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By James Morris, Assistant Director Over the past twenty years that I have been involved in Affirmation, I've often thought of it as being akin to Blanche DuBois—relying on "the kindness of strangers". As a nonprofit volunteer-driven organization, despite the ongoing dedicated efforts of its membership showing their generosity of time and talents, the financial resources have always been marginal. We have been creative and frugal in stretching every donated dollar. We have managed to eek by within these limitations. As our methods of outreach have blossomed (thanks in large part to the internet), our abilities to impact those most in need have increased, and the urgency of our work has far from diminished. Beyond the help we've been able to offer our individual members, we have a wonderful website visited by thousands weekly, we recently have been offering writing awards to help publish our stories and have assisted in worthwhile and life-impacting film and theatrical productions. It used to be that Affirmation was more of a "way station" for individuals overcoming the hurts and wounds of an unsympathetic and often hostile religion. It was a nurturing place for those transitioning into self-accepting, out and empowered gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. We were redressing the damage done by the Church to those in its ranks. Now the Mormon Church is flexing its political muscle and impacting LGBT individuals of all religious, socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. They have aggressively sought to limit the freedoms and rights of people they deem unworthy. And now, we in Affirmation need to react by lengthening our stride. It's going to take more than time and talent—it's going to take money. Please help us in our fundraising efforts in this most critical moment in history. Please give generously. Not only is our future, but the future of countless others is at stake.
by Olin Thomas Affirmation has traditionally been meek about passing the collection plate. We don't flood your mailboxes and inboxes with multiple requests for support. But we do have expenses and only the donations of our friends and members to cover them. More importantly, only adequate funding will allow Affirmation to act strategically and have an impact on national events and the lives of gay, lesbian and transgender Mormons scattered across not only the United States but everywhere the LDS Church is—and that is a lot of territory! The need to have an active, visible organization representing gay and lesbian Mormons has never been more clear than now. The debate over same sex marriage has inflamed various churches—the LDS especially. The matter has become a political issue of tremendous visibility. A returned missionary and his partner have been pictured in a major Newsweek article. President Hinckley has been asked about gay Mormons on Larry King Live. Affirmation has never asked for financial support on a consistent basis, but now your support is vital. Rather than become another pesky non-profit, however, we would like to depend on the willingness of our members and supporters to commit to consistent funding. As a convert from Protestant dominations, one of the things I did admire about the LDS Church was the absence of collection plates. Members understood if they simply committed to a steady level of support, most needs would be covered. Now that I am not tithing to the Church, I feel it is a spiritual endeavor for me to support charitable and non-profit groups instead. I have a hope that the money I contribute to keep Affirmation going results in at least one person realizing they are not the only gay or lesbian Mormon in the world and deciding to choose life over suicide, or that the stubborn refusal of Affirmation to fold up and go away makes one Church leader doubt their conviction that being gay is just a bad lifestyle choice. On a more selfish level, I love the camaraderie and the educational, spiritual, and entertainment benefits of Affirmation Conferences. I want to see all of this continue, and I hope you do too. Are there certain missions or activities of Affirmation that you have particular concern for? You can designate your donation for specific funds. A full listing of the funds and what they are used for is part of the form that is provided. Even if you can't donate anything right now, I encourage you to take a look at the listing of funds so you'll be aware of the many facets of Affirmation. We have many requests that can only be filled with your help. For example, a gay Mormon in Kampala, Uganda has started a Affirmation-style organization and has asked if we could provide $200 US—enough for a year's rental of a room for meetings. This in a country that is intensely anti-gay. The International Fund could help—if you donate. There are a number of ways you can support Affirmation financially. The first and simplest way is to become a dues-paying member and renew each year. Encourage your friends and family, even straight members, to join. If it's within your means, join as a sustaining member instead of at the regular level. You can also make donations beyond this. We occasionally will make a special appeal, but it is easy to make an extra donation each year when you register for Conference. We will now make an annual appeal in April as well. The best, and easiest, way to provide regular support is by authorizing regular credit card charges for Affirmation support. I am signed up for this program myself and don't miss the few dollars each month at all, but it matters a lot to Affirmation. In this edition of Affinity, there will be a link to a form you can use to sign up or to make one time donations. Also, consider remembering Affirmation in your estate planning. A member recently told me he had made Affirmation a part beneficiary of a retirement account, because if his family got the money they would just use it to support the Church and anti-gay causes. You can use the form to request a personal call to discuss the many options available. Affirmation spends its money sparingly and wisely. Separate articles in this edition of Affinity will discuss how the funds are spent and explain more about why we believe Affirmation deserves your support. We also need your time and talents. I look forwarding to seeing all of you in Denver, Colorado on September 30 for the opening of Affirmation's 27th Annual Conference "Reaching New Heights." With your support and participation, Affirmation will reach new heights!
