Join Us in Washington, DC April 20-22 for a LGBT/SSA Mormon Conference

Randall Thacker

Affirmation CalendarMarch 10-11 Sunstone Symposium in Kirtland March 18 Family Fellowship event in Provo April 20-22 LGBT Mormon Conference in Washington DC June 1-3 Utah Pride Festival July 25-28 Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City October 19-21 Affirmation Conference in Seattle

by Randall Thacker, Affirmation Senior Vice President

You may have heard of the Circling the Wagons conference that was held in Salt Lake City in November of last year. Well, I’m thrilled to announce that we are helping the Open Stories Foundation (Mormon Stories) put on an East Coast Circling the Wagons conference in Washington, DC the weekend of April 20-22.

The main event will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) building at 3526 Massachusetts Avenue NW. A devotional will be held at the same location on Sunday morning. We will also have a lovely Friday evening social. Details about the Friday evening social, including the venue, will be announced later on.

The purpose of the conference is to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families, friends, church leaders, and allies can gather to acknowledge, explore, and honor shared experiences. Guest speakers include Carol Lynn Pearson, Mitch Mayne, and Julia Hunter.

Topics that will be addressed include:

• Navigating homosexuality while attending church
• What helps (and hurts) when resolving sexual, religious and social conflicts
• A parent’s journey to understanding homosexuality/SSA
• Authenticity as a Mormon Lesbian
• Marriage equality and what it means for LGBT Mormons and their families
• Where do we go from here? What does the future hold for LGBT Mormons?

A standard registration price of $37 will cover the cost of Saturday’s conference and Saturday’s catered meal. If your budget prevents you from paying $37, you can select as little as $10 for registration from a drop-down menu on the registration page. Similarly, organizers are asking for a $7 donation to cover the Friday reception food.

Register today by going to the following website: http://mormonstories.org/?p=2479. We look forward to seeing you this spring in Washington, DC the weekend of April 20-22.

Please spread the word and bring your family, friends, church leaders, and fellow church members and allies. If you would like to participate as a speaker, panelist for a particular topic, or help provide musical or logistical support please contact me. The more people involved, the better the conference!

Randall Thacker