Gay, ex-Mormon group starts site

A group for gay Mormons, former Mormons and others not affiliated with the LDS Church has launched a new Web site.

Affirmation announced it had launched www.keepthemandlovethem.org at a news conference Friday morning at the University of Utah,

"If we can't keep a family intact, the rest doesn't matter," said David Melson, executive director of Affirmation.

Melson said his group and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still disagree on some issues, but he believes they are closer than in the past.

"We want to find the areas we can agree on," he said. "Working together, there is so much more we can accomplish."

Ann Craig, director of Religion, Faith & Values in New York City, is in Salt Lake and said parents do not have to choose between their loved ones and their faith.

"We need to work together to stop the harm," she said.

Affirmation, founded in 1977, is holding its annual conference this weekend in Salt Lake City.

— Lynn Arave