Prepared by Olin Thomas Here is a list of the Affirmation funds toward which you can make a donation. If you feel inclined to designate part of your donation to any of these funds, please fill out Page 2 of the new donation form. Irwin Phelps Conference Scholarship Fund Named in honor of past Executive Director Irwin Phelps, this fund provides assistance to members of Affirmation who wish to attend the annual Conference but are having financial difficulty.  Read more Jay Bell Fund for Gay Mormon Studies Created in honor of Jay Bell following his untimely death, this fund supports scholarly research and writing necessary to counter anti-gay bigotry and ignorance, and to preserve GLBT Mormon history. Read more Endowment Fund In this fund, money is invested and only the interest or return on investment is spent on projects. The goal is to build enough principal to have a significant, steady source of income. Read more Conference Fund Funds donated here are spent only on Conference related expenses, for instance to bring speakers and entertainers to our Conferences, and to keep the conference registration cost within the reach of the greatest number of people. Writing Awards Fund This fund provides for the monetary prizes awarded through the annual Affirmation Writing Awards and to cover costs of the contest or publishing writings. Women's Retreat Fund This fund finances special events for women in Affirmation. Advertising & Outreach Fund Created to provide funds to be used for paid advertising and the creation of media materials for spreading the message of Affirmation. International Fund Funds to assist Affirmation chapters outside the United States. Uses include assisting leaders to travel to Affirmation events and to conduct operations within their own country. General Operating Fund This is the most important fund of all—the one that pays the bills each month and allows Affirmation to have a website, telephone lines, office equipment and all the accoutrements needed to conduct daily operations. Any money not designated for other funds will be placed here.
by Mike Miner, Affirmation National Treasurer In this issue of Affinity, Affirmation members and supporters are being asked to contribute financially to the organization. It is therefore important to know how Affirmation uses the money received. This statement reflects transactions for 2004, to serve as an illustration of a typical year. From all sources we took in $39,622.00 and had expenditures of $37,528.00. The entire surplus was a result of the San Francisco Conference coming in under budget. Dues collected were $4,961.00 with additional donations of $9,498.00. The conference took in $20,946.00 and other events such as the Mexico City Conference and the Women's Retreat took in an additional $3,850.00. We had approximately $370.00 in other income and interest payments. On the expense side of the ledger, Affinity production costs were $1,950.00, the website cost us $1,550.00 to run and maintain, and mailing costs and supplies were an additional $2,165.00. The Women's Retreat cost was $1,621.00 (paid for fully by the participants) and the conference cost $18,340.00. We awarded $4,280.00 in grants and scholarships. This sum includes the Affirmation Writing Awards contest, assistance for conference registration costs for some members having financial difficulty, and a grant for film production costs for three documentaries about members of Affirmation. We spent approximately $6,180.00 on leadership meetings and the functions of leadership, including travel. However, $2,000.00 was donated specifically to offset this. Affirmation's leadership pays for 90 to 95% of their individual expenses during each calendar year for which they serve. Much of the expense is not reported in the figures given here. Other expenses in 2004 included $490.00 for office equipment, $666.00 for credit card fees and $330.00 for the Affirmation national telephone line. As Treasurer I take great pride in the fact that Affirmation's money is well spent and that the interests of Affirmation members are being met.
