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Through applying the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I found the truth about my own eternal nature, identity, and purpose. I found joy and hope I had begun to fear would never be available to me. I experience the fruits of the spirit like never before.
I am reminded of the young girl I was, who though not athletic like my sisters, would have given anything to just be included on their team even to just sit on the bench with the chance of maybe having my parents decide in late innings that we had a big enough lead to put me in right field!
We are excited to once again embrace LGBTQIA+ current and former Latter-day Saints from around the world at the 2022 Affirmation International Conference. After two years of being virtual, we are returning in person to the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT, October 7-9.
Affirmation Connections is a virtual summit that I hope will become a new annual tradition for Affirmation. This is a one-day virtual event being hosted on April 23, 2022, with seven sessions throughout the day to inform, uplift, and empower LGBTQIA+ current and former Latter-day Saints and their families and friends around the world.
It is hard for me to imagine a Jesus who would not have walked among those whose love and concern lit the Y tonight and would not also have brought his light as well to show love.
Now with the bright red line drawn defining “worthiness” as fully accepting, by way of testimony, all current church leader teachings on LGBTQ issues, even when such teachings have been constantly changing and even reversing (think PoX), I fear that many Queer persons trying to remain in the church, especially transgender members, will become even more marginalized lower-caste souls.
The conversation touched on various topics, including the unique circumstances of queer individuals in and adjacent to the LDS Church, the influence of religious culture and practice on LGBTQIA+ matters in Ukraine, and how to reach more queer individuals in need of support through in-person connections and social media.
Recording of fireside on February 27, 2022. This fireside featured a Q&A panel for parents to come and ask questions of parents who are farther along on the road of knowing they have an LGBTQIA+ child.
Laurie wrote, “As I return to the leadership of the oldest and largest LGBTQIA-led organization at the Queer/Latter-day Saint intersection, I renew my commitment to help each of you to define your individual journey — rather than being defined by others — including power centers to whom we may have once yielded our authority.”