The march with Affirmation. Religion and Politics Pt. 2

Fat, food, weight loss. Blah blah blah. That is not what this post is about. Sorry!! Instead this is about my Mormon faith (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, aka LDS) and my activism in the marriage equality movement.

Affirmation group

This post is about my experience marching with Affirmation (a group organized of LGBT Mormons and their straight allies) at the New York City 2012 pride parade. I'll go ahead and let you know that there was all of the typical, and stereotypical, things associated with gay pride parades. Drag queens, club dancers, men in leather and chains, and rainbows to name a few. It's nothing I haven't seen before, as when I got out of college I worked with the gay community in Roanoke, Virginia as the Education Coordinator for an HIV/AIDS/STD Division at the Council of Community Services in that city. I coordinated community outreach and education promoting safe sex, and worked as a Ryan White caseworker for a client with AIDS (I love and miss you, Alvin).  I was even in a drag show once, although the queens dolled me up to be Little Kim for a group performance of Lady Marmalade. Interesting experience nonetheless. 


First and foremost was the loving and reception we (my friends Lyndsey and Mallory went with me) got from the Affirmation crowd as we gathered for the parade and at the meet-and-greet bbq the night before.  (A HUGE thank you to Tina for her gracious hospitality and the bomb-a** feast at her home!)  Loving appreciation abounded.  As for the parade, what I also saw was a lot of smiling, happy, excited people on the sidewalks. The same level of excitement for the entire parade, I also saw when our group marched through the streets. I saw a TON of wide eyes, nudging neighbors, and resulting nods and mouthed "thank you's"from the crowds. (Oh, I even got an "Oh my heck! Dangit!" from one guy who apparently knew Mormon-speak.) On top of that were high fives, hugs, knowing looks, and even a few who shouted "Hey! I'm a Mormon!" with excited, thankful eyes that their Mormon counterparts were advocating for them. We got a few thumbs down and a "get out of here" once, but I'm suspecting a healthy amount of residual resentment for the discrimination and perceived harm that they felt the LDS church has done to homosexuals and those in the marriage equality movement.  Probably the best one-on-one I got was a huge, sweaty hug from a "bear" of a man on the sidelines who said scratchily into my ear, "This means so much! Thank you!" I also got a chance to talk to a couple at the very end of the parade who were astonished and grateful that of all people, MORMONS, were taking a stand and expressing love for their LGBTQ brothers and sisters. And I got to talk politics with those guys, which was cool by me. :)

The sidewalk crowd

What the day consisted of was waiting for many hours for the parade to start for our section. There were active Mormons, inactive Mormons, and even adamant ex-Mormons in our group.  But we all united under the same banner for the same reason--love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We were behind the Occupy Wallstreet-ers, and that wasn't even that bad of an experience except for their very outward expressions of civil disobedience--but that's to be expected from that group.  We dressed in church clothes, looking very polished I might add, and fellowshipped, shared food and stories, and created friendships that I anticipate (and hope) will carry on into the next life. Contrary to what I'm sure is popular belief (in the church), LGBT Mormons have the same standards. They attend weekly sacrament meetings, keep the word of wisdom, have served missions, and come from families sealed in the temple, just to name a few traditional cultural activities of people in the church.  These are people that I would be honored to sit next to in church, hear a lesson from, or go on a service assignment with.  People who respect their neighbors, serve callings, and strive to share the gospel with others. They are good Mormons, dangit! 

LGBTQ Mormons

So anyway, for anyone who wondered what it could possibly be like to be around GAY Mormons, there you have it. They are regular people who do regular LDS things. SURPRISE! Preconceived notions squashed. You're welcome. 


I always feel a great sense of loss when it's time for me to leave people who I've developed a special connection with. I get wistful and sad. But to each of them, as I left, I said, "Goodbye, until we see each other in this life, or the next." And one way or the other, I know I will. And for all of you new friends who I was blessed and honored to meet, I leave you with this hymn that I love. And I love you.

My next post will be a little more controversial perhaps. I have some things to say on the "condoning behavior" argument. I also have a little to say about "loving the sinner and hating the sin." You'll just have to come back. I'll also get back to posting stuff about food and losing weight, this just happens to be what's powerfully on my mind at the moment.