Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Utah Service Celebrates GLBT Spirituality
Gay and Lesbian Mormons Participate

By Hugo Salinas
June 2004

Approximately 200 people celebrated GLBT spirituality during an interfaith service held June 12 at the Wasatch Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City. The service was carried out with the support of some 15 religious congregations and faith traditions, including Christian, Jewish, Mormon, Buddhist, Universalist, and Pagan.

With the theme "Commitments of the Heart," the service included readings from the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), the New Testament (Colossians 3:12-15), and the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 18:8-10). The speakers were Tracee Rosen, of Congregation Kol Ami, John-Charles Duffy, from Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, and Erin Gilmore, of Holladay United Church of Christ.

Maureen Duffy-Boose, from the Covenant of Unitarian-Universalist Pagans, led the opening charge. Bryan Stone-Daly and Aaron Davis, from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, recited the Mantra of Compassion. Matthew Cockrum, from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, conducted a ritual of recommitment.

Representatives from six different organizations led a rainbow litany focused on the six colors of the rainbow flag, which symbolize life (red), healing (orange), light (yellow), creation (green), relationships (blue), and spirit (violet). The Salt Lake Men's Choir provided the music. The parting prayer was read by out Utah state representative Jackie Biskupski.

"Spirituality is not simply a personal matter," said speaker John-Charles Duffy as part of his remarks. "It's not only a question of personal beliefs or personal spiritual practices. Certainly it involves those things; but spirituality also encompasses relationships and community."