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Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons—Serving Gay & Lesbian Mormons and Their Family and Friends Since 1977
David Melson
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Editorial: Happy New Year!
Dave Melson
I am both happy and humbled by the opportunity to welcome the new year in as Affirmation’s Executive Director. I deeply appreciate the trust that you, the members of Affirmation, have placed in me.
Micah Bisson of Denver and George Cole of San Francisco have agreed to serve as the Assistant Executive Directors for the coming year. We hope, with your help, to build upon the foundation that Olin, Alyson, and James have laid during the past five years, and to prepare Affirmation for its second thirty years. This will include making Affirmation dynamic and relevant to a new generation of gay Latter-day Saints, becoming more involved in the gay community, speaking out as the leading advocate for LGBT Mormons, and finding better ways to serve the both the members of Affirmation and the rest of our community.
One thing that you have asked for is better communication. To that end, each Monday morning, there will be an e-mail from a member of the Executive Committee in your in-box, letting you know what has gone on in the past week and what is coming up in the week ahead. I hope that you will find this to be useful and informative. If you don’t, let us know, or simply hit the “delete” button on your browser.
A couple bits of news, to get things started: Affirmation will hold two Cornerstone Conferences this year, one in April in Phoenix, focusing upon the needs of Affirmation chapters in the southwest, and a young adult conference in San Francisco in July. The Executive Committee will meet this year on January 9, 10, and 11, in Portland, Oregon, and will also meet in conjunction with the two Cornerstone Conferences, and at the Annual Conference in Salt Lake City. All Affirmation members are invited to attend any meeting of the Executive Committee. And, if you would like to serve Affirmation in a national or international leadership capacity, please let me know, there are significant opportunities for committee chairpersons and directors and for committee members. These positions are not limited to members in the United States; Affirmation is an international organization, and we intend to involve members from throughout the world in the leadership roles in Affirmation.
Please feel free to let me know what you like or don’t like in Affirmation, or what you think about the job being done by the Executive Committee or by me. You can reach me at Dave_Melson affirmation.org.
2008 saw a great deal of change in the LDS Church, in the gay community, and in our world. But when we look down the calendar at 2009, “folks, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Our society, the world-wide economy, the United States and world governments, the LDS church, and Affirmation – each of them is likely to look different (or very different) twelve months from now. I look forward to sharing the ride with you!
Have a happy and prosperous new year!
David Melson, Executive Director
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
From left to right: Senior assistant director Micah Bisson, 2009 conference director David Nielson, assistant director George Cole, and executive director Dave Melson. |
Dave Melson Elected Executive Director for 2009
Hugo Salinas
The votes have been cast, the results are in, and Affirmation has chosen Dave Melson as executive director for 2009.
Dave Melson, from Maryland, has previously served as director of the Washington DC Chapter and as director of the 2007 national conference. During 2008, he served as Affirmation’s senior assistant director and director of public relations.
Dave has chosen Micah Bisson, from Denver, as senior assistant director and George Cole, from San Francisco, as assistant director. He has asked treasurer Bruce Maughan, membership secretary Buckley Jeppson, and webmaster Hugo Salinas, to continue in their current positions.
Affirmation co-founder Paul Mortensen, who has served for over a decade as corresponding secretary, has just asked to be released. We wish to express our appreciation to Paul who, along with his husband Robert Jacob, has helped manage Affirmation’s elections for so many years.
Affirmation Response to California Proposition 8 Outcome
13 November 2008
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons is deeply saddened that marriage equality was rejected by so many California voters, as well as by voters in Florida and Arizona. The apparent passage of Proposition 8 is a blow, not only to the thousands of Californians whose marriage plans are now in question, but to the freedoms and protections that are the hallmark of both the United States and the California constitutions. This constitutional amendment strips citizens of an existing right and compromises the principle of equality. Affirmation fully supports the efforts now ongoing to challenge, overturn, or set aside the results of the Proposition 8 ballot initiative.
