Leaders of the
gay Mormon support group Affirmation are set for an
unprecedented meeting with the Mormon Church's commissioner
of family services, Fred M. Riley, TheSalt Lake Tribune reported Monday.
In the past the
Mormon Church has refused to speak with Affirmation,
which consists of about 2,000 LGBT members. The church's
only previous response had been a letter
declining any sort of meeting. Riley told the
Associated Press in an e-mail that the meeting has been
confirmed for August.
"We're pleased
the church is opening up the possibility for
dialogue," Affirmation executive director Dave Melson told TheSalt Lake Tribune. During its meeting with the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Affirmation
will aim to address various issues that have been
ignored. In the article, Melson suggested issues such
as "historical treatment of gays by the church, which
include recommendations for aversion therapies to 'cure'
homosexuality, recommendations for more effective counseling
methods, and ways to avoid family breakups." (The
Advocate)
