Laurie Lee Hall
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025 | 7:30-9:00 pm MDT
WHERE:
Home of Jana and Rob Spangler
2013 E Lincoln Cir, Holladay, UT 84124
Thanks to Jana and Rob for hosting this gathering in their home
THE CONVERSATION:
At a time when the value and validity of the transgender experience is being questioned we will explore through Laurie Lee’s life her observations in general and as a prior and very engaged member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The title of her book—Dictates of Conscience—suggests the great challenge, courage, and faith her transition required, especially where she was in her life when she transitioned. What were her greatest fears? What encouraged her to move ahead and what discouraged her? Why did she not transition earlier? What would she suggest for those who are considering transitioning but who are not sure if that is the right path for them?
I also hope to explore the following: Is the questioning of gender transition of some individuals and ages without any merit or are there valid concerns in some cases? How best to approach those concerns, especially in regards to children, teens, sports, and incarceration? How can we who subscribe to the Christian ethics of “loving our enemy” better support trans folk by walking our talk? Would seeking first to understand those who see this issue differently than us help them to also seek to understand trans people and the difficulties they face?
ABOUT LAURIE LEE HALL: 
Laurie’s growing-up years were defined by the conflict between her physical condition as a boy and her inherent identity as a girl. Unable to explain or resolve her gender dysphoria, she committed to living her adult life as a male. Raised in New England and trained in architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, eventually becoming chief architect of its temples and an ecclesiastical leader. Hall eventually received spiritual confirmation and personally accepted that she was transgender and always had been resulting in her excommunication from her church.
Laurie Lee has served on the executive committee of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends. In 2023, she became the first transgender recipient of Affirmation’s Paul Mortensen Award for leadership within the LGBTQ/Mormon-adjacent community. She and her partner, Nancy Beaman, live in Kentucky and have nine children and twenty-four grandchildren.
From Jay in seeking to understand some of the concerns people have regarding gender transition:
https://www.thefp.com/p/whistleblower-jamie-reed-courage-admit-wrong?utm_source=publication-search
https://www.thefp.com/p/the-beginning-of-the-end-of-gender?utm_source=publication-search
https://www.thefp.com/p/watching-lia-thomas-win?utm_source=publication-search
https://www.thefp.com/p/biden-transgender-federal-prison-policy-rhonda-fleming?utm_source=publication-search
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECORDED ZOOM CONVERSATION
I’m delighted those who can’t attend in person can join virtually. I’m sorry I can’t give you the same care and attention given to those in person. Please contact me if you have suggestions for improvement.
- Click on the Zoom link above for either last month’s recorded conversation (if the event date has passed) or the live conversation now. If you are participating in the live conversation keep reading.
- When you are connected you will either be waiting in a lobby and will let be in shortly or you will immediately be able to see other participants. Please make sure that you are muted and that your video is on if you choose to have it on. (Love to see and hear you live, but we’ll take curious lurkers also.)
- If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. OR maybe the problem is on my end so please let me know if it is.
ZOOM ETIQUETTE:
- Please mute your microphone before entering and when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else.
- If you are going to multitask—not recommended—or wander around a lot, please turn off your video and make sure you are muted. No one wants to be distracted by you eating or using the loo.
