2024 Affirmation International Conference

Conference Summary

The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was held October 11th - 13th at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center in Ogden, Utah. This was the first time the conference was held in Ogden. The theme of the conference was "Joyfully Authentic."

Friday, October 11th, included a meeting of the Affirmation Board of Directors and a Community Leaders Meeting. Board members and leaders unable to attend the conference in person could attend both of these meetings virtually. The opening plenary that evening began with an introduction and remarks from Joel McDonald, senior vice president, and keynotes from Liv Mendoza Haynes and Eli McCaan.

Saturday, October 12th, included nine breakout sessions, a plenary, and screening of the film, A Long Way From Heaven: The Rainbow Y Story. The plenary opened with announcements, a financial report, and remarks from Fred Bowers, president, and keynotes from Taylor Petrey and Laurie Lee Hall. The day concluded with a dinner and Authentically YOU dance with music and ligtening provided by a professional DJ.

Sunday October 13th, featured a plenary session opened with remarks from David Doyle, vice president, the presentation of the 2024 Affirmation Mortensen Award to Nathan Kitchen by Olin Thomas, Mortsensen community chair, and Laurie Lee Hall, 2023 winner. Nathan Kitchen provided a keynote. An opportunity was all to share with one another was provided. The conference concluded with all joining hands and singing, God Be with You 'Till We Meet Again.

All plenaries and select breakout sessions were available to virtual attendance in English and Spanish. All sessions provided virtually were recorded and are available to view.

Affirmation Executive Committee

Frederick
Bowers
President
Joel
McDonald
Senior Vice President
David
Doyle
Vice President

Affirmation Board of Directors

Angel
Arrocha
Lacey
Bagley
Jaime
Caro
Samuel
Tew
Celia
Vázquez

Conference Planning Committee

Frederick
Bowers
Affirmation President
Joel
McDonald
Affirmation Senior Vice President
David
Doyle
Affirmation Vice President
Jayde
Patton
Conference Coordinator

Special Thanks To

Sophia
Harper-Hague
Pianist
Joel
McDonald
AV Support/Video Editing
Ogden Eccles
Conference Center
Event Planning Support

...and the many, many volunteers, presenters, and panelists who made this conference possible.

Keynotes and Breakout Sessions

Liv Mendoza Haynes, Keynote

Eli McCann, Keynote

Kate Mower and Jessica Brieman, Queering Mormon History

David Matheson, Escaping the Toxic Trinity: Religious Demands, Self-repression, and Conversion Therapy

David Widdison, Spiritual Connections

Lacey Bagley, Dating and Partnering as a Queer Mormon

Lisa Knapp, Asexual/Aromantic Affinity Group

David Widdison, Fathers in Affirmation Affinity Group

Taylor Petrey, Keynote

Laurie Lee Hall, Keynote

Joe Makston, Coming Out after 40: How to Lose Friends, but Find Yourself

Olin Thomas, Affirmation Pioneers and Alumni Affinity Group

Samuel Tew, Affirmation Prepare Affinity Group

Nathan Kitchen, Keynote

Plenary Recordings

Friday Plenary, 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Friday Plenary of the 2024 Affirmation International Conference featuring introductory remarks from Joel McDonald and keynote talks from Liv Mendoza Haynes and Eli McCann. The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was…

Saturday Plenary, 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Saturday Plenary of the 2024 Affirmation International Conference featuring introductory remarks and a financial report from Fred Bowers and keynote talks from Taylor Petrey and Laurie Lee Hall. The 2024…

Sunday Plenary, 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Sunday Plenary of the 2024 Affirmation International Conference featuring introductory remarks from David Doyle, the presentation of the 2024 Affirmation Mortensen Award, remembrance of those we’ve lost, and a keynote…

Speaker & Session Recordings

Joel McDonald, Remarks from the 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Remarks from Joel McDonald, Affirmation senior vice president, during the 2024 Affirmation International Conference. The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was held October 11-13, 2024, at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center…

Liv Mendoza Haynes, Keynote from 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Keynote from Liv Mendoza Haynes, a modern-day Queer pioneer, during the 2024 Affirmation International Conference. The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was held October 11-13, 2024, at the Ogden Eccles Conference…

Eli McCann, Keynote from 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Keynote from Eli McCann, lawyer, writer, and humorist, during the 2024 Affirmation International Conference. The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was held October 11-13, 2024, at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center…

Queering Mormon History, Kate Mower and Jessica Brieman, 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Dr. Kate Mower and University of Utah Digital Archives Librarian Jessica Brieman explore how to “queer” your life and history by rethinking Mormonism and historical narratives through an LGBTQIA+ lens.…

Dating and Partnering as a Queer Mormon, Lacey Bagley, 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Dr. Lacey Bagley dives into the unique experience of dating and partnering as a queer person with a Mormon background. They explore how LGBTQIA+ Mormons navigate romantic relationships while balancing…

Taylor Petrey, Keynote from 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Keynote from Taylor Petrey, professor of religion and author of Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos, during the 2024 Affirmation International Conference. The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was held October…

Laurie Lee Hall, Keynote from 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Keynote from Laurie Lee Hall, former senior president of Affirmation and author of Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman, during the 2024…

Coming Out After 40, Joe Makston, 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Coming Out after 40: How to Lose Friends, but Find Yourself. Joe Makston has been on a journey that’s taken him through coming out later in life and stepping away…

David Doyle, Remarks from the 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Remarks from David Doyle, Affirmation vice president, during the 2024 Affirmation International Conference. The 2024 Affirmation International Conference was held October 11-13, 2024, at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center in…

Video: Nathan Kitchen presented with the 2024 Affirmation Mortensen Award

Nathan Kitchen, former president of Affirmation and author of The Boughs of Love: Navigating the Queer Latter-day Saint Experience During an Ongoing Restoration, is the recipient of the 2024 Affirmation Mortensen Award. The award winner was announced at the 2024 Affirmation International Conference in Ogden, Utah. Laurie Lee Hall, 2023 winner, presented the award. Other nominees included Wesley Acastre and Joel McDonald.

Nathan Kitchen, Keynote from 2024 Affirmation International Conference

Keynote from Nathan Kitchen, former president of Affirmation and author of The Boughs of Love—Navigating the Queer Latter-day Saint Experience During an Ongoing Restoration, during the 2024 Affirmation International Conference.…