Progress Now Action

Dear friends,

I'm writing to ask for your help.

On Sep 24, Soulforce in Colorado organized a marriage equality civil disobedience during which two of my friends, Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder, entered the Denver clerk and recorder office to request a marriage license… and refused to leave after being denied. They were both arrested and cited for trespassing (links to video of the action below).

Kate and Sheila stand trial on Dec. 17 and their legal team of three attorneys working pro bono are seeking affidavits by religious leaders willing testify that they or their organizations support full marriage equality.

If you or anyone you know might be interested and able to complete an affidavit by Nov 23, would you please contact me or Kate and Sheila directly (kateburns303@comcast.net).

I hope you have both been well,

Chris

The video for the Marriage Equality civil disobedience on September 24th in Denver (Kate and Sheila arrested) is now on YouTube and Google video. Many of you are in it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7luw6WKiI_E

Also, Ron Zappolo hosted Kate and Sheila on his weekly news magazine Colorado 2031. Zappolo also interviewed Focus on the Family representatives Carrie Gordon Earll and Melissa Fryrear who oppose same-gender marriage equality.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1181419119680720526&pr=goog-sl

Sincerely,

Christopher Hubble
www.HubbleBooks.com
cahubble05@yahoo.com
303-241-3225

"When the bamboo forest goes, with it goes the sound of the flute." Hindu Proverb


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From: Kate Burns [mailto:kateburns303@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 4:18 PM

Subject: Kate & Sheila seeking affidavits from religious leaders for marriage equality case

Dear Friends,

Sheila and I are in the midst of developing our legal case to go to trial on December 17, 2007. With our lawyers we have come up with a defense to the trespassing charge (for our September 24th marriage equality direct action) that will keep marriage equality in the public square (rather than focus on trespassing). In order to build the case for first amendment anti-establishment and freedom of religion, we are seeking affidavits from religious leaders who can testify that they and/or their organizations support marriage equality--marriage for same-sex couples. Unfortunately, we need the affidavits by November 23rd--not much time. They also require being notarized. If you know of (or are) a religious leader who might consider writing an affidavit for us, would you please forward this to them with the attachments? I have included a more detailed letter and a sample affidavit.

Thanks so much for your support,
Kate

Kate Burns
Klondyke Creative
2978 S. Corona Street
Englewood, CO 80113
(303) 806-8444
kateburns303@comcast.net

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Kate Burns
2978 South Corona Street
Englewood, Colorado 80113
(303) 806-8444
kateburns303@comcast.net


Dear Religious Leader:

My partner of five years, Sheila Schroeder, and I are seeking assistance from you in our struggle to keep marriage equality in the public eye. On September 24, 2007, we entered the Denver Clerk and Recorder's Office accompanied by our minister, Rev. Mike Morran, to request a marriage license. As expected, we were denied the basic human right that is extended to heterosexual couples many times a day without question. In order to protest the unjust law that bans same-gender marriage in Colorado, we refused to leave the office and were eventually arrested for trespassing.

This was a well-planned marriage equality action organized by Soulforce in Colorado, which works for freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. Please be assured that we engaged in the protest peacefully, extending the utmost respect for the workers in the Clerk's Office and for the police officers who were directed to arrest us. We decided, along with a large group of supporters, to make this statement of conscience because our deeply held convictions demanded we remain silent no more. (For more information, you can view video documentation of the action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7luw6WKiI_E and an interview on Colorado 2031 with Ron Zappolo at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1181419119680720526.)

We go to trial on December 17, 2007 on the charge of trespassing. Three excellent lawyers have joined our case, pro-bono--also because of their strong support for the issue of marriage equality. We have decided to build a case for a defense commonly called "lesser for a greater law." According to this defense, we will argue that we felt compelled to breach the trespassing statute in order to follow the law of the U. S. Constitution. One of our primary arguments will be that Colorado Amendment 43, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, violates the First Amendment religion clauses. In other words, a ban on same-gender marriage establishes one religious viewpoint in government laws and regulations. A ban also prevents those who worship in religious organizations that support marriage equality, and would marry same-gender couples, from the free practice of their religion.

In order to develop our case well, we are seeking affidavits from as many religious leaders and organizations as possible describing their support for marriage equality. With these affidavits, we will build a mountain of evidence to show that what is at stake in the struggle for marriage equality is nothing less than religious freedom and the healthy separation of church and state. Along with developing the case, we are preparing a media campaign to bring attention to this issue during the trial. In the end, we may not win our case, but we will consider it an important victory to bring the issue into the public square once again.

Please consider writing an affidavit for us. We are most willing to help in any way to make this as easy as possible. Due to the pending trial date, we would need the affidavit by November 23rd or earlier. The basic steps include:

-Calling or emailing us as soon as possible to let us know you will be contributing an affidavit.
-Using the attached affidavit form (replacing the information with your own).
-Filling in your personal information.
-Adding your statement under item 2.
-Signing and notarizing the document.
-Calling or emailing us to pick up the document at your convenience.

We have attached a sample affidavit for your convenience (from a fictitious author).

We thank you sincerely for considering this request. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments.

In Gratitude,

Kate Burns & Sheila Schroeder

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