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by Jason L. Giles Portland Chapter Leader In the January issue of Affinity, Olin Thomas announced that 2006 is the "Year of the Chapter." I am pleased to be the first Affirmation Chapter Leader (Portland, Oregon) to be asked to write a few words on this important (at least to me) subject. In the spring of 1997, I first learned about Affirmation from a man who was the Portland Chapter Leader at that time. I jokingly asked him whether he had been called to the position by a gay General Authority-type person. He wasn't. I was then invited to join him the following week at a potluck dinner for gay/lesbian Mormons, and I asked if there would be jell-O salad. I went, and there was. But more important than the jell-O (which I found strangely comforting) was the fact that I met many wonderful people that evening. At times we talked about our commonality of being LDS and being gay, and as I heard some of the group members share their stories, I was elated. I was still in the coming out phase (not yet out to my family back in Utah), and to be in a room with 15+ other individuals who fully understood my struggle was powerful and exciting. And they were all such great people, easy to talk to and fun. (Ok, so a couple of them were kind of weird, but you get that in any group.) I began to attend Affirmation activities regularly, and I began to build friendships with many great people who greatly helped me with my journey, my reconciliation of becoming a proud, gay Mormon. After a few years, I became the Portland Chapter Leader, and I have seen the group help person after person with their journeys. Just like I received great support from my Affirmation friends before and after I came out to my family, I have tried to support others as they have gone through coming out difficulties with family, the excommunication process, divorce and custody battles, deaths or illnesses, and the other challenges life throws our way. I have also been thrilled to share in the good times of Affirmation friends, including marriages and commitment ceremonies of devoted couples, birthdays, etc. And whether we are bowling, picnicking, raising money through the annual AIDS Walk, marching in Gay Pride, or having yet another potluck dinner, we always laugh and talk and enjoy one another's company. We have developed our own annual traditions, like going through Portland's best haunted house attraction (Scream at the Beach) and our Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday feast. In 2005, our numbers in Portland have grown to the point that we had approximately 50 people attending two of our last four activities. I have personally made some of my closest friends ever through my association with Affirmation's Portland Chapter, and I am profoundly grateful how it has enriched my life. And I want to thank everyone associated with the chapter, past and present, who have played a part in this. By no means does Portland have a monopoly on amazing GLBTI LDS folk, so my hope is that every major city in the country and the world can develop a living, growing, fun and supportive chapter like the one we have in Portland. Bridging Our Journey So now that I have sufficiently lauded Portland's chapter of Affirmation (not that I'm biased or anything), I am very proud to announce that the 2006 International Affirmation Conference will be hosted in Portland! The very first conference I ever attended (in 1998) was in Portland, and it was both a terrific conference and a life-altering event. I am working with a great committee to try to outdo that conference and to create a fun, uplifting, fun, social, and fun event for all those who attend. (Did I mention we plan to have fun?) In addition to great workshops and banquets, there will be a group outing to Scream at the Beach, an optional trip to the Columbia River Gorge, and Serena Cruz (County Commissioner instrumental legalizing gay marriage in Portland) will be our Keynote Speaker. We will stay at the Doubletree Lloyd Center Hotel (where we stayed in 1998), so that the MAX light-rail can take you directly from the airport to the hotel to Downtown Portland. So save the dates, October 20 - 22, 2006, and join us for an incredible Conference!
“I should have the right to marry a same-sex partner” By Hugo Salinas Two leaders of the Washington DC chapter of Affirmation were among 250 religious representatives who convened in Annapolis on January 22 to oppose a proposed Maryland constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in that state. Dave Melson and Michael Madsen, leaders of the Washington DC Chapter, joined a coalition of religious leaders that includes Baptists, Methodists, Roman Catholics, and representatives from many other faiths. Many see the constitutional amendment as an attempt by Maryland lawmakers to interfere with the courts. On January 20, a Baltimore Circuit Court judge struck down Maryland's 33-year-old law against same-sex marriage, ruling in favor of 19 gay men and women who contended the prohibition violated the state's equal rights amendments. "Two-hundred and forty Maryland religious leaders signed a letter saying that they do not have any problem with same-sex marriage," says Affirmation DC director David Melson. "These leaders reflect the racial, geographic, and social diversity of the state of Maryland." "There's nothing that prevents any church or religion from deciding whether or not they want to marry someone. What we're saying is: it's not legal in Maryland to deny anyone civil marriage based on their sexual orientation." In the past some conservatives churches, including the LDS Church, have attempted to create a climate of hysteria by falsely claiming that if same-sex marriage is allowed, they will be forced by the government to perform same-sex weddings. "As a gay Mormon, I think I should have the right to marry a same-sex partner," says Melson. "The chastity covenant that we make in the temple is not gender-specific. I believe within 25 years same-sex couples will be able to marry in the temple." For more information about marriage equality, visit www.affirmation.org/ssu and the links section of www.affirmation.org/education.
“It drew us closer to our spirituality, our background, and our faith” On January 28, members from two chapters of Affirmation Chile visited the Santiago Temple, which recently underwent remodeling and is open to the public pending rededication. "The tour moves through the various parts of the temple," wrote President of Affirmation Chile Brus Leguás Contreras, "and ends up in the Celestial Room." "That room brought many memories. We didn't say a word. It was a moment of silence, reflection, spiritual insight, and connection with our Heavenly Father. It was a very spiritual moment, especially for some of us who had not experienced for a long time the feelings and emotions of being in the House of the Lord." "It was beautiful," wrote Brus. "More than one among us felt that the day will come when we will once more be allowed in the Celestial Room, as children of God, with the Church's acknowledgment. Some day the leaders will listen to the voice of the Spirit." "It was a very special visit. It drew us closer to our spirituality, our background, and our faith. We felt very close to each other and especially to our Heavenly Father."
Miller: “I don't think I'm qualified to be the community censor” by Jason Clark LDS mogul Larry H. Miller pulled the plug on a screening of Brokeback Mountain, which had been previously scheduled at the theater he owns in Jordan Commons, south of Salt Lake City. Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain revolves around two cowboys who grow up in violently homophobic environments and must keep their same-sex relationship secret for 20 years. According to a story in The Salt Lake Tribune, Miller was unaware of the theme of the movie when interviewed by a radio reporter the day before the screening. "I don't think I'm qualified to be the community censor," Miller said during the interview, defending his decision to show the film. But less than two hours after making that statement, he did exactly that, canceling the screening and reneging on the licensing agreement. The cancellation came too late to be noted by the Friday papers. "This is the first time I've been slapped in the face with what I believe to be closed-mindedness," said Carol Adams, who drove to Miller's MegaPlex 17 only to find that the film was a no-show. "Not showing this film says bigotry and fear." Ultraconservative Mormon pundit and Utah Eagle Forum president Gayle Ruzicka praised Miller's decision and called him "my new hero." Equality Utah board member Jane Marquardt told The Salt Lake Tribune the decision is disturbing because Miller's theaters are showing movies with graphic violence. But Marquardt also sees a bright side: The gay-friendly Broadway Theater, in downtown Salt Lake City, will likely get more business. "I hope [Miller] doing that will encourage more people to learn more about what it's all about," Marquardt added. Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons P.O. Box 46022 Los Angeles, CA 90046 National Phone Line: (661) 367-2421 To see a directory of current Affirmation chapters, visit www.affirmation.org/chapters Executive Director: Olin Thomas Senior Assistant Director: Alyson Bolles Assistant Director: James Morris Associate Director & Affinity Editor: (affirmationLDS  earthlink.net)
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Gay and Lesbian Mormons, their families and friends since 1977. AFFINITY
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