2022 Affirmation International Conference

Conference Summary

The 2022 Affirmation International Conference was held October 7th - 9th at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme of the conference was "Rooted in Love."

Friday, October 7th, 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. That evening's plenary included a wonderful dinner and keynote speakers Sue Robbins, David Hayward, and Michael Todd, who also performed.

Saturday, October 8th, began with a plenary featuring keynote speaker Roni Jo Draper. During the session, Affirmation Treasurer Paul Winward provided a financial report, and it was announced that Melissa-Malcolm King was the only member to declare their candidacy for Affirmation president and that they had nominated Francisco Ruiz as senior vice president and Kate Mower as vice president. Following the plenary were affinity group meetings, workshops, sessions especially for church leaders, and suicide prevention training. The day ended with a dance, including music and lighting provided by a professional DJ.

Sunday, October 9th, featured a plenary session focused on spirituality with keynote speaker Paul Cardall, who also performed. The Affirmation Conference Choir performed O Love by Elaine Hagenberg. The 2022 Mortensen Award was presented to Francisco Ruiz.

The Youth Track met during the entirety of the conference with their schedule of activities, including performing David Archuleta's Glorious during Sunday's plenary.

All plenaries and church leader sessions were streamed virtually and recorded for later viewing.

Affirmation Executive Committee

Nathan
Kitchen
President
Jairo Fernando
González Díaz
Senior Vice President
Laurie Lee
Hall
Vice President

Affirmation Board of Directors

Chelsea
Gibbs
Shauna
Jones
Melissa-Malcolm
King
Mike
Klein
Cristina
Moraes
Kate
Mower
Juan Carlos
Peralta
Heidi
Ramirez
Francisco
Ruiz

Conference Planning Committee

Nathan
Kitchen
Affirmation President
James
Hudgins
Conference Coordinator
Joel
McDonald
Director of Operations
Grayson
Gwilliam
Music Coordinator
Heidi
Ramirez
Parents/Allies Coordinator
Shauna
Jones
Youth Coordinator
Ron
Raynes
Affinity Group Coordinator
Sue
Raynes
At-Large
Justis
Tuia
At-Large

Special Thanks To

Drew
Armstrong
AV Specialist
Stephen
Spencer
AV Specialist
Sam
Morse
AV Specialist
Heidi
Rodeback
Pianist
Alejandro
Alcántara
Logo Design

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

Letter from Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox

Plenary Recordings

Friday Plenary

Friday Plenary, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

The complete Friday plenary of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on Friday, October 7th, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Saturday Plenary 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Saturday Plenary, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

The full Saturday plenary of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference featuring keynote speaker Roni Jo Draper. October 8th, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sunday Plenary 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Sunday Plenary, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

The full Sunday plenary of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference, October 9th, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Speaker & Session Recordings

Sue Robbins 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Sue Robbins, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Transgender activist Sue Robbins speaking at the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on Friday, October 7th, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

David Hayward 2022 Affirmation International Conference

David Hayward, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Cartoonist known as “NakedPastor” David Hayward speaking at the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on Friday, October 7th, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Michael Todd 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Michael Todd, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Describing himself as a “gay country guy,” Michael Todd’s journey to self-acceptance led him to return to his roots. Today, he is a country music singer and songwriter based out of Salt Lake City who is on his way to Nashville, the music capital of the world.

Roni Jo Draper 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Roni Jo Draper, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Roni Jo Draper, Ph.D. (Yurok|she.her) is a storyteller, educator, filmmaker, and activist. In her recent work she has turned to Indigenous storytelling and other art forms to share stories that center the lives of Indigenous peoples.

Supporting LGBTQ Teens

Supporting LGBTQ+ Teens, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

LGBTQ+ teens raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints face unique challenges, as do those who love and support them. Over the past two years, researchers at Utah State University have conducted interviews with 38 LGBTQ+ teens and their parents as well as with 25 LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints about ways to best support LGBTQ+ teens.

Ministering to LGBTQ+ Members

Ministering to LGBTQ+ Members, 2022 Affirmation International Conference (Spanish Only)

Panel discussion on how church leaders within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can better minister to LGBTQ+ members. This session was a part of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 8th.

Nathan Kitchen 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Nathan Kitchen, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Nathan Kitchen, president of Affirmation, opened the final session of Affirmation’s 2022 International Conference speaking about our personal spirituality and faith and our responsibility for our own spiritual wellness.

Paul Cardall 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Paul Cardall, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

With 11 No. 1 Billboard albums, 30 million monthly listeners and 3 million subscribed fans on social media. Paul’s music has been streamed on platforms worldwide 3 billion times, which makes him one of the most listened to artists of our time.

Mortensen Award 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Mortensen Award Presentation, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Presentation of the 2022 Affirmation Mortensen Award by Olin Thomas, Chair of the Mortensen Award Committee, during the Sunday plenary of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on October 9, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jaime Caro 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Jaime Caro, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Affirmation Philippines President Jaime Caro speaking at the Sunday plenary of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Laurie Lee Hall 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Laurie Lee Hall, 2022 Affirmation International Conference

Affirmation Vice President Laurie Lee Hall speaking and reading a chapter of her soon-to-be-released memoir to be published by Signature Books during the Sunday plenary of the 2022 Affirmation International Conference on October 9, 2022, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors

QSaltLake Magazine
Platinum Sponsor
Dan Neumann
Gold Sponsor
Encircle
Gold Sponsor
Newport Healthcare
Silver Sponsor
Utah Center for Evidence Based Treatment
Silver Sponsor
Celebrate Therapy
Silver Sponsor
The LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychotherapist Guid of Utah
Silver Sponsor
Latter Gay Stories
Silver Sponsor
Signature Books
Silver Sponsor
Symmetry Solutions
Silver Sponsor