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Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons—Serving Gay & Lesbian Mormons and Their Family and Friends Since 1977
Olin Thomas |
Editorial: Affirmation Declares 2006 to be the Year of the Chapter
by Olin Thomas, Executive Director
In recent years there has been much speculation about the future of independent chapters within Affirmation. Some people feel that the trend of the future would be an Internet-based organization with most functions handled electronically. Others bemoan the difficulties in maintaining regular chapter events. While the Internet has served to greatly expand our reach and bring Affirmation to places far beyond the reach of any existing chapter, it has not and probably never will be a satisfactory replacement for face to face contact with one's neighbors. And though it is a burden sometimes to run a chapter, it brings great satisfaction, and new people continue to step forward to organize activities in cities around the country and world.
My first contact with Affirmation was through activities organized by the Washington, DC Chapter around 1989. I was still very conflicted about being a gay Mormon. Having people I could see every month who had been through what I had and knew what I felt was such a relief. We didn't have to specifically discuss gay Mormon issues very often -- the friendship itself was what healed me. I still feel gratitude that members of the chapter came to my first partner's memorial service in 1993 to be with me in my darkest hour.
This month I begin my third term as executive director of Affirmation and fourth year on the executive committee. In the time I have served at the national level I have answered dozens, if not hundreds, of inquiries from people about Affirmation. The most commonly asked question, by far, is "do you have anyone in my area? Is there a local group?" This is the most basic need of those just joining our number. New members of the Church visit their ward first, and grow comfortable there, before they visit Temple Square. So it is with Affirmation. Not only are chapters still important -- I think they are vital to the growth and future of Affirmation. The chapter is the door into our organization and there chapter members our missionaries and welcoming committee.
Therefore, I hereby declare 2006 to be the Affirmation Year of the Chapter. After this edition of Affinity, the lead article in every future issue for the remainder of the year will be about a different Affirmation Chapter. In 2005 you heard from the executive committee and other leaders -- in 2006, you will hear from those working to sustain and improve their local chapters. I am excited and pleased to give these hardworking and caring people their turn in the spotlight and look forward to learning what Affirmation is all about from those who make us what we are. On behalf of the executive committee, I wish all the chapters and all the members a very happy new year!
Olin Thomas
Executive Director
2012
March 10-11
Sunstone Symposium in Kirtland
March 18
Family Fellowship event in Provo
June 1-3
Utah Pride Festival
July 25-28
Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City
October 19-21
Affirmation Conference in Seattle
Affirmation NYC Celebrates the Spirit of Christmas
by Patxy
On Saturday, December 18th, 2005 Affirmation NYC celebrated the Spirit of Christmas. We gathered at Patxy's house. It was a small but lovely gathering where the food was plentiful and delicious. As the night went on, I had the chance to think about gratitude and the things I was grateful for this year. One of these things was the fact that the Affirmation Chapter in NYC had been officially re-established after many years of inactivity. We re-launched our group with 4 members and it has now grown to about 15 people.
I would like to thank all of you who have been part of this journey and for the love and support you have given me. It's my prayer that this new year bring new experiences into our lives and into those who need us. What I know for sure is that one of the most important things in life is to learn how to give love, and to let it come in. With love in our hearts we always have time to share our feelings while mending our own. These memories will endure forever and I thank God for all of you and the times we have shared.
Please join us for an Affirmation New Year Celebration on Sunday January 29th at 6 pm. Dress to impress , dinner is a pot luck so please bring a dish to share.
Gift of tongues: An Affirmation page in Japanese
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Affirmation Pages Available in Japanese, Chinese
By Jason Clark
The Affirmation website continues to cross linguistic and cultural barriers as the main page has just been translated into Japanese and two versions of Chinese (traditional and simplified).
There are 120,000 Mormons in Japan, 41,000 in Taiwan, and 22,000 in Hong Kong. In the past, Affirmation has been contacted by gay and lesbian Mormons from all those countries. These pages, which have been translated with the assistance of native speakers, have the potential to reach thousands of GLBT Latter-day Saints scattered across Asia.
Affirmation is now planning to translate the main page into Korean , Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Samoan, Tongan, and other languages. If you know these languages and would like to help with this important project, please contact at affirmationLDS earthlink.net.
To see all the international pages, go to www.affirmation.org/international.
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Discuss on the Affirmation Blog: Do you think the new movie "Brokeback Mountain" shows gay people in a positive light? |
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Gay Mormon Cowboys Touched by “Brokeback Mountain”
By Matt Christensen
Gay Mormon cowboys and members of the Utah Gay Rodeo Association are
going in droves to see the new acclaimed film Brokeback Mountain,
and many of them are being deeply touched by the movie.
Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain revolves around two cowboys who grow up in violently homophobic environments and must keep their same-sex relationship secret for 20 years. The story is set in Wyoming, and one of the fictional characters comes from Sage, a real town only miles from the Utah border.
"My experience with Brokeback Mountain this weekend was so incredibly
moving that I cried," says Ben Clark, an Affirmation member and fourth-generation
rancher. "It's the kind of movie that everybody, especially straight
people, need to see to understand the culture we grew up in and what
we go through." Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee attended the premier
in Ben's hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and hosted a Q&A session
after the screening.
"I cannot tell you how amazing it is to see my little ranch community come of age and talk openly about gay and lesbian issues," adds Ben. "It's awesome. We are going to put forth our best efforts to get the PFLAG group to have a float and a few horses and riders in the Old West Days and Independence Day Parades in Jackson Hole."
"On the gay-rodeo circuit this movie has been talked about for almost
two years," Clark Monk told Salt Lake Tribune reporter Brandon
Griggs. Monk, who grew up on a dairy farm in Spanish Fork and served
an LDS mission, says he hopes the film will help audiences change their
attitudes towards homosexuality.
To see the movie trailer, go to www.brokebackmountain.com. For more information about the Utah Gay Rodeo Association, visit www.ugra.net.
Lady Liberty Meets Angel Moroni:
Mormons for same-sex marriage
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LDS Site Supports Same-Sex Marriage
“Civil same-sex marriage is in no way contrary to the Constitution or official LDS doctrine”
A group of Latter-day Saints have launched a new website in support of the right of gays and lesbians to marry. The creators of LDS4GayMarriage.net believe that civil marriage is a constitutional right that should be granted to everyone—straight and gay citizens alike.
"Civil same-sex marriage is in no way contrary to the Constitution or official LDS doctrine," the website reads. "The efforts of those opposing civil same-sex marriage, however, are contrary to logic, official LDS doctrine and the Bible. Those who agree or disagree, legally, logically or doctrinally, are invited to share their thoughts, questions and concerns."
"The scriptures denounce efforts by many, including many LDS, to let their 'religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others…'… If, however, the Constitution really meant to ensure that all people are equal with equal rights and equality under the law, then opposing full equality for any group is evil and contrary to scripture."
For more information on this important initiative, please visit www.LDS4GayMarriage.net .
Tibby Middleton and Barbara Kenny |
Magazine Features Lesbian Couple with Mormon Roots
They have been together for 40 years
By Seba Martinez
Tibby Middleton and Barbara Kenny, a lesbian couple who recently relocated
from Virginia to Maryland, were featured in the cover story of the December
18 issue of The Washington Post Magazine. Tibby was raised
a Mormon, and the couple met as high school students at East High in
Salt Lake City in the mid 1950s.
The couple has been together for 40 years. But now Barbara is sick, and the Affirmation of Marriage Act, a law recently passed in Virginia, bars her partner from visiting her in the hospital or make any decisions for her.
"Virginia must be the most backward state in the union," says Becky Reed, a Stafford County lawyer and longtime friend. In the late 1970s Reed wrote Tibby and Barbara's first attempt to create a legal relationship—a deed that put their home in both their names.
Over the years the couple has spent thousands of dollars drawing up legal documents in hopes of obtaining some protection under the law. The Affirmation of Marriage Act may render many of those documents void.
To read the story and see additional pictures, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121301549.html .
Survivor's Gay LDS Rafe Judkins |
Rafe Judkins Talks about His Mormon Boyfriend
“I knew when I got back
that we'd be together, pretty much forever”
In a recent interview with gay.com, Survivor: Guatemala's Rafe Judkins
of Survivor: Guatemala talks about coming out to his family,
the gay marriage controversy, and reveals that his boyfriend is—yes,
you guessed it—also LDS. To read an excerpt from the interview, visit
www.affirmation.org/news/2006_04.shmtl.
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
Senior Assistant Director: Alyson Bolles
Assistant Director: James Morris
Associate Director & Affinity Editor: (affirmationLDS earthlink.net)
Send Us Your Submission!
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.
(affirmationLDSearthlink.net) and should be limited to 250 words. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, national committee or publisher, but rather
the individual writers. The Editor reserves the right to edit any material
deemed offensive, libelous, grammatically incorrect or lengthy.
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 (affirmationLDSearthlink.net). If you are a dues-paying member and do not have Internet
access, you may request a printed version that will be sent to you by
mail.
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