SF Delegate Organizes Free Film Screening at Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

Contact:  Nora Williams, Soulforce Delegate  (Support the Soulforce Delegate Program Here!)
Email:  Nora@Soulforce.org

FILM AND DISCUSSION EXPLORE CONFLICT BETWEEN PASSION FOR GOD AND MAN
Gay Bishop’s Tale Unearths a Journey of Love, Faith and Conflict

                     

SACRAMENTO, Ca. – A free film viewing of Love Free or Die will showcase on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, at the Crocker Art Museum hosted by Soulforce, The Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. The film viewing is open to the general public. Free reserved tickets are required for admittance to the event. Tickets can be secured online at: http://siglff.org/wordpress/love-free-or-die. A brief panel discussion with local clergy will follow immediately.

Directed by Macky Alston, Love Free or Die is the personal story of a public figure in current Christendom. The film explores the journey of Bishop Gene Robinson whose defining passion for God and his gay lover are at odds with the church and large segments of society. Bishop Robinson is the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the historic traditions of Christianity. At his consecration in 2003 he wore a bullet-proof vest due to the international stir that resulted. Death threats have followed him every day since.

In Love Free or Die, Bishop Robinson steps onto the world stage as he travels from small- town churches to Washington’s Lincoln Memorial to London’s Lambeth Palace calling for all to stand for equality – inspiring leaders within the church and ordinary individuals to come out of the shadows and change history.

A panel discussion will follow the viewing of the film with local members of the clergy. The panel includes: Rev. Jason Bense, Pastor of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer; Rev. Brian Baker, Dean (Senior Priest) of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral; Rev. Janice Steele, Founder and Pastor of Imani (Swahili word for faith) Community United Church of Christ; Rev. Alan Jones, Pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church; and Rev. Faith Whitmore, a Methodist minister and Executive Director of Francis House. The members of this panel uphold a tradition of serving, ministering to and supporting individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The panel discussion is intended to raise awareness among Sacramento’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community and their allies of local resources that emphasize faith and unity.

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Soulforce is an organization committed to freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer people from religious and political oppression through relentless nonviolent resistance.

http://www.soulforce.org/

Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival presents images of the diverse gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community by brining quality, contemporary GLBT
film/video programming to the greater Sacramento community through an annual film festival
and other related activities.
http://www.facebook.com/SIGLFF#!/SIGLFF/info

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church is a community of people where absolutely everyone
receives a warm welcome and an invitation to be part of a movement to transform the world
with the power of God’s love.
http://www.stmarksumc.com/about-us

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is a unique and extraordinary church where people are transformed
as they experience the love of God through a welcoming community that is deeply committed
to servicing the needs of the poor.
http://www.trinitycathedral.org/about.shtml

Lutheran Church of our Redeemer is a diverse community of faith, celebrating the Spirit while
working for justice, healing and reconciliation in the world.
http://www.lcorsac.org/

Imani Community United Church of Christ is a vibrant congregation in the heart of midtown
Sacramento spreading the gospel of love and inclusion.
http://www.imaniucc.org/about.html

Francis House is a non-profit organization providing assistance, mentoring and resources for
Sacramento’s homeless community for more than 40 years.
http://francishousecenter.org/index.php/aboutus