Former NFL great Steve Young will be one of the keynote speakers at a three-day conference in Salt Lake City exploring how the Mormon faith is dealing with gays and lesbians.
The 32nd annual Affirmation International Conference begins Friday and runs through Sunday. Affirmation president Randall Hacker says he's expecting about 300 people at the gathering.
Steve Young and his wife, Barb, are scheduled to speak Saturday night. Young is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He played collegiately at Brigham Young University.
Hacker says having Young speak at the conference is yet another sign of a movement afoot among straight Mormons to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender brethren.
The Mormon church teaches that same-sex relationships are sinful, but also encourages members to be compassionate toward gays and lesbians.