News from Affirmation
As a community, we are no strangers to this loss, and we rally around and support the Asian-American members of our queer community who these events have most impacted. We recognize the contributions of Asian Americans in defending the rights of ALL citizens and, with the same compassion, hold space for these beloved communities during their time of immense sorrow.
On January 1st, Melissa-Malcolm King, Francisco Ruiz, and Kate Mower began their terms as president, senior vice president, and vice president of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends. This presidency forms Affirmation’s executive committee. The executive committee serves as the leadership of the board of directors and as the executive of the organization, overseeing its day-to-day work.
Melissa-Malcolm wrote that they wanted to focus on “creating a broader opportunity to increase leadership development among marginalized groups, raising awareness and education for intersectional experiences, with a focus on supporting transgender, BIPOC, and disabled individuals.”
Throughout its history, Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends has embraced new opportunities to connect with the LGBTQIA+ Latter-day Saint community, whether with a printed newsletter sent through the postal mail, early online discussion boards, our various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And now, TikTok.
Francisco Ruiz has served in numerous leadership roles in Affirmation and has supported other leaders and members worldwide to make a difference in the lives of others. He is the recipient of the 2022 Affirmation Mortensen Award.
Current Affirmation Board Member Melissa-Malcolm King was the only presidential candidate to declare by the October 7 deadline and has nominated fellow board members Francisco Ruiz and Kate Mower as senior vice president and vice president, respectively. Once elected and ratified, they will begin their service on January 1st, 2023.
It’s not too late to register to attend what is sure to be a fun and affirming experience for all along the spectrums of sexual orientation, gender identity, belief, and relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Candidates for Affirmation President must declare their candidacy by October 7th. Declared candidates will be announced at the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on October 8th. More information, including a timeline for the election and how to declare your candidacy, can be found on the Affirmation Presidential Election page.
As Affirmation begins to return to in-person activities and conferences worldwide, it is important that the beautiful virtual connections created over the past two years are not lost. That’s why we hosted Affirmation Connections on April 23, 2022.