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WHO
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ESPECIALLY
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EVENTS
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RESOURCES
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BECOME
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The Affirmation Messenger is a weekly message from the Affirmation Executive Committee. This week's message was written by Affirmation's Membership Director Buckley Jeppson.
Buckley Jeppson |
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A Community of Friends and Family
2 August 2010
As Membership Director for Affirmation, I work hard to keep everyone's records updated and correct, but I never see the membership database as simply a bunch of names. I know each person has a story to tell, a community of friends and family, and contributions that each makes to society. We have our individual stories, but I know we all hold some things in common.
A couple weeks ago the Affirmation Executive Committee met here in Portland to review the status of the organization and chart strategy for the future. During the weekend, the Portland chapter of Affirmation held one of its monthly potluck dinners and invited the Committee. As I looked around at the couple dozen people in attendance, I saw many unique and wonderful stories. Two women attended with their pre-teen son. There were fathers, grandfathers, several young couples, and a number of single people. By coincidence, it was the birthday of one of our transgender members. We sang "Happy Birthday" and he blew out a candle. Spontaneously, everyone started singing "Happy, Happy Birthday," which is sung in Primary whenever a child has a birthday. As I looked around, everyone was grinning and having a great time while we shared this great heritage moment
Songs and hymns, vocabulary, BYU coed and jock humor, and funeral food are only symbols of the heritage we share and that brings us together. Sometimes it's spiritual, sometimes not. Sometimes the memories are pleasant, often they are outrageously abusive. We join together, as Affirmation members have for over 30 years, to strengthen those bonds. When called upon, we share our experiences to help others navigate the dark void of coming to terms with their sexual orientation and identity within a Mormon society. Helping individuals with that journey has always been the core of Affirmation's mission. All the support activities, education, intervention, and activism of the organization revolve around that core objective.
Although you may appear on the Affirmation membership list, you may not be a current member. I encourage you to remedy that situation immediately. Go to www.affirmation.org/join and become a regular member so we can continue to provide the support that is our mandate. Remember those times when someone reached out to help you when you needed it most. Your membership not only shows your support for Affirmation, but also enables us to be able to reach out to someone else. Renew your membership right away. (If you aren't sure whether you are a current member, just check with me.)
Buck Jeppson
Membership Director
P.S. We have an excellent opportunity to share the ties that bind us at STAND UP! the 2010 Affirmation Conference in San Francisco. Check out details and register at www.affirmation.org/conference. The conference will gather LGBT Mormons from all over the world to celebrate our ties and look ahead at the work yet to be done. You don't want to miss this event.
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