WATT ARE YOU DOING JULY 22?
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Categories: Equality / Civil Rights, Civil Liberties / Privacy, Peace & Social Justice, Religion
Categories: Equality / Civil Rights, Civil Liberties / Privacy, Peace & Social Justice, Religion
Soulforce Plans Return to Focus on the Family!
Presenting the 1000 Watt March, Vigil, & Concert
Shedding the Powerful Light of Truth on the Anti-Gay Dishonesty of Focus on the Family
Featuring Actor Chad Allen, Judy Shepard, and Broadway Star Billy Porter!
At Mayday! 2005, a little over a year ago, hundreds of Coloradoans made history with Soulforce, Inc. when nearly 1,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, couples, and families, along with their allies from throughout the Rocky Mountain region, braved freezing temperatures to gather in Colorado Springs and nonviolently confront James Dobson's defamatory rhetoric against our community. At Mayday! 2005, James Dobson and Focus on the Family discovered our community's resilience, and our determination to achieve justice and full equality for ALL our families.
But since then, James Dobson has amplified efforts to impose his narrow interpretation of the Bible on the entire nation; thereby jeopardizing the integrity of our U.S. Constitution as well as the civil liberties and religious freedom of all Americans. Focus on the Family has done much to help heterosexual families around the world. However, Focus is also one of the world's primary sources of defamation against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people and same-gender families:
-The misinformation that flows from Dobson's radio and television broadcasts reaches millions of people each day in approximately 162 countries and 21 languages.
-Focus on the Family's massive collection of books, pamphlets, audio/visual materials, and websites depicts LGBT people as miserable, lonely, disordered, sick, and sinful.
-Focus on the Family is one of the primary financiers of the so-called "ex-gay" movement, and travels the country misrepresenting the scientific research on sexuality to thousands of people.
-Positive images and stories of LGBT people, committed long-term couples, and same-gender parents are never portrayed; giving people the false impression that gays and lesbians are unhealthy, broken, and in need of "repair."
-Focus on the Family has created powerful political organizations in approximately 40 states and Canada. Calling themselves "Family Policy Councils," they work primarily to prevent equality for LGBT people. These groups often lead the discriminatory political campaigns that pass constitutional amendments banning same-gender marriage, and work daily to strip away the civil liberties that protect our families and the freedoms of all Americans.
That's why Soulforce is mobilizing thousands of people on July 22, 2006 for the "1000 Watt March, Vigil and Concert" in Colorado Springs. Actor and activist Chad Allen will lead the march to Focus on the Family. When we arrive we'll hold a brief "vigil of light", building a human circle around the FOTF campus. Then, we'll celebrate the love and commitment found in our families and friends with an electrifying night-time concert under the stars featuring Broadway Star Billy Porter (www.billyporter.com) who will perform his amazing and powerful evening concert of jazz, rhythm, and blues in front of Dobson's complex.
We will gather to demonstrate the loving and vibrant spirit of our community and peacefully call all fair-minded Americans to resist injustice. Our goal is not to embarrass or frighten Dr. Dobson, but to take a stand against discrimination and nonviolently bring Focus on the Family the truth. Our goal is to show by example that: homosexuality is neither a "sickness" nor a "sin"; that LGBT people are not "a threat to children, family, or the nation"; that they have loving, committed relationships; that they are responsible parents with families; that many are people of faith who love and serve their Creator and people of courage who love and serve their country and that they deserve all the rights and protections guaranteed Americans by the Constitution. Our goal is to help Dr. Dobson and his Focus on the Family staff realize the tragic consequences of their false and inflammatory misinformation campaign and end it without further delay.
Throughout history, fundamentalists have misused religion to discriminate against people of color, women, and interracial families. Now, gays and lesbians are the target of their oppression. Together, we must peacefully demand that America learn from history and end religion based discrimination.
* Please go to www.Soulforce.org to learn how you can be a part of the 1000 Watt March, Vigil & Concert (or the optional, 65 mile "relay" style Family March from the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver to the entrance of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado). Details are subject to change, so please register to receive periodic updates and alerts.
