Gamofites
Encyclopedia
Gamofites is an organization of Latter-day Saint gay fathers, but is not a religious organization. Because Mormonism
contains many "ites" —Nephite
s, Lamanite
s, Jaredite
s, etc.— the group shortened Gay Mormon Fathers to Ga-mo-fites. Membership in Gamofites is open to any gay father of Mormon background and his partner.
Some Gamofites are married and are just coming to terms with being gay, while others have been living openly as gay men for many years. The organization has built a network of social, spiritual, and emotional support for its members.
The main function of Gamofites is to support gay Mormon fathers with love and understanding. This is done through an informal network of friendships (often on the Internet
) and through formal weekend retreats. As the number of Gamofites has grown, the number of retreats has increased. Each region holds at least two retreats per year. In its support for the sexuality of its members, Gamofites dissents from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' official doctrine on homosexuality.
In addition, the organization publishes a newsletter
; prepares position papers on homosexuality, fatherhood, gay-straight relationships, and Christian
teachings for people grappling with these issues; and publicizes and promotes Gamofite activities.
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
contains many "ites" —Nephite
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
s, Lamanite
Lamanite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of a dark-skinned nation of indigenous Americans that battled with the light-skinned Nephite nation...
s, Jaredite
Jaredite
The Jaredites are a people written of in the Book of Mormon, principally in the Book of Ether. In the Book of Ether, the Jaredites are described as the descendants of Jared and his brother, at the time of the Tower of Babel. According to the Book of Mormon, the people fled across the Ocean via...
s, etc.— the group shortened Gay Mormon Fathers to Ga-mo-fites. Membership in Gamofites is open to any gay father of Mormon background and his partner.
Some Gamofites are married and are just coming to terms with being gay, while others have been living openly as gay men for many years. The organization has built a network of social, spiritual, and emotional support for its members.
The main function of Gamofites is to support gay Mormon fathers with love and understanding. This is done through an informal network of friendships (often on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
) and through formal weekend retreats. As the number of Gamofites has grown, the number of retreats has increased. Each region holds at least two retreats per year. In its support for the sexuality of its members, Gamofites dissents from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' official doctrine on homosexuality.
In addition, the organization publishes a newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
; prepares position papers on homosexuality, fatherhood, gay-straight relationships, and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
teachings for people grappling with these issues; and publicizes and promotes Gamofite activities.
See also
- Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian MormonsAffirmation: Gay & Lesbian MormonsAffirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons is an international organization for gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and intersex people who identify as members or ex-members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
- Criticism of Mormonism
- Ex-MormonEx-MormonEx-Mormon refers to a disaffiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any of its schismatic breakoffs, collectively called "Mormonism". Ex-Mormons, sometimes referred to as Exmo, typically neither believe in nor affiliate with the LDS church. In contrast, Jack Mormons may believe...
- Gay parenting
- LGBT-welcoming church programsLGBT-welcoming church programsLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender affirming religious groups are religious groups that welcome LGBT members and do not consider homosexuality to be a sin. They include entire religious denominations, as well as individual churches and synagogues...
- Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHomosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHomosexual acts are prohibited by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Law of Chastity, as well as other sexual acts outside the bonds of marriage. Violating the Law of Chastity may result in excommunication...
External links
- Official webpage
- ABC News: Gay Mormons Face Excommunication Gamofites is briefly mentioned