THE LDS CHURCH & HOMOSEXUALITY:

"Affirmation" support group; more information; books

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Affirmation, a support group for gay and lesbian Mormons:

"Affirmation - Gay Mormons United" is a support group for gay and lesbian Mormons. Its roots go back to the 1960s when small groups of homosexual Mormons met in Salt Lake City, UT, Los Angeles CA, and Brigham Young University. Meetings were held in secret in order to avoid retaliation by the Church. Their newsletter was founded in 1979. It has been called "Affinity" since 1980. They have held national conferences each year since 1979.

Affirmation is "a fellowship of gays, lesbians, bisexuals," and their families and friends. It "serves the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender LDS and their supportive family and friends through social and educational activities." ₁ Their web site states that"

"Its purpose is to provide a supportive environment for relieving the needless fear, guilt, self-oppression and isolation that LDS gays and lesbians can experience in an era where willful ignorance about human sexuality is too often a reality. We believe that a same-gender orientation and same-gender relationships can be consistent with and supported by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We affirm that we are children of Heavenly Parents who love us the way they created us and will judge us, as they do all, based on what we make of our lives here and how we have treated our sisters and brothers."

Some of their projects are designed to provide:

"...support and understanding for people experiencing difficulty reconciling their gay identity and their LDS faith with the popular attitudes of church members and leaders that often reflect misinformed ideas about homosexuals and homosexuality. [They attempt to influence] ... church leaders and members to follow scriptural admonitions in their treatment and perception of homosexual church members, rather than the unchristian ideas of hate, violence, fear and prejudice. [They provide] ... a forum for open and respectful discussion of issues of concern both to gay/lesbian LDS people and to other members of the church."

Other specialist groups include:

More information on LDS material on homosexuality:

Books on Mormons and homosexuality:

References used:

1. Affirmation has a web site at: http://www.affirmation.org/

Copyright © 1998 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2006-NOV-12
Author: B.A. Robinson