J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Affirmation: the Gay and Lesbian Mormons records
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons (Organization)
ACCN 1867
6.75 linear feet
13 boxes
1977-2010
Affirmation: the Gay and Lesbian Mormons records contains correspondence, conference materials, flyers, programs, brochures, newsletters, and news clippings, most dealing with the Affirmation organization. Affirmation is a non-profit organization formed in 1977 and serves members of the LDS Church by holding conferences, workshops, programs, and publishing newsletters all over the United States. Other organizations represented in the records include the Gamofites (Gay Mormon Fathers) and the Family Fellowship Organization.
English
The Affirmation organization (formed in 1977) Is a non-profit that serves Gay and Lesbian members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) by holding conferences, workshops, programs, and publishing a number of newsletters all over the United States.
The Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons records (1977-2004) contains correspondence, conference materials, flyers, programs, brochures, newsletters, and news clippings. Most of the records primarily deal with Affirmation, as well as the Gamofites (derived from Gay Mormon Fathers) and the Family Fellowship Organization.
The first addendum (1985-2000) contains correspondence, transcripts of e-mail messages, a petition, a handbook, by-laws, newsletters, articles, essays, and other publications regarding the Affirmation organization. This information pertains to boxes 4-5 of the collection.
The second addendum (1977-2000) contains correspondence, financial and organizational materials, newsletters, and other documents pertaining to the Gay and Lesbian Mormons. This information pertains to boxes 6-11 of the collection.
The third addendum (1978-2004) contains correspondence, financial statements, minutes of meetings, pamphlets, and membership statements. These documents are in relationship to the Los Angeles Chapter of Affirmation and are found in box 12.
The fourth addendum (2006-2010) contains copies of
Affinity, a monthly Affirmation newsletter. These materials are found in box 12 folders 20-21 and in box 13.
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Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Boxes 1-3 were donated by Jay Bell in 2001.
Boxes 4-5 were donated by Jay Bell in 2001.
Boxes 6-11 were donated by Jay Bell in 2001.
Box 12 was donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2005.
Box 12 folder 18 was donated in 2005.
Box 12 folder 19 was donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2006.
Box 12 folder 20 was donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2007.
Box 12 folder 21 was donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2008.
Box 12 folder 22 was donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2009.
Box 13 folder 1 was donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2010.
Box 13 folders 2 and 3 were donated by Hugo Olaiz in 2013.
Processed by Sabrina Baksh-Riches, Kate Kimball, Sarah Goodrich, Lindsey Moore, Hannah Waddel and Betsey Welland from 2001-2019.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons (Organization)--Archives
Latter Day Saint gay people
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Latter Day Saint churches
Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Sexuality
Correspondence
Programs (Publications)
Brochures
Newsletters
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
General Materials
Correspondence
1994-2001
1
1
Affirmation, Organization Information, History, and Conference Materials
1995-1998
1
2
"Different Dimensions of Gay Fatherhood"
1999
1
3
Family Fellowship, Pamphlets and Flyers
1
4
Flyers
1998
1
5
Programs and Brochures
1996-1997
1
6
Newsclippings
1
7
Newsletters
Advent
1995
2
1
Affinity
1992-1999
2
2-9
Affirmation, Chapter at Large
1996
2
10
Affirmation, Arizona Chapter
1993-1998
2
11
Affirmation, Las Vegas Chapter
1996-1998
2
12
Affirmation, Los Angeles Chapter
1994
2
13
Affirmation, Orange County and Long Beach Chapter
1994-1995
2
14
Affirmation, New York City Chapter
1998
2
15
Affirmation, San Diego Chapter
1993-1994
2
16
Affirmation, San Francisco Chapter
1993-1997
2
17
Affirmation, Wasatch Chapter
1991-2001
2
18-21
Affirmation, Washington, D.C., Chapter
1993-1998
2
22-23
Flamingo News
1989
3
1
Gamofite News
1995-2000
3
2-3
Gotham Gazette
1995
3
4
The Great Lakes Beacon
1992
3
5
The Open Closet
1994-2000
3
6-7
Reflections
1994-2000
3
8-10
Reunion: The Family Fellowship Newsletter
1994-2000
3
11
Theocentric
1993-1995
3
12
General materials
Alan Blodgett, Correspondence
1995
4
1
E-Mail Transcripts
1995
4
2
Affirmation, General Charter and By-Laws
1998
4
3
Affirmation
General Handbook
4
4
Affirmations: A Select Anthology of Writings for Gay and Lesbian Mormons
1985
4
5
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Public Referral Directory
1996
4
6
Petition
4
7
This folder contains a petition to the general authorities of the LDS Church from gay and lesbian Mormons, their parents, and other family members and friends regarding church policies.
