Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

“Go Forward and Not Backward:” Affirmation Chile Holds National Conference

by Brus Leguás Contreras
August 2005

Leandro and I arrived by bus from Viña del Mar and went by subway to Elías's apartment, which is located in downtown Santiago. We ate a great lunch prepared by Elias and received some of our friends who began to arrive.

Our dear friend Néstor offered his hairdressing parlor for our Saturday meeting. Alberto conducted the meeting, gave the welcome, and made some announcements. After a hymn and a prayer, Elías and Brus introduced the movie Latter Days. We then screened the film--a moving story about how love can soften our hearts and help us overcome our obstacles. Love is truly a gift of God.

By the end of the movie many of us were crying. Many praised the movie and expressed the innermost feelings and emotions. Many of us identified with the movie and believe the film can help us understand the gay Mormon experience. We finished the Saturday session with a hymn and a prayer.

We shared refreshments, had a great conversation, and reminisced about our first conference. Alberto run into Daniel, the missionary who had baptized him!

Some went to a gay disco called Naxos, while others went home or out for dinner.

On Sunday morning, some of us went to church meetings in Elias's ward, even though Elias and Brus have been excommunicated.

Sunday afternoon we met in a social hall we rented in the building where Anabella, Elías's sister lives.

Elías, from Santiago, Leandro, from Valparaiso, and Brus, from Quilpué, spoke. Then we had a testimony meeting. It was beautiful and moving to hear Affirmation members talk about what Affirmation, friends, family, church, and the gospel mean to them.

Later Patricio and Néstor played some classical music, and finally we announced the "Affirmation Chile Awards" which recognize some of those who have worked the hardest in the last year.

Two years after launching Affirmation Chile, we have a virtual community that reaches 230 gay and lesbian Mormons, two chapters (in Santiago and in Quilpué) and smaller groups or contacts in Arica, Iquique, Copiapó, La Serena, Coquimbo, Rancagua, Concepción, Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas.

After all this progress our challenge continues to be the same: "Avanzar, en vez de retroceder." Go forward, and not backward (D&C 128:22).