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Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons—Serving Gay & Lesbian Mormons and Their Family and Friends Since 1977
| Inside This
Issue |
People
of 2004
in Review! |
Olin Thomas |
Editorial: Along the Road to Equality
By Olin Thomas, Executive Director
As the executive director of a gay & lesbian organization whose goal is to support and be of service to its members, it would be easy to be depressed at this point. In November, American voters thoroughly rejected the idea of same-sex marriage: 11 out of 11 state ballot initiatives succeeded in defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. A man was re-elected president of the United States who had proposed a constitutional amendment to the same effect, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued to publicly support such measures.
However, the good news can be found in a closer look at the bad news. First of all, even having a discussion of same-sex marriage, much less a full blown national debate, is a near miracle in itself. The very idea of same-sex marriage was a fantasy only a few years ago, and now opponents are threatened enough to be manning the barricades and digging trenches. Yes, many states have passed measures opposing it, but look at the numbers. Look not at the number of people voting against it, but the numbers voting to allow it. In Oregon it was 43%, in Michigan 41%, and in Ohio 38%. Even in Utah, 34% voted against amendment 3. These numbers represent a lot more than the gay vote alone. This is all the more remarkable when one realizes that many of those who voted against these initiatives weren't necessarily anti-gay, but traditionalists who just can't accept--yet--a change in the definition of marriage. I know people who would vote against same-sex marriage and yet warmly welcome my partner and I into their home.
Recently Church president Gordon B. Hinckley appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live," where he was asked about the Church's opposition to gay marriage. President Hinckley responded (in part) that the Church isn't "anti-gay" but "pro-family." In addition he said, "I'm not an expert on these things." He also was careful to say: "We love these people and try to work with them and help them." While this is the Mormon way to make an argument, it does illustrate the Church's strong desire not to be portrayed negatively in the general media, even in regards to gay issues. Perhaps President Hinckley realizes that while there is currently a majority opposed to gay marriage, a shift in opinion of only 17% of the voters of Utah (or 8% in Oregon), would mean that a majority would support gay marriage.
The Church claims truth is eternal, but they worry about ballot initiatives, too. And so should Affirmation. Because the truth is that same-sex marriage, by which I really mean gay families, are no threat to traditional marriage or to society, and each year more citizens are realizing this. The only threat to the Church is that more of the public will realize that trying to repress one type of family isn't really being "pro-family." And yet I am optimistic. I believe that society is coming to this conclusion, though such changes take time. I am also confident that such a change will not mean the end of the LDS Church or temple marriage either. Most of all, I realize that the need for Affirmation to remain viable and visible is greater than ever. The greatest changes for gays and lesbians in our society are yet to come.
A Year in Review: People of 2004
 | The Best | |  | The Worst |
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Returned missionary Eric Ethington, who last February married his husband at the San Francisco City Hall. | |  | Deseret Book President Sheri Dew, for railing against Eric Ethington and all gay & lesbian families.
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Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights Kate Kendell, who electrified the audience as the San Francisco Conference keynote speaker. | |  | Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, for doing everything in his power to interfere with the judges who legalized same-sex marriage in that state. |
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Returned missionary Clay Essig, for being out and active in his LDS ward. | |  | Utah Eagle Forum president Gayle Ruzicka, for continuing to conduct a so-called "moral" crusade against homosexuals. |
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Movie director C. Jay Cox, for telling one of our stories to the whole world. | |  | BYU Professor Richard Wilkins, for using the rhetoric of fear in telling the world that if gay marriage is legalized, civilization will collapse. |
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Kay & Ted Packard, for coming out as the LDS parents of a gay son and participating in the Safe Space Campaign. | |  | LDS senator Orrin Hatch, for railing against so-called "activist judges" who are "undermining" traditional marriage. |
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Affirmation Chile Participates in Gay Pride 2004
They receive an ovation
By Brus Leguás Contreras
December 2004
Thousands gathered September 25 in Santiago, Chile to attend Gay Pride 2004. Many Chilean gay & lesbian organizations, including Affirmation Chile, participated. We had a booth at Plaza Italia, we distributed brochures, and contacted Mormons who hadn't yet heard about our group.
In one of the staged events, a Chilean organization of lesbian mothers, Las Otras Familias, was featured. One of the participants was Karen Atala, a Chilean lesbian judge who was recently punished by Chile's Supreme Court in a controversial decision that awarded custody of her children to her ex-husband. Affirmation member Elías Valenzuela brought a message from Affirmation Chile and received an ovation.
We then marched along Alameda Avenue. No hate groups protested the event, but many passersby, drivers and spectators joined the celebration with cheers, horns, and confetti. The closing event was held in Plaza Los Héroes, where some of the leaders of the Chilean gay movement went to the stage and recommitted to fight for our rights.
President Hinckley Makes Offensive Comments about Gays and Lesbians
“Gays Have a Problem”
By Jason Clark
December 27, 2004
President Gordon B. Hinckley made more offensive comments toward gays and lesbians as he sat in an interview with CNN's Larry King on December 26. President Hinckley said that he knows that gays and lesbians "have a problem" and he wants to "help" them.
In the past, LDS leaders have "helped" homosexuals by forcing them to undergo horrific forms of so-called "therapy" and by encouraging them to get married. Now LDS leaders "help" homosexuals by forcing them to live a life of celibacy and loneliness--a second-class citizen status, at best, in a theological system that sees heterosexual marriage as essential for exaltation.
In the same interview, President Hinckley admitted that he doesn't know
what makes people gay. When asked by King whether homosexuality was
a "problem they caused, or they were born with," he replied: "I don't
know. I'm not an expert on these things. I don't pretend to be an expert
on these things." This comes in strong contrast with a statement by
his counselor James E. Faust, who in 1995 said that if homosexuality
were inherited, this "would frustrate the whole plan of mortal happiness"
(Ensign, September 1995, p. 5).
Even though Mormon leaders have expressed disgust
at the idea of same-sex couples, many of us have found happiness in
sharing a life with a partner and having families,
i.e., by doing the things that as Mormons we were taught to do. I, for
one, regret the statements made by President Hinckley and stand as a witness
that our homosexuality is a gift from God.
A Cartoon by Steve Benson
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
P.O. Box 46022
Los Angeles, CA 90046
National Phone Line: (323) 255-7251
To see a directory of current Affirmation chapters, visit www.affirmation.org/chapters
Executive Director: Olin Thomas
Senior Assistant Director: Alyson Bolles
Assistant Director: James Morris
Associate Director & Affinity Editor: 
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