Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

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Gordon B. Hinckley (1910 – 2008)
A Statement by the Executive Committee of Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons

January 31, 2008

Over the last 50 years, President Gordon B. Hinckley played a key role in the growth of the LDS Church and helped the Saints gain a greater sense of community worldwide. Sadly, gay and lesbian people continued to be excluded from that community. To his credit, President Hinckley promoted a discourse about same-sex sexuality softer than President Kimball's dramatic condemnations, and he took the long overdue step of stating that marriage should not be viewed as a therapeutic approach to "curing" homosexuality. But at the same time, President Hinckley was instrumental in campaigning against marriage equality, promoting a climate of fear and ignorance about gay and lesbian people, and denying same-sex households the right to be recognized as families.

On March 16, 2001, President Hinckley encouraged Latter-day Saints "to see that everyone who joins this Church is made welcome, is made to feel at home, [and] has friends in the Church." Contrary to the spirit of this call, LDS leaders continue to speak of homosexuality as "an abominable sin," eject gays and lesbians from the Church, and deny same-sex households a place among the Saints. It is Affirmation's hope that future church leaders might open their hearts and minds to the idea of truly making the church a safe and welcoming place for all of God's children.

Olin Thomas, Dave Melson, and James Morris
Executive Committee
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons