Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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Treasurer's address:
AFFIRMATION
PO Box 898
Anoka, MN 55303

2008 Contributions Acknowledged, Letters Sent

Affirmation Needs Our Financial Support

It's Going to Take Money

Affirmation Funds You Can Donate to

The Irwin Phelps Conference Scholarship Fund

The Jay Bell Fund for Gay Mormon Studies

Editorial: It's Going to Take Money

James Morris

By James Morris, Assistant Director

Over the past twenty years that I have been involved in Affirmation, I've often thought of it as being akin to Blanche DuBois—relying on "the kindness of strangers". As a nonprofit volunteer-driven organization, despite the ongoing dedicated efforts of its membership showing their generosity of time and talents, the financial resources have always been marginal. We have been creative and frugal in stretching every donated dollar. We have managed to eek by within these limitations.

As our methods of outreach have blossomed (thanks in large part to the internet), our abilities to impact those most in need have increased, and the urgency of our work has far from diminished. Beyond the help we've been able to offer our individual members, we have a wonderful website visited by thousands weekly, we recently have been offering writing awards to help publish our stories and have assisted in worthwhile and life-impacting film and theatrical productions.

It used to be that Affirmation was more of a "way station" for individuals overcoming the hurts and wounds of an unsympathetic and often hostile religion. It was a nurturing place for those transitioning into self-accepting, out and empowered gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. We were redressing the damage done by the Church to those in its ranks. Now the Mormon Church is flexing its political muscle and impacting LGBT individuals of all religious, socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. They have aggressively sought to limit the freedoms and rights of people they deem unworthy.

And now, we in Affirmation need to react by lengthening our stride. It's going to take more than time and talent—it's going to take money. Please help us in our fundraising efforts in this most critical moment in history. Please give generously. Not only is our future, but the future of countless others is at stake.