Olin Thomas

Editorial: Finding Warmth and Acceptance in Affirmation

By Olin Thomas, Executive Director

As I begin my administration as the new Executive Director of Affirmation, I wanted to be sure all the members of this great organization know who I am and what I hope to accomplish. In this editorial, I want to share with you my journey to my current position. In other articles I will lay out my goals for my administration and how you can be part of it.

I was baptized a Mormon at age 9 shortly after my parents were converted to the Church by missionaries (cold calling at that) while we were living in Illinois. My parents drifted away from the Church three or fours later after moving to a new (and unwelcoming) ward. During my teen years I did not regularly attend any church, though I visited other Protestant denominations. Somehow I felt like I was still Mormon, though inactive.

Shortly after I entered college, I met missionaries on campus, who helped me become active again. I felt like I had returned home and continued very active for the next few years, until the same-sex feelings became too great to ignore. After years of prayer, a short and stormy period with LDS Social Services and other gentler, kinder guidance from Church members, I felt no different and as by now I had graduated and moved to a new part of the country, I took the opportunity to quietly fade into inactivity.

For many years I could not discuss the Church without getting upset, and so I did not. Around 1989 I heard of Affirmation and started participating in the local chapter. I immediately felt very comfortable with the members. But my participation became more serious in 1993 after the death of my first partner and some dramatic involvement from the Church and Affirmation, which is a story for another day. Today, I still am (and consider myself) a Mormon, though still inactive.

Affirmation has become my primary contact with Mormon culture. I believe that the Church is a good organization for those who fit the mold, but that doesn't include gays and lesbians. In my mind, the importance of Affirmation is to demonstrate, visibly and concretely, to the Church and its members that the Mormon mold can and does produce gays and lesbians and we can not be ignored. Affirmation needs to exist, be visible and be active to achieve any change or enlightenment. If we fade into the woodwork or totally disappear into other parts of society, the Mormons who remain do not have to confront their value system.

I hope to continue the tradition in Affirmation of confronting falsehoods spread by the Church leaders with firm but polite responses, and to find ways to make Affirmation visible as a healthy and happy organization. Living well is the best revenge. Knowing Mormon sensibilities, I don't believe dramatic protests and confrontations would serve our goals. My challenge, and yours, is to take our understanding of Mormon culture and act and react in the manner that will impact Mormon hearts and minds.

I remain committed to Affirmation far past the time of my own need to help those who are still being rejected and shunned by Church, family or society. May they find warmth and acceptance in Affirmation.



Event Reminders

Join us January 11, 6:00 pm PST, for a session of Affirmation chat. Information on how to register and log in is permanently posted at <www.affirmation.org/chat>.

The Mexico Chapter is putting together an outstanding program for the first Affirmation conference to be held outside the U.S.. With the theme "Hearts Knit Together in Unity," we will gather at the Anglican Hostel and Conference Center in Mexico City April 8-11 for four days of sharing, bonding, and fun.

The Mexico Conference will be bilingual, bicultural, and many Americans are planning to go. Register today! A tentative program for the is posted on our website at <www.affirmation.org/Mexico2004>.

Olin Thomas (right), Alyson Bolles (center), and James Morris (left)

Affirmation 2004: Visions and Revisions

by Olin Thomas, Executive Director

Over the years I have gotten to know many of the most active members of the group, but there are many who do not make it to Conferences and those who do come to Conference that I have not gotten acquainted with. The first goal I have set for myself is to get to know more people in total and to be better acquainted with those I already know. This is especially true for those serving as leaders or organizers in local chapters or areas of special interest for Affirmation at large. In the next few months, I intend to have a personal conversation with every chapter director, regional point of contact, and anyone serving Affirmation in any capacity at the national or international level.

I will also develop some form of regular communication method for those people beyond the information in Affinity. I ask that if you fit these descriptions, that you help me out by contacting me as well. To steal a line from the business world, I will have an open door policy. My direct personal contact information will be provided when we talk. In the meantime, you can reach the executive committee by email at: executive_committeeaffirmation.org. We must have good coordination and communication to achieve the maximum effect.

