Last week I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual conference: Creating Change. This conference is a series of workshops, day long institutes, and other educational events designed to empower Queer* activists by strengthening our core values while encouraging growth, gain, and unique networking opportunities. With an expanding emphasis on intersectional justice, comprehensive education on trans identities and even sexual empowerment, Creating Change is an incredible opportunity to be an even better activist.

This was my first Creating Change, and I spent much of my time at the Soulforce table, telling people about the next Equality Ride and the other great things we do. I spoke to hundreds of people throughout the week, handed out tons of flyers and even gave out a bunch of prizes. In addition to the general festivities, there were some activities that reminded me of how important the work is that we do here at Soulforce.

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This past Friday Soulforce helped sponsor a rally in front of the Capital in Washington DC urging our senators to delay their vacations until a repeal of the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy (DADT) could be repealed. It appears now that a vote will soon come in both the house and the senate.

We urge our elected officials to take the cause of justice. We ask them to end this policy that forces people to lie in an organization where honesty and integrity are otherwise expected. We ask all of our supporters to continue calling their senators and representatives in order to let them know you support repeal of DADT.

To reach your senator’s or representative’s office
call the Capitol switchboard at
(202) 224-3121.

Please continue your generous support to Soulforce so that we can continue our fight for equality on this and other issues! Donate today!

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about my recent assignment to attend the 2010 Affirmation conference in San Francisco. Affirmation is a group that caters to LGBTQ folks who have or have had a connection with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the Mormon Church. The Mormon Church is one of the fastest growing religions in the country, and has been for some time. Additionally, they are an outspoken critic of LGBTQ identities and are openly against extending equal rights and protections under the law to LGBTQ individuals. There are nearly 13 million members of the Mormon Church, and just under half reside here in the United States. Most recently the church has come under fire for being a major financial contributor to the passing of Proposition 8, which repealed the right for same sex couples to marry under California state law.

I was most nervous about attending this conference because of my own history with the Mormon Church. I was raised Mormon. I served a two year mission for the church from December 2005- December 2007. The Mormon mission is a rite of passage in the church and a commandment for all healthy young men between the ages of 19 and 26. I served my mission in Orlando Florida where I was required to learn and teach in the Spanish language.

The mission is hard. For two years you work 16 hour days with no vacation time or even a full day off each week. I believe I was a good missionary. I worked hard, I was obedient, and I led others in the mission to do the same. I held the highest leadership position a missionary can hold in the mission field, that of Assistant to the President.

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Greetings Friend!

It is my pleasure to announce to you an educational symposium the will be held in Philadelphia, PA on November 5-7th, 2010.

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