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March 2005 Affirmation has traditionally been meek about passing the collection plate. We don't flood your mailboxes and inboxes with multiple requests for support. But we do have expenses and only the donations of our friends and members to cover them. More importantly, only adequate funding will allow Affirmation to act strategically and have an impact on national events and the lives of gay, lesbian and transgender Mormons scattered across not only the United States but everywhere the LDS Church is—and that is a lot of territory! The need to have an active, visible organization representing gay and lesbian Mormons has never been more clear than now. The debate over same sex marriage has inflamed various churches—the LDS especially. The matter has become a political issue of tremendous visibility. A returned missionary and his partner have been pictured in a major Newsweek article. President Hinckley has been asked about gay Mormons on Larry King Live. Affirmation has never asked for financial support on a consistent basis, but now your support is vital. Rather than become another pesky non-profit, however, we would like to depend on the willingness of our members and supporters to commit to consistent funding. As a convert from Protestant dominations, one of the things I did admire about the LDS Church was the absence of collection plates. Members understood if they simply committed to a steady level of support, most needs would be covered. Now that I am not tithing to the Church, I feel it is a spiritual endeavor for me to support charitable and non-profit groups instead. I have a hope that the money I contribute to keep Affirmation going results in at least one person realizing they are not the only gay or lesbian Mormon in the world and deciding to choose life over suicide, or that the stubborn refusal of Affirmation to fold up and go away makes one Church leader doubt their conviction that being gay is just a bad lifestyle choice. On a more selfish level, I love the camaraderie and the educational, spiritual, and entertainment benefits of Affirmation Conferences. I want to see all of this continue, and I hope you do too. Are there certain missions or activities of Affirmation that you have particular concern for? You can designate your donation for specific funds. A full listing of the funds and what they are used for is part of the form that is provided. Even if you can't donate anything right now, I encourage you to take a look at the listing of funds so you'll be aware of the many facets of Affirmation. We have many requests that can only be filled with your help. There are a number of ways you can support Affirmation financially. The first and simplest way is to become a dues-paying member and renew each year. Encourage your friends and family, even straight members, to join. If it's within your means, join as a sustaining member instead of at the regular level. You can also make donations beyond this. We occasionally will make a special appeal, but it is easy to make an extra donation each year when you register for Conference. We will now make an annual appeal in April as well. The best, and easiest, way to provide regular support is by authorizing regular credit card charges for Affirmation support. I am signed up for this program myself and don't miss the few dollars each month at all, but it matters a lot to Affirmation. Please notice at the top of this article a link to a form you can use to sign up or to make one time donations. Also, consider remembering Affirmation in your estate planning. A member recently told me he had made Affirmation a part beneficiary of a retirement account, because if his family got the money they would just use it to support the Church and anti-gay causes. You can use the form to request a personal call to discuss the many options available. Affirmation spends its money sparingly and wisely. Separate articles in this section of our site discuss how the funds are spent and explain more about why we believe Affirmation deserves your support. We also need your time and talents. With your support and participation, Affirmation will reach new heights! |
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www.affirmation.org