Affinity
July 2010
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons—Serving LGBT Mormons and Their Family and Friends Since 1977
Inside This Issue  

David Nielson
Conference Chair Dale Barton
Conference Program Announced
Special Registration Rate Expires on July 15

by Dale Barton, 2010 Conference Chair

Deadlines: Register now for STAND UP!--the 2010 Affirmation Conference. The Early Bird rate ends on July 15th, so register now to get the best possible rate.

Hotel: Be sure to make your hotel reservations separately. If you arrive on Thursday and/or extend your stay til Columbus Day (Monday), the hotel will honor our special conference rate on Thursday (October 7) and Sunday night (October 10).

Arrival & Departure: Find below the preliminary program. We recommend getting flights into San Francisco on Friday, October 8, in time to arrive by 4:00 pm. You won’t want to miss the event planned for Friday night! BART trains provide very easy access from either the San Francisco (SFO) or Oakland (OAK) airports. If you fly back home on Sunday, October 10, try to schedule your flight no earlier than 4:00 pm. The luncheon will be finished by 2:00 pm at the latest and that will provide time to travel to the airport.

Preliminary Program

Friday – October 8, 2010
10:00 am - 12:00 pm   Executive Committee Meeting 
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm   Council of Chapter Representatives (Leadership Meeting) 
2:00 pm -5:30 pm   Registration 
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm   First-Timers Orientation 
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm   Meet & Greet 
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm   STAND UP to Suicide! (major event) 
9:00 pm -10:30 pm   Special Viewing of “8: The Mormon Proposition” 
11:00 pm - 2:00 am   Affirmation Party in the Castro (optional) 
 
Saturday – October 9, 2010
7:00 am - 8:00 am   Early Morning Yoga
9:00 am - 9:30 am   Introductory Session 
9:30 am - 2:00 pm   Action Group Breakouts 
      • Stand Up to Suicide
      • Stand Up for Homeless Youth
      • Stand Up for Equality
      • Stand Up for Understanding
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm   Group Presentations 
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm   Receptions 
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm   Awards Banquet  
10:00 pm - 2:00 am   Affirmation Night Out 
 
Sunday – October 10, 2010
7:00 am -8:00 am   Early Morning Yoga 
9:00 am - 10:30 am   Morning Session 
10:30 am     Circle of Inspiration 
12:00 pm   Luncheon 
3:00 pm   Sightseeing in the City (on your own) 



Affirmation Calendar 2010

July 15th
End of Early Registration (Low-Cost) for Conference

July 16-18
Affirmation Leadership Meeting in Portland

July 24
Pioneer Day

August 4-7
Sunstone Symposium held in Salt Lake City

August 22
Deadline to submit nominations for the Mortensen Award

September 1
Deadline for Hotel Reservations at Special Price

             September 1
Deadline to send submissions to the Road to Reconciliation Story Contest

September 15
Deadline for On-Time Registration with Meals for Conference

October 8-10
Annual Conference in San Francisco

October 8
Affirmation Leadership Meeting in San Francisco

October 11
National Coming Out Day



The Human Rights Campaign Promotes “8: The Mormon Proposition”
For a Limited Time Only, Donate $75 and Receive a Copy

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, sent out an email about the new movie “8: The Mormon Proposition.”

“The film uses former church members and leaked documents to make a case for exactly how the Mormon Church evaded the law and orchestrated Prop. 8,” wrote Solmonese. “It's a movie you absolutely must see.”

For a limited time only, the film's distributors are offering a DVD of the film as a thank-you gift for any donation to HRC of $75 or more. To take advantage of this offer, follow this link: https://secure3.convio.net/hrc/site/Donation2?df_id=5282&5282.donation=form1.

Bruce Bastian, an HRC board member who was raised Mormon and helped work on this film, had this to say: “Although the Mormon Church may be small in numbers where you live, their influence is being felt in very big ways all over this country. I believe every LGBT American should see this film to better understand the war we are in and at least one of our main enemies.”

To find other ways to support the Human Rights Campaign, visit www.hrc.org.

More information about “8: The Mormon Proposition” is posted at www.MormonProposition.com.


