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Quite soon after I came out, they (my parents) took an opportunity to express to my brothers and their wives their determination that nothing would be allowed to break the circle of love that binds all of us together as a family.
A few months ago, the Spirit moved upon me to do something to fellowship my transgender and gender variant brothers and sisters. I wanted to provide a safe, non-judgmental, loving way to help my brothers and sisters continue to live a spiritual life, even when circumstances may have closed them out of the circle of fellowship within the church.
In the opening of her talk, she said, “I am openly gay and an active Mormon.” I wanted to cheer! It was the first time I had heard the word “gay” spoken from a Mormon chapel pulpit. She continued to relay her story of self discovery and becoming comfortable being her authentic self.
Por Rene Martinez Torres En mi camino al trabajo solía pasar diariamente enfrente a una capilla. Cada vez que lo hacía sentía como si un imán atrajese mi atención a…
Marge and Dr. William Bradshaw were awarded with Affirmation’s Ally Award at the closing luncheon of the Annual International Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at the University Guest House and Conference Center. Affirmation – LGBT Mormons, Families & Friends extends its fullest appreciation and honor for the dedication, love, service and sacrifice of Marge and Bill throughout almost three decades. THANK YOU!!!
I want every Mormon bishop to know what he is asking of the gay youth he counsels. I want him to lead with compassion and put his judgments aside. I want him to support these youth, whether they choose to stay in the Church or not. Don’t crush that youth’s hopes and dreams demanding a commitment to celibacy. Let them find themselves and work through complications that you haven’t even considered. Listen and allow the spirit to edify both you and the gay youth in front of you.
Once I had accepted myself, the self esteem issues melted away. I came to terms with my religion. I realized I could never leave the church. I am a Mormon; being gay will not change that. I am gay; being a Mormon will not change that. I am not some mistake that God made, he knows me and he wants me to be happy.
“That means LGBT individuals are welcome to come to church regardless of where they are in their personal lives — single and living under the confines of the policy as we understand it today, married to a partner of their same gender, or dating someone new every night. There is no Bishop’s interview to sit in the pews on Sunday. There is no test to take to come to Sacrament or any of our meetings or events. Everyone is welcome, just as they are.”
Historically the LGBT Mormon community has tended to bifurcate on either side of a fault line of orthodox faith versus sexual identity and/or gender identity. LGBT Mormon organizations have generally preferred to prescribe specific solutions, either by offering to help individuals “overcome” same-sex attraction, or ease the transition out of Mormonism. Affirmation is trying to preserve a balance that empowers individuals and encourages them to self-determine within a context of loving community.