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North Star (organization)

This article is about the Mormon LGBTQ organization. For other groups and organizations, see North Star (disambiguation).

North Star
North Star Saints
Named afterThe North Star
Founded2006; 19 years ago (2006)[1]
FoundersJay Jacobsen,[2] John Gadd,[3] Ty Mansfield,[4][5] Jeff Bennion[6][3]
Merger ofEvergreen International[7]
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
20-5436300[8]
FocusLGBTQ Mormon people
HeadquartersSalt Lake City, Utah, USA[8]
Area served
Worldwide
SubsidiariesVoices of Hope[7]
AffiliationsReconciliation and Growth Project,[9][10] the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Volunteers21[11] (2024)
Websitewww.northstarsaints.org (formerly NorthStarLDS.org)
Formerly called
North Star International
LGBTQ Mormon topics
A gay flag with an LDS temple seen in the background
Overview articles
Timelines
Media depictions
Current organizations
Previous organizations
Notable people
Latter Day Saint movement portal

North Star Saints is an organization for LGBTQ people in the Latter-day Saint community.[12] North Star is described as a faith-affirming resource for Latter-day Saint people addressing sexual orientation and gender identity topics who desire to follow teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[13] North Star supports the teaching of the LDS Church, including the law of chastity and teachings on homosexuality, which prohibits sexual relationships outside of a legal marriage between one man and one woman, as well as teachings on gender identity and expression. The organization takes "no official position on the origin or mutability of homosexual attractions or gender identity incongruence",[14] and does not "endorse political causes or join political coalitions, including those officially sanctioned by the [LDS] Church."[15]

North Star was founded in 2006.[1] The organization holds an annual conference in Utah, as well as quarterly events, live-streamed firesides, and other smaller events in cities around the United States.[16][17] It also manages several social media discussion groups for different sexual and gender minority demographics, as well as spouses, parents, and other family members.[18]

The organization does not take a position on political issues, but has spoken out against using the suicide of gay LDS members to promote personal political agendas.[19] Evergreen International, a similar organization that for many years operated parallel to North Star,[20] was absorbed into North Star in early 2014.[7]

  1. ^ a b Ring, Trudy (January 3, 2014). "Mormon 'Ex-Gay' Group Shuts Down, Absorbed by Other Organization". The Advocate.
  2. ^ "Jay Jacobsen". Circling the Wagons. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "North Star: Who We Are". North Star. October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  4. ^ Parker, Ray (August 21, 2013). "Openly gay Mormon taught religion classes this summer at BYU". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  5. ^ Mansfield, Ty (October 21, 2021). "Opinion: Balancing the tensions of our Latter-day Saint and LGBTQ conversations". Deseret News. LDS Church. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Jeff Bennion". Meridian Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Fletcher Stack, Peggy (January 14, 2014). "Longtime support group for gay Mormons shuts down: Evergreen International, which used to push reparative therapy, is now part of North Star". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Northstar International Inc". GuideStar. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Fletcher Stack, Peggy (February 22, 2020). "Utah therapists move forward after 'conversion therapy' ban". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  10. ^ Fletcher Stack, Peggy (March 5, 2017). "Opposing sides in Mormon rift unite for survey seeking deeper understanding of gays". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Leadership Team". North Star. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "High-ranking LDS leader weighs in on same-sex attraction". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  13. ^ Bailey, Ben (September 13, 2021). "Support for Navigating your LGBTQ+ and LDS Identity". Orem, Utah: Utah Valley University. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Kempner, Martha (January 13, 2015). "'My Husband's Not Gay': An Insincere Look Inside Lives of Men With Same-Sex Attraction". Rewire News Group. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "Church Leaders". North Star.
  16. ^ "Firesides". North Star. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  17. ^ Wen, Eden (July 8, 2013). "Faithful LDS members attend fireside on same-sex attraction". Daily Universe. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  18. ^ "Email Discussion Groups". North Star. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  19. ^ Samuels, Diana (February 26, 2010), "Memorial held for gay Mormon who committed suicide in Los Altos", San Jose Mercury News
  20. ^ "Evergreen International home page". Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
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