Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Affirmation 1989 Conference Report

From the September and November 1989 issues of Affinity.

The San Francisco Chapter of Affirmation hosted the 11th Annual Affirmation General Conference, October 6-8, 1989, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Reno, Nevada. This year's theme was "Building Bonds of Unity."

Over 150 LDS lesbians, gay men, parents, friends and church leaders spent three wonderful days getting to know and better understand ourselves and each other.

Friday

The chapter leaderships reported to the General Council Meeting Friday afternoon.

There was a poolside social, an official welcome, a Western dance, and dessert buffet

Saturday

After a continental breakfast, the workshops included: "Gay and Mormon: Today's View," "Lesbian and Gay Couples," "Pictorial History of Gay Mormons," "Gay Parents-Straight Children?," "Our Gay RLDS Cousins," "Mormon Theology & Homosexuality," "Talk with National Leadership," "AIDS & the Community," "Women's Chapter-at-Large," "Coming Out as Gay Mormons," "Combating Loneliness," and "Parents & Friends."

After an informal box lunch, there was a panel discussion: Women in Gay Religious Groups.

There was a community service project.

This evening at he poolside barbecue, the recipient of this year's Mortensen Award for outstanding leadership and service went to Ina Mae Murri of the San Francisco Chapter. Ina Mae is one of the San Francisco Chapter's founding members. With her partner, Stella Lopez-Armijo, their home has been a haven for lesbian Mormons across America, in addition to countless San Francisco Affirmation activities.

The keynote Speaker was Marsha Langford, Minister of the Church of Antioch. Ms. Langford's personal ministry is to help individuals to understand their relationships with God independently of the Church's doctrine. "I am convinced that unless belief is alive and growing and open to examination and the search for truth and enlightenment, it is without value; a prison that strangles rather than heals."

Saturday evening ended with a fireside.

Sunday

We had three concurrent workshops: Spirituality & Self-Esteem, Testimony Meeting, and Artist's depictions of Christ over the Centuries of Christianity.

There was a devotional, followed by a poolside brunch.

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