Secondly, I want to work to put Affirmation on a strong financial footing. Finding ways to have a greater percentage of members pay their annual dues is one goal. I will also encourage both general and targeted donations to Affirmation, whether onetime or recurring donations, or endowments. The third leg of financial support is to ensure the Conferences are self-supporting.

Part of the financial solution lies in my next goal, which is to continue the excellent work begun by Scott MacKay, Hugo Salinas and others to update our main website. The updates will not only serve to allow better communication with our members and visitors to the site, but will make it easier to pay dues, make donations and register for Conferences.

It is Conferences that are the other major area of concern. Without successful annual Conferences, I believe Affirmation would be a much different and less vibrant organization. These annual "family reunions" truly give us the sense of family and camaraderie that makes Affirmation special and very different from other organizations I belong to. Therefore, I commit to the fullest coordination with and support of Conference Committees possible. I will encourage greater feedback from the general membership on future Conference sites and dates.

For 2004, I have a goal to make the San Francisco Conference "Gathering Our Family by the Bay" the biggest family reunion to date. As part of my goal to encourage growth and greater participation in Affirmation, I have set a goal of having the greatest attendance at a Conference ever in our history in 2004. What better location can there be than that cradle of gay rights and lifestyles, San Francisco?

These are my "big picture" goals for 2004. You can help out by encouraging your gay Mormon friends to join Affirmation or subscribe to Affinity, by contributing financial support (tax deductible as a charitable donation), by coming to Conference and bringing your friends along, and by keeping in contact with me and the members of the extended Executive Committee (Alyson Bolles, James Morris, Mike Miner and Hugo Salinas).

Best wishes for a great year in 2004 for you and all of us!

Connell O'Donovan

Connell O'Donovan to Speak at "Zion by the Bay"
Conference Workshop Will Focus on Queer Mormon History

Connell "Rocky" O'Donovan will present a workshop at the national conference to be held October 8-10 in San Francisco. Born in Syracuse, Utah, Connell moved to Santa Cruz, California, which is now his spiritual home.

Connell is a well known scholar and historian, and he is currently teaching at the local college in Santa Cruz. He has written and has published many essays on the Queer experience, including winning an Affirmation Writer's Award for his piece “Stumbling Towards Zion.” One of his areas of expertise is homosexuality in Mormonism.

One of Connell's scholarly papers, “‘The Abominable and Detestable Crime Against Nature’: A Brief History of Homosexuality and Mormonism, 1840-1980” is posted on the Affirmation website <www.affirmation.org>.


Yuletide Reports from the Chapters

Hawaii

The Hawaii Chapter of Affirmation gathered in two places in Honolulu this Christmas evening. We celebrated our third annual Christmas dinner in Waikiki at the Moana Surfrider Hotel. The gathering of friends, the food, the Hawaiian music, the green flash of the setting sun were all fantastic.

We gathered at Wade and Joe's home high up in Palolo Valley. We enjoyed the cool of the evening as well as a beautiful view of the city lights of Honolulu, and the celestial lights of the night sky. The brownies came fresh out of the oven...

We watched the gay romantic DVD short story, Crush, and a very irreverent and outrageously funny episode of the cartoon show, South Park, which told the story of Joseph Smith from the First Vision to the Translation of the Book of Mormon.

Hawaii Wasatch Washington, D.C.

Portland

For the second year in a row, Portland Affirmation held a post-Thanksgiving/pre-Christmas party in early December. In Gordon Brandstedter's gorgeous, festive home, the group enjoyed a full Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. After dessert (pie, of course), the group exchanged white elephant gifts, with a VHS copy of Johnny Lingo and pig salt and pepper shakers being the most "stolen" items. It was also announced that Alyson Bolles was shifting positions to the National Leadership while remaining Portland's Affirmation Women's Leader. Jared Ivie has become the new Co-Chapter Leader, and George Cole has become Portland's new Y.A. Leader. The 25+ people who attended all seemed to have a marvelous time, and it is hoped that this is one tradition that will continue in Portland Affirmation for many years.

