writes about her first Pride march.
• A gay man describes his personal journey out of the LDS Church into a broader Christian community.

Letters have also been chosen for awards:

• A letter to a straight Mormon friend with stereotypical ideas about homosexuality.
• A letter to Church Public Affairs about Church involvement in Hawaii's anti-same sex marriage campaign.
• A open letter from a lesbian to her LDS ward.
• A letter to an LDS congressman.

Contest entries can range from 500 words to 30 pages. There are even provisions for entering previously published essays or non-winning entries from previous years. See the Contest Rules for details.

There's two-and-a-half months left before the Contest deadline--not too late to break out pencil and paper. What do you have to share? What could you add to the rich tapestry of GBLTI Mormon writing?

Brus Leguás Contreras

Chileans Launch Afirmación Chile

by Hugo Salinas

Ten people met in Santiago de Chile on May 10-11 to organize a Chilean Chapter of Affirmation. Brus Leguás Contreras, who has been in contact with Affirmation for several years, was elected President of the National Chapter.

"In Santiago de Chile, on Sunday, May 11, 2003, at 5:45 pm, we formally established Affirmation Chile: Gay and Lesbian Mormons," reads the charter. "We will abide by the Charter and Bylaws of the international organization."

The launching of the chapter received considerable media attention, with stories appearing in important Chilean newspapers and on several websites.

"The members and Chapters of Affirmation are thrilled to welcome Afirmación Chile into our growing family and stand ready to be of assistance during the exciting, and sometimes challenging, times ahead of you," wrote Executive Director Scott MacKay in a letter to Brus. "You are to be congratulated for the dedication and love you have demonstrated in this wonderful endeavor."

The website of Afirmación Chile is located at http://es.geocities.com/afirchile.


Phoenix Chapter Celebrates Pride

by Richard R. Gordon

The Phoenix Chapter of Affirmation is alive and growing. We participated in the Phoenix Gay Pride Parade on April 12th, 2003. The event was a huge success we had nothing but cheers and praises for our group. We even had gay members of the church come out to us and ask how they can join. Our website saw a huge increase in hits following the Pride event. So if you live in the Phoenix metropolitan area and happen to be Gay and Mormon, come join us. We have a great group and lots of events planned for the summer. If you want to check out the pictures you can go to our website at www.phxaffirmation.com.

Tia Owen

Tia Owen Speaks to Social Workers

by Kraig

Tia Owen, former executive director of Affirmation, recently addressed 20 graduating students obtaining their masters degrees in social work at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. The class instructor, Dr. Soo Yung Crabb, sponsored the event. Kraig and Chris, recent graduates from the School of Social Work at UNLV and former Las Vegas Affirmation Chapter leaders, facilitated the arrangements for Tia's visit.

In the course of the presentation, Tia spoke candidly about her life experiences as a dually gendered person. To the surprise of many, she also referred several times to the close-knit Mormon home and community she was raised in. Half of the graduating class was LDS, with many residing in Southern Utah and commuting to Las Vegas for school.

The students were inquisitive and Tia answered all the questions they posed. A spirit of honesty and respect was evident during her session with the soon-to-be social workers.

Sandy M., who holds professional positions with the Department of Child and Family Services for the State of Utah, said the presentation opened her eyes to issues she had not been aware of. Further, she asked pointed questions about the LDS Church and Tia's experience with Church leaders and their reactions. Tia spoke candidly about Affirmation and the organization's purpose and the role it can play in the life of the GLTBQ Mormons.

Dr. Crabb was extremely pleased with Tia's discussion of diversity issues. Tia has been invited to return to speak to other classes of social work students next year.