Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons is an international organization for Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, and Intersex people who identify as members or ex-members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Affirmation holds that "homosexuality can be consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Under the name Affirmation: Gay Mormons United, the first Affirmation group was organized in Utah in 1977 by Stephan Zakharias (a.k.a Matthew Price). The original group struggled to survive until 1978, when Paul Mortensen formed the Los Angeles chapter. Through the influence of the Los Angeles chapter, Affirmation groups appeared in many cities around the country.

Over the decades, Affirmation's consistent goal has been to provide a safe haven for LGBTI people to discuss their sexuality and to make friends. Affirmation has never intended to be a new religion. However in 1985 some members of Affirmation did decide to form a Mormon church for gays and lesbians. Today that church is known as the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ.

1 Homosexuality and the LDS Church
2 Related Organizations
3 Membership and Presence
4 Renowned Gay Mormons
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Homosexuality and the LDS Church

Main article: Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints considers homosexual behavior to be sinful just as adultery and fornication are considered to be sinful. Homosexual desire when dwelled on is also viewed as sinful. The LDS Church encourages its members to not feed any such tempted desire.

In October 1999, some Affirmation members in Salt Lake City protested the LDS Church’s lobbying and financial support of California's anti-gay marriage proposition 22. Previously the LDS Church lobbied Hawaii to amend their state constitution, eliminating the possibility of gay marriage there. Since 2004 the LDS Church has supported a Federal Marriage Amendment to define marriage to include only opposite-sex couples.

[edit] Related Organizations

The last decade has seen the formation of other gay Mormon organizations, most of which are close allies. Gamofites, an organization for gay Mormon fathers, began in 1991. Family Fellowship, an organization for parents of gay and lesbian Mormons, was formed in 1993. The first group for gay Mormon youth, Gay LDS Young Adults, was launched in Salt Lake City in 2001.

With the advent of the Internet, many gay and lesbian Mormons began to participate in Affirmation from overseas, especially in Latin America. In 2001 the first non-English chapter was formed in Mexico City, and later chapters appeared in Santiago (Chile), Valparaíso (Chile), and Puebla (Mexico).

[edit] Membership and Presence

Affirmation functions through local chapters established mostly in the Inter-mountain West, Chile, and Australia. Approximately 1,000 people are associated with the organization, 300 of whom are dues-paying members. At the head of the organization is an executive committee composed of three members. Annual conferences, held in a different city each year, attract hundreds of members and friends from around the United States and abroad. Affirmation publishes a monthly newsletter, Affinity.

[edit] Renowned Gay Mormons

Prominent gay and lesbian Mormons who have been associated with Affirmation include gay activists such as Leonard Matlovich, renowned artists such as Trevor Southey, and popular writers such as Pat Califia.