Wasatch

Some 30 members of Affirmation Wasatch met on December 21 for a Christmas fireside and a potluck co-sponsored by Affirmation and Reconciliation. It was a cold and snowy night, but the basement at Steve and Kevin's was warm and full of friends. We sang carols, shared Christmas stories and messages, and John-Charles and Hugo taught us a Colombian Christmas song. Heather Hucks and David Knowlton shared messages. When the fireside was over, we had a potluck. Thank you, Kevin and Steve, for hosting this wonderful event.

Washington, D.C.

Affirmation DC (the Washington, D.C. Chapter) celebrated Christmas together at the home of Chapter Director Olin Thomas in Alexandria, VA on December 14. The party was originally scheduled to be in D.C. at the home of another member, who was unexpectedly sent to Czechoslovakia by his employer, which also sounds like a lot of fun! Eighteen members and guests were present at the party, which featured music (including CD's from The Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Ru Paul's "Ho, Ho, Ho" Christmas and "Osama Got Run Over by a Reindeer"), enough food to feed a third world nation and the highlight of the Affirmation DC Chapter Christmas parties since at least the mid-1980's -- the White Elephant Gift Exchange. The picture published here shows some of the party goers displaying their white elephant gifts, such as a vintage double rolodex file, a disco ball, a disco shirt from International Male, an action figure, and a pink moodle (a figurine of a cow with poodle style hair and horn-rimmed glasses, all painted pink).

Jay Bell (1948-2003)

Jay Bell, 1948-2003
Gay Mormon Researcher Dies

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons regrets to announce the passing of Jay Bell, who died on December 18 after being struck by a car.

A member of the Wasatch Chapter, Jay served in 2000 under James Kent as a member of the national executive committee. In 2002 and 2003 Jay was nominated to receive the Paul Mortensen Award. In October 2003 he received a special sustaining grant of $1,000 for his work in "collecting and cataloguing statements made by the leaders of the Mormon Church and others regarding GLBT issues significant to our Mormon gay community."

Jay's funeral and burial took place on December 22 at the Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Affirmation friends David Pace and David Knowlton were two of the speakers at the funeral. Jed Brubaker was one of the pallbearers. Affirmation friends traveled from Oregon and California to attend the service.

A celebration of Jay's life was sponsored by Affirmation on that evening at the home of Steve and Kevin in Salt Lake City. During the course of the gathering, Affirmation announced the establishment of the Jay Bell Fund for Gay Mormon Studies (see story below).

"Recently, Affirmation recognized Jay's stellar work documenting LDS Church statements and actions regarding homosexuality from the very beginnings of Mormonism till today," wrote Executive Director Scott MacKay. "The work represented countless, grueling hours, gleaning information from primary sources, and then assembling what he found in a very useful and articulate format numbering hundreds and hundreds of pages. Jay planned to use the $1,000 award to further refine the work which he started and shared with us all. Jay received this award this past October, in Salt Lake City, at Affirmation's International Conference."

"This effort of Jay's was only a small part of his contribution to Affirmation and Gay Mormondom and though his life has been tragically cut short; his contributions represent many lifetimes of effort. We will miss him but his work and his spirit will move us forward."

A page with tributes to Jay is permanently posted on the Affirmation website. People who wish to post tributes may send them to James Kent, OhanaNewsaol.com.


Jay Bell Fund for Gay Mormon Studies

by Scott MacKay & Alan Blodgett

The Executive Committee of Affirmation announces the creation of the JAY BELL FUND FOR GAY MORMON STUDIES. The purpose of this fund is twofold: first, to support the scholastic research and writing necessary to combat ignorance, intolerance, and bigotry; and second, to preserve GLBT Mormon experience and history. Jay Bell has already made a major contribution in this field. His work must be carried on and others encouraged to undertake this work as well.

Already donations and pledges in excess of $2,000 have been accumulated for this fund. Our objective is to increase this amount tenfold over the next year.

To lean more about this fund, or to make a contribution, please visit <www.affirmation.org/jaybellfund>.