Inside This Issue Editorial: Taking Our Bylaws into the 21st Century Upcoming Events Affirmation Conference Registration Form--And Some Additional Information The 2003 Affirmation Writing Awards Contest Young Gay Mormons Launch the Letters Home Project Mark Packer and Ernie Hortsmanshoff to Exchange Vows Gay BYU-Idaho Mailing List--Correction

Editorial: Taking Our Bylaws into the 21st Century

by Olin Thomas, Senior Assistant Executive Director

Sometimes I feel much older than my years (I am barely into my early middle-age) because of all the changes I have seen. In high school I learned to type on a manual typewriter and to use a slide rule, yet today you would be hard pressed to find either item. When I was in college I would write (by hand, of course) and mail up to 30 letters a week. Today I go through that many emails each day, and rarely receive a hand written letter. Our society has changed as well. As a teenager I did not even know my best friend was also gay, we were so closeted. But several years ago, Romanovsky & Phillips wrote a song about the first same-sex couple at a high school prom, and not only was it a true story, but the school was in my own hometown.

Changes in the areas of communications and societal attitudes have particularly impacted Affirmation. As originally conceived, Affirmation was a federation of independent local chapters, which cooperated at the national level. Today there are as many members outside of areas served by local chapters and they are scattered across the globe. Within areas served by chapters, members are often less interested in local participation, often because they can connect so easily via the Internet with not only other Affirmation members, but with people of all types around the world. In addition, the growing tolerance towards homosexuals in most of the Western societies has taken the edge off of being gay or lesbian, resulting in less need for a safe haven in Affirmation.

As a result, local Affirmation chapters have faltered. Newsletters are not published monthly, or at all, and meetings are not held monthly--both of which are currently requirements under Affirmation bylaws for recognition as a chapter. Other requirements are the selection of a chapter director and council representative, having a local charter or bylaws, and maintaining a local bank account. Few, if any chapters meet all these conditions.

You may be inclined to say "so what, the times are changing." Indeed they are, but the existence of accurate, current constitutional documents is important to the continued operation of Affirmation. Our Charter and Bylaws vest much power in a Council of Chapter Representatives, which is composed of one member from each chapter. Approval from the Council is mandatory for certain important actions or decisions, and voting membership on the Council depends on your chapter meeting the qualifications set in the Bylaws. Thus, in the current environment, the Executive Committee's actions may be open to procedural or legal challenges due to the lack of compliance with our founding and operating documents.

To ensure the stability of Affirmation and to adapt to the advances in technology and changes in society which have precipitated these developments, it is necessary to amend our constitutional documents. Changes were proposed during the past year, but were so far reaching that an agreement on a final version could not be reached. During the open leadership meetings in Los Angeles this past November, a consensus decision was reached to fall back and regroup (I was in the Army at one time, too.) The most critical change needed, and perhaps the only absolutely necessary one, is to modify the definition of a chapter to better reflect the reality of Affirmation in the 21st century.

To that end, I am announcing the formation of a committee to examine and discuss that very matter, and to draft and propose amendments to the Charter and/or Bylaws solely on that topic. I have been assigned to chair this ad hoc committee. Our goal will be to have a firm proposal ready before the 2003 conference. All members interested in contributing to this effort may contact me, by phone, or by mail. Let's work together to keep Affirmation vital and current as it approaches it's fourth decade of existence.

Upcoming Events, 2003 May 16-18 Gamofite Retreat in Lava Hot Springs, ID June Pride events held across the world June 8-9 Cornerstone(regional get-together) in Washington DC June 13-15 Gamofite Retreat in Long Beach, CA June 14 Mark Packer and Ernie Hortsmanshoff's commitment ceremony in Long Beach, CA October 10-12 2003 Affirmation Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

Charting New Courses:
Affirmation Conference Registration Form

With this issue of AFFINITY we are including a printer-friendly form that you can use to register for Affirmation's Annual Conference to be held October 10-12 in Salt Lake City. Register before September 15 for the best price. Please send the form, plus your check, money order, or credit card information, to:

Affirmation Conference
PO Box 69384
Portland, OR 97239

Remember that you need to make your reservation by calling the hotel directly. Rooms will be held for the Affirmation Conference until September 15.


Additional Hotel Information--And Some Corrections

Reserving Your Room: You can make your reservations by calling the hotel toll-free at 1-888-416-4075. Identify yourself as a participant in the Affirmation Conference in October and explain that you want to reserve one of the rooms blocked for Affirmation. (Otherwise they will tell you that they have only deluxe rooms available at $85 per night, excluding taxes).

Room Costs: The cost per night is $79.30 (including taxes) for double occupancy. A third or fourth person would be an additional $10 (excluding taxes) per person per room. You will need a credit card to reserve the room.

Facilities & Food Services: The rooms have a small refrigerator and microwave. The hotel does not have a swimming pool or a jacuzzi, but it does have a fitness room. Those staying in the Guest House will be served a continental breakfast, and other meals are included in the conference registration. Even though the hotel does not have a restaurant, there is a fine dormitory cafeteria nearby, and restaurants can be reached by campus shuttle.

Parking: Free parking is readily available for conference registrants at the Guest House, Friday-Monday (about 200 stalls). In addition, parking is free Saturday-Sunday for the whole University of Utah campus. Just don't park in any spot that has a reserved number on it or is a handicapped stall. All restricted spots are well marked.

The 2003 Affirmation Writing Awards Contest

March 2003

Jump to: Contest Rules, Frequently Asked Questions, About the Judges

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons announces the 2003 Affirmation Writing Awards Contest, recognizing nonfiction writing on subjects of importance to the GLBTI Mormon community.

