Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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

July 2010

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.