S.O.S.: STORIES OF SERVICE, OF SAVING LIVES AND GIVING HOPE. LOOKING BACK OVER THIRTY YEARS OF AFFIRMATION: GAY AND LESBIAN MORMONS, AND TO THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS “Affirmation/Gay Mormons United (G.M.U.)” began with a closely-knit group of gay and lesbian students from BYU exasperated at the number of Mormon suicides perceived to be a direct outcome of Church policies. Affirmation was founded 11 June 1977, during the Salt Lake Conference on Human Rights. Soon after, Affirmation saw chapters created in a dozen US cities, as well as in England, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. In the past eight years, a dozen new chapters have sprung up in Central and South America. This presentation offers a brief history and features recorded messages from national leaders. It will also look at hopes and goals for the organization’s next thirty years.

DUANE JENNINGS, BRIAN G. BENNINGTON