Affirmation is also saddened by the role that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints played in this process, and the harm that the Church has done to itself in California, across the United States, and around the world. That the leaders of the Church seem to not understand the damage that has been done, the depth and breadth of emotion that has been unleashed, or the hurt that has been inflicted is tragic. Nonetheless, our invitation to the First Presidency of the Church to meet with Affirmation’s Executive Committee to discuss areas in which we can work together on items of mutual concern remains open. The Church’s acceptance of our invitation would be a first step toward healing.
Affirmation affirms that all of us on this earth are children of a loving God, endowed with certain privileges and promises. We have been commanded to love God and to love each other. Our church has taught us the importance of finding a companion with whom to travel the journey of life, and that nothing is more important on this earth than family. We do not seek to deny anyone else the recognition of their legal marriage vows; we ask that others accord us the same respect.
Respectfully,
AFFIRMATION: GAY AND LESBIAN MORMONS
Olin Thomas, Executive Director
David Melson, Assistant Executive Director
James Morris, Assistant Executive Director
Micah Bisson, Youth Issues Director
George Cole, Young Adult Director
Affirmation Backs Equality Utah’s Common Ground Initiative
2 December 2008
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons endorses the six bills known as the Common Ground Initiative being brought before the Utah Legislature’s 2009 General Session and pledges to work with Equality Utah and other groups to secure their passage.
Despite remaining opposed to any form of marriage other than one man and one woman, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the past year has put forth a number of statements and press releases clarifying that the LDS Church is not anti-gay and that the Church supports certain rights for gay and lesbian people, including health care, employment and fair housing rights, hospital visitation and death benefit rights, and certain other domestic partnership rights. The Common Ground Initiative seeks to codify these basic rights into law in the State of Utah through six bills which conform to the areas in which the LDS Church has said that it has no objection:
- Expanded Health Care.
- Fair Employment
- Fair Housing.
- Wrongful Death Benefits.
- Domestic Partner Registry for Care, Inheritance and Insurance.
- Clarification of Amendment Three.
Affirmation applauds the LDS Church for its public recognition of basic rights of gay and lesbian people. The Church yields a great influence upon the tenor of legislation in Utah. Affirmation urges the legislators to take heed of this clarification by the Church’s leaders of their position and to pass these six bills. These bills do not change the definition of marriage in Utah, but they do provide basic rights for the protection of Utah’s gay and lesbian citizens, and go a long way toward healing the wounds incurred during the political battles of this past year.
“Equality Utah, under the leadership of Mike Thompson, is to be commended for their initiative in working with legislators to craft these bills,” said Affirmation Assistant Executive Director David Melson. “We stand behind Equality Utah and their efforts and we look forward to passage of the Common Ground Initiative measures.”
Affirmation is the largest support and advocacy organization for gay Latter-day Saints and their families, and is obligated to speak out on these issues. Leaders of Affirmation have invited the leaders of the LDS Church to meet with them to discuss areas of mutual concern, and the Church has stated that such a meeting will take place in 2009.
More information on the Common Ground Initiative and on ways that you can support this cause are available at www.affirmation.org and at www.equalityutah.org/CommonGroundInitiative.
Clark Pingree |
Rise Above Injustice and Take the Higher Road
“Like the Mormons, we must organize and give of our time, our talents and our resources to fight for what we believe is right”
Clark Pingree
Clark Pingree, a gay Mormon man from the Bay Area, made these remarks at a November 15, 2008 San Francisco Rally organized to protest Proposition 8. Similar rallies were held on the same day in 100 cities across the country and around the globe.
I gave my first very first speech in Mormon Sunday School when I was six years old. It was probably about being loyal to the Prophet. Little did I, or my proud parents, dream that these many years later as a gay man on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco, I would be speaking about being loyal to myself. My name is Clark Pingree and I am a gay Mormon, representing Mormons for Marriage. I am a Utah Native; now a Californian. I am a 5th generation Mormon who grew up in a devout Mormon home. I served a Mormon mission and I graduated from Brigham Young University. I am proud to be a gay Mormon in strong opposition of Prop 8 and in strong disagreement with the Mormon church's heavy involvement in the “Yes on 8” campaign. For the first 25 years of my life, I was ashamed of who I was because I was gay. Now, I have never been happier to be the person my creator made me to be, even in the face of my Mormon subculture who rejects me for who I am.