Action Groups
“Stand Up for Understanding,” One of the Conference Action Groups
Join the Discussion Right Away

Stand Up for Understanding is one of four action groups which will be formed at the 2010 Affirmation Conference. Please visit the Affirmation blog to join the discussion right away. We plan to start similar discussions for the other action groups soon.

One of the most powerful ways to achieve LGBT equality is to reach out to people we know – our families, relatives, friends, and neighbors. Those who are uncertain or conflicted about LGBT issues can be engaged in productive dialogue that helps them push past their discomfort and resolve the conflicts that stand in the way of acceptance and understanding. In this Action Group, conference participants will join with representatives from Family Fellowship, Mormons4Marriage, Proposition Healing, LDS Reconciliation, and local LDS wards to explore how to engage in such dialogue.

To bring about change, we must see ourselves as leaders committed to taking dramatic steps that advance LGBT equality. This Action Group will lay a foundation to help participants develop methods of active leadership that:
  • interrupt patterns of inequality and oppression.

  • hold a different vision of what could be true.

  • develop and sustain Communities of Action who work to make these new visions a reality.
This Action Group will be highly interactive with a combination of small- and large-group discussion, some presentations, and even one-on-one dialogues between participants representing different organizations and points of view. Time set aside to identify different organizations’ resources for building bridges with the Mormon community. We will produce talking points and guidelines for engaging Mormon audiences and will practice using some of these messages. Finally, the Action Group will generate a set of potential next steps to remain engaged and work together toward some measurable outcomes.

Creating a safe world for those who have yet to come out in a Mormon environment is one of the most important missions of Affirmation. Stand Up for Understanding is a powerful tool to help us achieve that safe world. Join the discussion on our blog and join us for the “Stand Up for Understanding Action Group” at STAND UP! The 2010 Affirmation Conference, October 8-10 in San Francisco.


Circle
Sunday Morning Will Feature Circle of Inspiration
Calling All Talents!

by John Minagro

Inspire (in·spir´): to breathe into, to infuse, to influence.

On Sunday morning, October 10, 2010, we will gather and breathe together in a Circle of Inspiration. Our goal is to influence each other to feel, be, and do better: better to ourselves, better to each other, and better to those beyond our immediate ability to infuse and inspire. With song, story, and a skosh of stagecraft, we will try to experience the One, the All, and Each Other together.

In order to improve the possibilities of breathing together, I'm putting out a call to those who would like to add their musical talents to our gathering. Singers, and instrumentalists are encouraged to write me and let me know of your willingness. I have some music in mind for our Circle of Inspiration, but would like to know what you might have ready in your personal performance arsenals of influence as well. Or perhaps you'd be willing to learn and share something new with us that morning.

If this pricks your proclivity to participate, please contact me by visiting www.affirmation.org/contact/john.


Affirmation Members Invited to Meetings in Portland and San Francisco
Portland Meeting Coming Up July 16-18

We would like to invite all Affirmation members to executive committee meetings to be held the weekend of July 16-18, in Portland, Oregon. We will discuss a number of important issues about the future of Affirmation, including potential changes in the way the executive committee operates, plans for the 2011 conference, and the expansion of our web presence. If you are interested in serving Affirmation as a part of the executive committee or in another leadership or technical capacity, attending these meetings is excellent preparation.

The meetings will be held in the home of Alan Blodgett. The business part of the meetings will run Friday from 5:00 to 9:00, Saturday from 9:00 to 6:00, and Sunday from 8:00 to 12:00. On Saturday evening we will have a social gathering with members of the Portland Chapter. For a full schedule and directions to Alan’s home, please contact Dave Melson.

San Francisco on October 8

The Council of Chapter Representatives will be meeting at 2:00 pm, on Friday, October 8, in San Francisco, as a part of the annual conference. Please schedule your flight to San Francisco accordingly. While every chapter is asked to send one official representative, all Affirmation members are welcome to attend this meeting. Chapters will report on their activities for the past year. The Council and the Conference are Affirmation’s highest governing bodies, so we encourage you to make sure that someone from your chapter or group will be in attendance to represent you.

If you are interested in serving Affirmation in a leadership capacity, or if you would like to be a part of the committee planning next year’s conference, please contact Executive Director David Melson or any other member of the executive committee today.


