Mormon Church
Agrees to Meet With Gay Mormon Group

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, The Salt 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 The Salt 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)