Affirmation, Gay and Lesbian Mormons took a big step forward this year when "We, the Peculiar People," this year's national conference, was hosted eastward in Washington, the nation's capital October 6 - 8th. Previous conferences had all been held in the American West where the gay Mormon community is largest.

The conference was held at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Thomas Circle, near major Washington attractions and within walking distance of DuPont Circle, Washington's gay center. Attendance for the conference was 123, including participants from various parts of the country and Europe. Well over half of those attending were Returned Missionaries, and the sense of integrity and service that had inspired their earlier service was still directing their lives. A goodly number were there with long-term companions, proof - if it were needed - that homosexuals can be as committed to the person they love as the best heterosexuals.

Olin Thomas was Chair of the Conference Committee, assisted by Larry Mann, John Benson, Todd Christensen and others of the Washington, DC Chapter, each contributing their own shares of blood, sweat and tears. Their efforts resulted in a well organized, interesting and fun conference. Moreover, the conference ended up in the black financially.

The conference opened with the dancing of the 20-member DC Cowboys. They combine country-western steps with jazz and cabaret sizzle, and then season the result with more than a touch of teasing masculine sex appeal. Their sensual rhythms enticed more than a few to join them on the dance floor.

Saturday morning was devoted to workshops, including, Robert and Lanette Graves discussing how to make life fuller in the face of family and church difficulties; Duane Jennings drawing on his Soulforce experience to suggest Gandhi's experience is relevant to gay life; Robert Christensen exploring the significance of sex and relationships in our lives and Alan Blodgett, Mark Packer and Ernie Horstmanshoff pondering the lessons to be learned from their excommunication from the Mormon Church.

Forty-six Gamofites gathered for lunch on Saturday for spirited fellowship in the upstairs rooms of the DuPont Italian Kitchen. The annual Michael Farr Award was presented by telephone to a surprised David Hoen in Los Angeles, and Scott MacKay ignited enthusiasm for the 2001 National Gamofite Retreat to be held next August in Port Townsend, Washington.

Saturday night was an artful mixture of serious business and light pleasure. Alan Blodgett was honored with the 2000 Paul Mortensen Award for his significant service to Affirmation. Both James Kent and Scott MacKay announced they would be candidates for 2001's Executive Director. The winners of the Affirmation Writing Awards were presented, everyone was encouraged to develop the habit of contributing to the new Affirmation Endowment, and the keynote speaker, Andrew Sullivan, was introduced.

Sullivan, the former editor of National Review, is an active Catholic whose gay activism has not brought him ecclesiastical censor. He spoke for same-sex marriage, and showed how it had been tacitly set forth in the fundamental provisions of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. He observed it might not appeal to everyone, but needed to be available to all.

After Sullivan's thoughtful stimulation, the cabaret singing of Wendy Lane Bailey, "a most fabulous creature," stoked everyone's passions. Afterward some mingled in the hospitality suite, others scattered to dance, or experience Washington's gay hot spots.

Sunday morning is always more subdued. Ricky Gilbert had laid out the Affirmation AIDS quilt for the quiet meditations of those who would, and then a reader's theater of Darren Holman, Scott and Michael Mackay-Lambert, Vincent Worthington and Doryl Jensen restored life to Larry Mann's compilation of q-saints posts.

During the conference devotional, prepared by Affirmation's Los Angeles chapter, Dorothy Colley recalled the challenges she had had to overcome as a lesbian Mormon, Jeanie Mortensen-Besamo spoke of her journey in finding spiritual peace as a wife and mother and Alan Blodgett spoke of the freedom and rediscovery of spirituality that the Mormon excommunication process had brought him.

The closing luncheon was unhurried. Scott MacKay again reminded everyone to add Affirmation Endowment giving to their financial planning and Ben Jarvis promised that there would be more queens than the Queen Mary at Affirmation's 2001 National Conference, but it was mostly lingering partings, until next year in Los Angeles would allow friendships to be renewed.