** Christopher did not write this piece, but is posting it on behalf of Soulforce, Inc. Christopher Hubble is the local group co-leader of Soulforce Denver, a licensed local chapter of Soulforce's nationwide, grassroots, nonviolent movement. For more information about Soulforce Denver, write to info@SoulforceDenver.org.
Presenting the 1000 Watt March, Vigil, & Concert
Shedding the Powerful Light of Truth on the Anti-Gay Dishonesty of Focus on the Family
Featuring Actor Chad Allen, Judy Shepard, and Broadway Star Billy Porter!
At Mayday! 2005, a little over a year ago, hundreds of Coloradoans made history with Soulforce, Inc. when nearly 1,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, couples, and families, along with their allies from throughout the Rocky Mountain region, braved freezing temperatures to gather in Colorado Springs and nonviolently confront James Dobson's defamatory rhetoric against our community. At Mayday! 2005, James Dobson and Focus on the Family discovered our community's resilience, and our determination to achieve justice and full equality for ALL our families.
But since then, James Dobson has amplified efforts to impose his narrow interpretation of the Bible on the entire nation; thereby jeopardizing the integrity of our U.S. Constitution as well as the civil liberties and religious freedom of all Americans. Focus on the Family has done much to help heterosexual families around the world. However, Focus is also one of the world's primary sources of defamation against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people and same-gender families:
-The misinformation that flows from Dobson's radio and television broadcasts reaches millions of people each day in approximately 162 countries and 21 languages.
-Focus on the Family's massive collection of books, pamphlets, audio/visual materials, and websites depicts LGBT people as miserable, lonely, disordered, sick, and sinful.
-Focus on the Family is one of the primary financiers of the so-called "ex-gay" movement, and travels the country misrepresenting the scientific research on sexuality to thousands of people.
-Positive images and stories of LGBT people, committed long-term couples, and same-gender parents are never portrayed; giving people the false impression that gays and lesbians are unhealthy, broken, and in need of "repair."
-Focus on the Family has created powerful political organizations in approximately 40 states and Canada. Calling themselves "Family Policy Councils," they work primarily to prevent equality for LGBT people. These groups often lead the discriminatory political campaigns that pass constitutional amendments banning same-gender marriage, and work daily to strip away the civil liberties that protect our families and the freedoms of all Americans.
That's why Soulforce is mobilizing thousands of people on July 22, 2006 for the "1000 Watt March, Vigil and Concert" in Colorado Springs. Actor and activist Chad Allen will lead the march to Focus on the Family. When we arrive we'll hold a brief "vigil of light", building a human circle around the FOTF campus. Then, we'll celebrate the love and commitment found in our families and friends with an electrifying night-time concert under the stars featuring Broadway Star Billy Porter (www.billyporter.com) who will perform his amazing and powerful evening concert of jazz, rhythm, and blues in front of Dobson's complex.
We will gather to demonstrate the loving and vibrant spirit of our community and peacefully call all fair-minded Americans to resist injustice. Our goal is not to embarrass or frighten Dr. Dobson, but to take a stand against discrimination and nonviolently bring Focus on the Family the truth. Our goal is to show by example that: homosexuality is neither a "sickness" nor a "sin"; that LGBT people are not "a threat to children, family, or the nation"; that they have loving, committed relationships; that they are responsible parents with families; that many are people of faith who love and serve their Creator and people of courage who love and serve their country and that they deserve all the rights and protections guaranteed Americans by the Constitution. Our goal is to help Dr. Dobson and his Focus on the Family staff realize the tragic consequences of their false and inflammatory misinformation campaign and end it without further delay.
Throughout history, fundamentalists have misused religion to discriminate against people of color, women, and interracial families. Now, gays and lesbians are the target of their oppression. Together, we must peacefully demand that America learn from history and end religion based discrimination.
* Please go to www.Soulforce.org to learn how you can be a part of the 1000 Watt March, Vigil & Concert (or the optional, 65 mile "relay" style Family March from the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver to the entrance of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado). Details are subject to change, so please register to receive periodic updates and alerts.
** Christopher did not write this piece, but is posting it on behalf of Soulforce, Inc. Christopher Hubble is the local group co-leader of Soulforce Denver, a licensed local chapter of Soulforce's nationwide, grassroots, nonviolent movement. For more information about Soulforce Denver, write to info@SoulforceDenver.org.