Various Publications
Kathleen Baoatwright, "The Dilemma of the Lesbian/Gay Family"
5
1
"Decisions of the Soul,"
1995
5
2
Cloy Jenkins, Prologue: An Examination of the Mormon Attitude towards Homosexuality
1989
5
3
Jeffrey R. Jensen, "Fabricating Then Treating a Mental Illness: A Critique of the So-Called 'Reparative Therapies,'" Outline
1998
5
4
James Kent, "Philly News," Volumes 2-5
1994-1998
5
5-8
Alan David Lach, Homosexuality and Scripture
1988-1989
5
9
Mac Madsen, "The Pernicious Nature of Homophobia"
5
10
New Direction
5
11
Robert A. Rees, "In a Dark Time the Eye Begins to See,"
2000
5
12
Walter Lee Szymanski, "Ministry with the Lesbian/Gay Community"
5
13
Correspondence
Affinity
1995-1996
6
1
Cornerstone
1996-1998
6
2
Dialogue
1981-1982
6
3
General Correspondence
1995-1998
6
4
Q-Saints
1995-1996
6
5
Email Reponses
1996-1997
6
6
Renewal Forms
6
7
Addresses
1995-1999
6
8-9
Organizational Materials
Financial Documents
1995-1998
7
By-Laws
1985-1992
8
1
Constitution
8
2
General Handbook
8
3
Meeting Minutes and Literature
1985-1986
8
4
General Council
1985-1986
8
5
Subcommittee on Homosexuality
1981
8
6
Affirmation History
1977-1981
8
7
Homosexual Orientation
1981
8
8
Public Relations and Education
1987-1990
8
9
H.E.L.P. (Homsexual Education for Latter-day Saint Parents)
1984-1986
8
10
Business Cards
8
11
Forms
8
12
Leadership
1997-1998
8
13-14
Chapter-at-large
1986
8
15
New Inquiries
1985
8
16
Affirmation Lists
1995-1997
8
17
Literature
1980-1988
8
18
Newsclipping and Articles
1978-1998
8
19
Group Chapters
Arizona Chapter
1986-1987
9
1
Colorado Chapter
1996
9
2
Gamofites
1995-1996
9
3-4
Las Vegas Chapter
1998
9
5
Los Angeles Chapter
1986-1995
9
6
New York Chapter
1986
9
7
Northwest Gamofites
1998
9
8
San Diego Chapter
1986-1987
9
9
San Francisco Chapter
1983-1987
9
10
San Francisco Gamofites
1994-1998
9
11
Utah Gamofites, 1992-1998
9
12
Wasatch Affirmation
1986-2000
9
13
Sunstone
1984-1985
9
14
Black Mountain Campground
1985
9
15
Family Home Evening Topics
9
16
Luncheon
1998
9
17
Palm Springs
1979-1985
9
18
"Reno Bugle"
1989
9
19
Miscellaneous Documents
1988
9
20
Conferences
National Conference
1986-1997
10
1
National Affirmation Conference
1994-1995
10
2
General Conference
1988
10
3
Seattle Conference
1994-1997
10
4
Palm Springs Conference
1995-1997
10
5
Leadership Conference
1997
10
6
Affirmation Conference
1998
10
7
Conference
1998
10
8-9
Phoenix Conference
1998
10
10
"Everything's Coming up Roses," Gamofite Retreat
1999
10
11
Newsletters
"Affinity"
1981-1998
11
1-8
"Affirmation"
1995-2000
11
9
"Flamingo"
1988
11
10
"Gamofite News"
1998
11
11
"Gotham Gazette"
1995
11
12
"New Direction"
Numbers 1-10
11
13
"The Open Closet"
1997
11
14
"Reflections"
1995-1997
11
15
"Reunion"
1997-1999
11
16
"Wasatch Affirmation"
1997
11
17
General Materials
Correspondence
1983-1985
12
1
Correspondence regarding meetings, revisions of the constitution, and membership.
Financial Statements
1981-1984
12
2
Los Angeles chapter monthly and yearly financial expenditures.
Affirmation Constitution
1984
12
3
Los Angeles chapter constituion which addresses the ogranizations purpose, membership, legislation, by laws, and the appointment or removal of officers.
Minutes of Meetings
1982-1985
12
4
Includes schedules, topics of discussion, and number attended.
Agenda
1984-1985
12
5
Schedules for board meetings.
Board and Committee Members
1984
12
6
Names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Membership Statement
1984
12
7
A tally of members and the number of individuals and organizations that receive Affinity newsletters.
Official Ballots
1984
12
8
Election of five members for the Los Angeles Chapter Board of Directors.
Officer Meeting Notes
1983
12
9
Handwritten administrative notes.
Affinity Newsletters
2003-2004
12
10
Monthly newsletters issued by Affirmation committee members.
Program
1998
12
11
20th Annual International Conference held in Portland, Oregon.
Pamphlets
1978-1985
12
12
Affirmation issued pamphlets that discuss Mormon attitudes towards homosexuality and excommunication. Folder also contains an anthology of writings by gay and lesbian Mormons.
Photos
1999-2001
12
13
A collection of cropped photos from yearly conferences.
Affirmation Business Card
12
14
Gay 800
1984
12
15
National toll free gay information.
A Plea to Seek Revelation on Homosexuality and Let Our Light Shine
12
16
Newspaper Clippings
1984-2003
12
17
Articles in relationship to homosexuals and the LDS Church.
Affinity Masters
2004-2005
12
18
Unto All Peoples and Other Publications of The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ
1988-1995
12
19
Affinity Newsletters
2006
12
20
Affinity Newsletters
2007
12
21
Affinity Newsletters
2008
12
22
Affinity Newsletters
2009
13
1
Affinity Newsletters
2010
13
2
Affinity: The First 22 Years
2002
13
3