Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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
July 2010

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.