For the year 2003, three cash awards are being offered. In addition, the judges may grant awards of Honorable Mention. The cash awards offered are:

First Place: $1,000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250

Winners of awards will be announced on October 11, 2003, at Affirmation's annual conference in Salt Lake City. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Contest Rules

1. Your entry must be an original work of nonfiction relevant to GLBTI Mormon experience. Within that limitation, entries might take many forms, including personal essay, letter, op/ed piece, or scholarly article.
   
   
2. Your entry should be no fewer than 500 words. It should not exceed article length (around 30 double-spaced pages).
   
   
3. You may submit a previously published article if it was published after August 15, 2002.
   
   
4. To encourage authors to keep refining their work, you may resubmit one non-winning, unpublished entry from a previous year. ("Non-winning" means that the entry has not received a First Place, Second Place, Third Place, or Honorable Mention award in a previous year's Contest.)
   
   
5. Your entry must be typed or computer-printed, double-spaced, in a standard easy-to-read font (we recommend Times New Roman, size 12).
   
   
6. Your entry must be in English. You may submit an English translation of an essay originally written in another language.
   
   
7. Submit five copies of your entry, one for each judge. You don't need to send five copies of the Contest Entry Form.
   
   
8. You may submit as many entries as you like (with the exception that you may resubmit only one non-winning, unpublished entry from a previous year; see rule 4). Complete a separate Contest Entry Form for each entry.
   
   
9. Postmark your entry no later than August 15, 2003, by first class mail or faster delivery.

On or about September 30, 2003, winners will be informed that they have been selected to receive an award. The actual award (First Place, Second Place, Third Place, or Honorable Mention) will not be announced or awarded until October 11, 2003, at Affirmation's annual conference in Salt Lake City. Winners do not need to be present at the conference to win. Winners not attending the conference will receive their awards through the mail promptly thereafter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be gay or Mormon to enter the Contest? The Affirmation Writing Awards Contest is open to any writer of any age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or creed.

Can I use a pseudonym or nom de plume? Entries may be written under an assumed name (nom de plume); however, the Contest Entry Form must include the author's actual name and personal information.

How are entries judged? A panel of judges will determine the winners of awards. All decisions made by the judges are final. Entries will be judged on the relevance and significance of the topic to the GLBTI Mormon community, as well as on the power and eloquence of the writing. Judges must disqualify themselves with respect to an entry if a conflict of interest exists. Additional or substitute judges may be appointed as deemed appropriate by Affirmation.

What about copyright? Copyright remains with the authors. However, winners must agree to give Affirmation the right, free of charge, to reproduce the entry in full or in part on the Affirmation web site or in print form. Appropriate copyright notice will be given in each instance.

The fine print: Affirmation agrees that it will use the personal contact information of individuals submitting entries only in connection with the Contest. Affirmation agrees that it will not share personal contact information with any other organization. Entries which do not meet the requirements laid out in the Contest Rules will not be considered. Non-winning entries will be returned only if they are accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate postage. In no case will winning entries be returned; these manuscripts become the property of Affirmation. Though it intends to publish and distribute winning entries, Affirmation will be under no obligation to do so. Affirmation reserves the right to change or reconfigure the Contest, including adjusting the number of judges, extending deadlines for submissions, increasing or decreasing award amounts, not giving an award in any given year, and holding no Contest in any subsequent year. The Contest is funded from the Affirmation Endowment Fund and is administered by the Affirmation Endowment Fund Administrative Committee.

About the Judges

D. Michael Quinn: Highly acclaimed and respected author with numerous published works. Student of Mormon and Western United States history. Currently a visiting professor at Yale.

Lavina Fielding Anderson: Accomplished writer and editor. Observer and commentator on LDS Church governance. Trustee of The Mormon Alliance and coeditor of its publication, Case Reports of the Mormon Alliance. Resident of Utah.

Cindy Le Fevre teaches in a college school of business. Student of History, Education and English Studies. Experienced in editing, curriculum production and television programming. Resident of Ohio.

Kathryn Steffensen: Retired elementary school educator. Speaker. Original board member and organizer of the Family Fellowship organization. PFLAG - Utah board member. Resident of Utah.

John-Charles Duffy teaches college writing. Publications Director for Affirmation. Author of several published articles and books, and a former columnist for the Pillar, Salt Lake City’s monthly gay paper. Resident of Utah.

Young Gay Mormons Launch the Letters Home Project

by Hugo Salinas
May 2002

Stephen Shroy & Aaron Cloward

Two young gay Mormons from Salt Lake City have started a compilation of coming-out letters. Aaron Cloward & Stephen Shroy have started to compile letters sent by gay Mormons to parents and family and are planning to put them in book. The project's consultant is Mormon author D. Michael Quinn.

"It is our hope that this book will serve several purposes," write Aaron & Stephen. "First, to help gay Mormons of all ages understand that they aren't alone. Second, to help give gay Mormons inspiration when writing their own coming out letters. Third, we hope to encourage those who feel the desire to write a letter home, even if they don't send it. This can give some degree of closure if communication on the subject is not appropriate at the time. Finally, it is also our hope that the book will be of value to parents and family as they read the thoughts and feelings of other gay Mormons."

For more information on this important project, visit<http://www.ldslettershome.org>.

Mark Packer and Ernie Hortsmanshoff to Exchange Vows
All Affirmation Members Invited to Attend--RSVP by May 30

by Mark Packer & Ernie Hortsmanshoff
May 2002

Mark Packer & Ernie Hortsmanshoff

You are warmly invited to join us as we exchange vows and celebrate our love. Our ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2003, at 2:00 PM, at the First Congregational Church (241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, California). A celebration will follow at 6:30 P.M. at the Rossmoor Regency (12300 Montecito Rd. in Seal Beach). R.S.V.P. by MAY 30, 2003. Let us know if you will be attending the Ceremony, the Celebration, or both, and the number in your party.