Paul Mortensen
Affirmation co-founder Paul Mortensen (right) with husband Robert Jacob in 2008
Call for Nominations for the 2010 Mortensen Award
The Deadline is August 22

It is time once again to call for nominations for Affirmation’s highest honor, the Mortensen Award. The award is presented each year at our annual conference to an individual who has served Affirmation in outstanding leadership and service during the past year.

The criteria for selecting a nominee should be:
  1. Someone who is dedicated to the goals of Affirmation and has worked toward achieving them.

  2. Someone who has shown outstanding leadership and service.

  3. Someone who is a self-starter and a motivator of others.

  4. Someone who is making a difference in the lives of others.
We ask that you look all around in Affirmation to find that one outstanding individual and then submit a nomination to the selection committee. The nomination should be in the form of a letter describing the individual and listing all the reasons this individual is qualified and should be selected. All members of Affirmation are eligible for the Mortensen Award, including past recipients of the award.

Do not submit just a name. We need to know something about the individual since the committee may not know her/him well.

The nominations must be received by August 22, 2010--no exceptions! E-mail them to Ricky Gilbert, chair of Mortensen Awards Committee. Please do not send copies to anyone else.

The award recipient will be announced at the Affirmation Conference in San Francisco on October 9, 2010. The selection committee is made up of past recipients of the award. Be sure to show this letter to everyone in your area. You may be the one who should be nominated and you may not want to nominate yourself.

If you have any questions, contact Ricky Gilbert. We look forward to seeing you at the San Francisco conference, which is certainly going to be a great event. Please start thinking about this award today and get your nomination in tomorrow.


Gay Mormons at Chile Pride
Affirmation members and friends at the Affirmation booth

Affirmation Chile Participates in Successful Pride Day
Despite the Cold Weather, Thousands Attended

By Brus Leguás Contreras, President of Afirmación Chile

On June 26, some 12,000 Chileans gathered in Santiago’s Parque Forestal for the ninth Fair for Diversity and against Discrimination, which is roughly our equivalent to Pride Day. On this occasion not only sexual minorities participated, but also organizations such as Amnesty International, representatives of indigenous peoples, immigrants, the disabled, and others.

At the Affirmation booth, we gave away 500 brochures, answered questions, and gathered contact information for new friends. One remarkable moment happened when an LDS woman approached our stand and told us about her daughter, who recently came out to her as a lesbian. This LDS woman decided to support her daughter, even if that meant choosing her over the Church and creating a rift in the family, who are all Mormon. The whole exchange with the woman was captured by the cameras of the national TV station, which was filming an episode of the show “Esta es mi familia” (“This Is My Family”) which we hope will be aired in October. Despite the fact that in recent elections Chile took a turn to the right, we believe there is a broad consensus in Chile for civil unions (except for one party, the Unión Demócrata Independiente, which holds a very conservative position). Affirmation Chile and many other organizations support a law for civil unions. The initiative would benefit some two million Chileans who currently live as couples without any legal protections.

Despite the terrible earthquake which recently devastated vast areas of the country, our work is fruitful and successful. We draw strength from our frailties and we always rely on our Heavenly Father. God is love. God’s love is perfect and unconditional, and he is no respecter of persons. That’s how we move forward and face our daily challenges in this long and narrow land.


California Commission: LDS Church Violated Law
Mormon Church Fined for Failing to Report Prop 8 Contributions

From a story in The Salt Lake Tribune

The LDS Church will have to pay a fine for failing to report on time contributions made in fall 2008 to help wipe out marriage equality in California.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission’s staff has determined the LDS Church violated the state’s political-contributions law in the days leading up to passage of Proposition 8. The agency has proposed a $5,539 fine, representing 15 percent of the $36,928 in contributions to the “Yes on 8” campaign that the LDS Church did not report on time.

Fred Karger, who filed the original complaint with the commission, said Tuesday the fine validates his allegations that the LDS Church tried to cover up its role in banning same-sex marriage in California.

“They have absolutely every right — as any religious organization, any individual, any business owner, union, whomever — to be involved,” he said. “But they must comply with the law if they are going to be involved in politics. That’s what they’ve been covering up.”

Karger estimates that Mormons ultimately contributed $30 million of the $42 million total raised in support of Prop 8.

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
P.O. Box 1435
Palm Springs, CA 92263-1435
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: George Cole
Assistant Director: Micah Bisson
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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www.affirmation.org