by Olin Thomas As the Affirmation Writing Awards enters the sixth year of the contest, we have accumulated many fine essays, personal narratives, and similar works. It is our intention to publish more of the quality submissions we have received. This year, however, we are asking for a special type of submission to be emphasized: writings which are suitable for conversion into brochures and pamphlets which can be distributed to those seeking to understand their own or another's sexuality in the context of their LDS beliefs and values. Affirmation already has many fine documents available, but the lives of gay and lesbian people and even the Church’s approach to homosexuality have changed substantially over the last 20 years. We need literature which responds to recent Church positions and statements (for example, the Proclamation on the Family) and which will speak to young people coming out today. Despite the progress of the last twenty years, gay and lesbian Mormons still face a very difficult experience. Help others by sharing your experience, wisdom and hope. While submissions of all kinds are encouraged for the writing contest, I would like to suggest some topics that are frequently raised that it would be helpful to have literature about:
For more information about the awards, please visit to www.affirmation.org/writing_contest.
Gay Mormons Are Advocate's Cover Story by Jason Clark "Up Against the Mormon Church--One of the most powerful forces against gay equality confronts its most powerful adversaries: gay and lesbian Mormons." Thus reads the cover of the April 12 issue of the The Advocate, available this week in bookstores across the country. The cover features two Afirmation friends, Aaron Cloward and Stephen Shroy, posing in missionary attire and holding hands in front of the Salt Lake Temple. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most powerful forces working to defeat gay equality, and openly gay and lesbian Mormons are the most powerful force working to change their church," reads the article. "What has become clear to tens of thousands of GLBT Mormons is the harsh fact that although they may have left the church, the church won't stop meddling in their lives... . The LDS Church is a formidable opponent of gay equality. It's also quite a force to reckon with if you're young and queer and growing up Mormon." The article goes on with experiences of GLBT Mormons; a fairly accurate history of the LDS Church; quotes from a number of prominent national leaders including Olin Thomas, Executive Director of Affirmation, Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, and Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the LDS Church; and an analysis of the LDS Church's political activities. Because of The Advocate's potential to reach so many of our brothers and sisters across the U.S., Affirmation placed a paid ad in the same issue (see pg. 55). We invite you to support this outreach effort by making a special one-time donation (tax deductible!) to Affirmation. The cost to place the advertisement was $2,295.00, with the ad design and graphics work having been 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!
Affirmation Orlando Continues to Grow by (Tel. 407-854-0894) In Orlando we have grown to about 10 to 12 regular members and try to get together at least once a month. Our group covers primarily the Orlando and Tampa metro areas but we also have members living in Naples, Miami, and Lakeland. We have people at all different points in their life and try to provide support for the choices everyone makes in search of the path right for them. In connection with the Annual Gay Days celebration here in Orlando, we are planning an excursion to the Magic Kingdom. (Gay Day at Disney is always the first Saturday in June.) That evening we are planning on going to Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney. We would like to extend an invitation to any other Affirmation members that may be coming to Orlando that week to join us for the day. Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons P.O. Box 46022 Los Angeles, CA 90046 National Phone Line: (661) 367-2421 To see a directory of current Affirmation chapters, visit www.affirmation.org/chapters Executive Director: Olin Thomas AFFIRMATION GAY & LESBIAN MORMONS is a non-profit support group serving
Gay and Lesbian Mormons, their families and friends since 1977. AFFINITY
is the official publication of the Affirmation National Executive Committee.
About AFFINITY and E-AFFINITY AFFINITY is available both as an email text and as a web-based document. Although both versions are free of charge, we encourage you to become a dues-paying member and thus help us advance Affirmation's important mission. If you wish to receive a text version of AFFINITY by email, simply
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