Prop 8 has been one of the most disturbing experiences of my life. I will never forget what a dark day last Wednesday, November 5th was. The heartbreak, the devastation and the degradation I felt that day will forever be seared in my memory. I will always look back on that day as the day when my civil rights and my dignity were stripped from me. It was a day of sanctified discrimination for California and for America.
But I will also never forget May 18th—the day when the California Supreme Court recognized fair and equal treatment of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation. The legalization of gay marriage was a deeply moving spiritual experience for me. Not because of my ability to marry or not marry, rather, this mandate on human equality gave me the legitimacy and respect which I had never experienced before. For the first time, I felt like a whole human being, given full respect by my society and my constitution. I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of benevolence I felt that day.
But now, we are here today and that 5 ½ month bliss period of respect and dignity is tarnished. Knowing that my religion and subculture was the major engine fueling this tragic outcome breaks my heart on so many levels. The church I once would have given my life for and everything I possess, has thrown me and my community under a heavy bus. I have seen family, friends and loved ones torn apart by Prop 8. I have seen deception, fear mongering, and scapegoating all in the name of God and one organization's definition of morality. Like everyone here, I too, am outraged.
Amidst my feelings of frustration, betrayal and grief, I am reminded of one principle I was taught by my parents: Rise above injustice and take the higher road. I am also reminded of the Christian principles I was taught in church: Turn the other cheek, love God and love your fellow men. As much as we feel the Mormon Church has abandoned loving their fellow men, we must turn the other cheek and take the higher road. We much rise above this injustice and open up constructive, thought-provoking dialogue with our friends and our foes. We must tell our stories.
Those in opposition to us are strong in their convictions and we must be too. Like the Mormons, we must organize and give of our time, our talents and our resources to fight for what we believe is right. Equality is right. We must rise above the sordid tactics used by the "Yes on 8" campaign and fight with integrity and dignity. And let us remind ourselves, we are on the right side of history. In the religion in which I grew up, and in every major religion that exists on the face of the earth, there is one teaching that will eventually bring everyone to the table of equality as brothers and sisters in this human family: to treat everyone as we ourselves would like to be treated. May it be so. And may it be now.
Gay Mormons Meet in Brazil
Gathering Held Near Rio de Janeiro September 27-78
report prepared by Lucio
On September 27-28, a group of 15 people, some of them gay Mormons, some of them from different denominations, gathered for a two-day event near Rio de Janeiro. The conference touched on a number of topics, including religion and spirituality, GLBT rights, and the expansion of the Affirmation website in Portuguese. We also talked about the possibility of starting an Affirmation group here in Brazil. This is an exciting prospect, and we hope we will be able to launch an Affirmation group soon.
Some gay Mormons in Brazil hope someday the Church will accept gay people. Many feel they miss the Mormon Church. Others look for denominations which welcome, rather than reject, gay people.
It was a fantastic meeting and we are excited about the prospects of having another one, possibly in May or June 2009. We’re looking forward to seeing everybody again. Our thanks to Affirmation in the U.S., which helped us plan this meeting.
Your friends,
Affirmation Brazil
On November 5, some 3,000 protesters marched to the Los Angeles Temple in Westwood to protest LDS support for Proposition 8. Similar demonstrations were held at LDS temples in Oakland, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Manhattan, and Mesa. |
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: Dave Melson
Senior Assistant Director: Micah Bisson
Assistant Director: George Cole
Associate Director & Affinity Editor: Hugo Salinas www.affirmation.org/contact/affinity
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.
Submissions are welcome and should be limited to 250 words. To contact us, visit www.affirmation.org/contact/affinity. 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
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 send a request to Hugo Salinas by visiting www.affirmation.org/contact/affinity. 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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