SALT LAKE CITY – Each person has a light, and that light should be celebrated, organizers of an annual three-day conference attracting both gay and heterosexual participants said.
"Our group represents the whole spectrum of how people feel light," said Randall Thacker, president of Affirmation.
Affirmation is a group describing itself as apolitical and a place to provide support, community and education for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and as Mormon, both practicing and non-practicing.
It will host its 34th annual international conference Thursday through Saturday Sept. 17 - 20, at Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. The conference is on the same weekend as the Provo Pride Festival, scheduled Saturday.
Theme of this year's conference is "Celebrate the Light Within," and is a call for attendees to celebrate each person's light and particularly, the light of Christ, Thacker said.
"We hope to help people continue or rekindle a relationship with the Spirit to help them find that positive, healthy and productive path forward for them as an LGBT Mormon so they can thrive and share their light and gifts with others and while they do this, they will reflect the light of Christ," he said.
Terryl and Fiona Givens, authors of "The Crucible of Doubt" and "The God Who Weeps," will speak at this year’s conference during the Sunday devotional. According to Terryl Givens, the couple sees their participation in the conference as a way to "be loving and welcoming of all people in our fold."
Givens described the theology of Mormonism as "universal" and "generous," but said "rhetoric has not always been true and faithful to that original vision."
"We believe that the gospel can work in everyone’s lives and we’re happy to be a part of that effort," he said.
Thacker said he expects speakers to discuss the relationship between faith and doubt. This would be especially pertinent to the LGBT audience since many have experienced a faith crisis, Thacker said.
Other speakers "will be sharing about their experiences of being LGBT and Mormon and how they found a positive, healthy and productive path forward in their lives in such a way that they have brought their talents to bear in sharing their light with others," Thacker said.
Music from the song "Celebrating the Light" written by LDS singer and songwriter Michael McLean who will be speaking at the conference, plays throughout a promotional video for the 2015 International Affirmation Conference.
Other speakers include Neon Trees lead singer Tyler Glenn, who is LDS and recently came out as gay; Sara Jade Woodhouse, a transgender woman who is active in the LDS Church; and Kate Kendall, who grew up in the LDS Church and is executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
"I'm looking forward to sharing my story to this specific group of people and talking about my feelings, my testimony and my struggles. I think this will be a humbling and edifying event," Glenn said in a statement.
For more information or to sign up for the conference, visit the conference website. People can buy tickets for the full weekend or choose from al la carte options.
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