Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Gay and Lesbian Mormons Observe General Conference Weekend

By Hugo Salinas
October 16, 2002

Organizer Duane Jennings, speaker Sara Jordan, and friend Carrie Jo

Tom Matthews served a mission in Spain

A group of Gay and lesbian Mormons from Utah gathered October 4 and 6 at the Salt Lake City Metropolitan Community Church to reminiscence their LDS missions and celebrate their gay Mormon heritage. The events were sponsored by Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons.

Some 30 retuned missionaries gathered on October 4 for a gay and lesbian missionary reunion. The reunion is a traditional Affirmation event held every April and every October in connection with the LDS general conference. The keynote speakers were Thomas J. Matthews, who served an LDS mission in Spain, and Dominique Storni, who served her mission in New Mexico.

In 2000 Tom Matthews was awarded by Affirmation for an essay in which he tells his story as the first openly gay professor to teach at Brigham Young University. He currently teaches Spanish and linguistics at Weber State University. Dominique Storni shared some of her experiences as a missionary and her journey as a transgender person. She currently writes a column on transgeder issues for The Pillar.

On October 6 a group of gay and lesbian Mormons gatered for an after-confernece fireside. The keynote speaker was Sara Jordan, who served an LDS misison in the Dominican Republic. Sara is a past director of HIV affairs for the State of Utah Health Department and has worked for the Granite School District in creating safer schools for all people. Her presentation was a farewell of sorts as she is just beginning an extended trip through Thailand and India.