A participant in numerous Soulforce campaigns, and the current webmaster, Brian Gerald Murphy responds to Alan Chamber’s recent open letter.

Four years ago, health insurance changed my life forever. I was home in late November and after dinner with my parents one night, the discussion shifted to my upcoming graduation from college and my plans. A film student, I intended to pursue production jobs which means no stable health insurance. As I mulled over options with my parents we began talking about YoungLife, an evangelical Christian organization my mom worked for at the time and one with which I’d spent a great deal of time participating and volunteering.  They have excellent health insurance. They also don’t hire LGBTQ people.

The discussion took a turn for the worse and I realized that in the three years since I’d come out, I thought I was being patient, thought I was giving my family space, thought I was being respectful… I realized I was being silent. My parents had not changed because I had not asked them to change.

And then it clicked.

America would not change unless someone asked it to. The world would not change unless someone asked it to.  I could be that person.

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Vincent Cervantes, a panelist at the 2010 Soulforce Symposium, recently composed two important articles in connection to the event. The first is an article for The Bilerico project, which begins,

Exodus International, Love In Action, the National Organization for Research and Therapy of Homosexuals (NARTH), “reparative therapy,” “conversion therapy” — too many of us are more than familiar with the programs and organizations that promise to ‘cure’ homosexuality, otherwise known the ‘ex-gay’ movement. Unfortunately, for some of us, that familiarity comes from having experienced these therapies and programs personally. ‘Ex-gay’ survivors (former ‘ex-gays’) are evidence to the fact that homosexuality cannot be treated nor cured. However, organizations like Exodus International and NARTH have yet to close their doors and admit that they are dangerously harming the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

While the leaders of the ‘ex-gay’ movement may genuinely believe that they are reaching out with good intentions to individuals struggling to understand their same-sex attractions and/or gender variance, the reality is, these leaders are doing more harm than good; and that is the narrative that needs to be shared. The ‘ex-gay’ movement needs to take responsibility and ownership for the harm that caused in the lives of LGBTQs.

Read the full post on The Bilerico Project

The second is an essay he composed for the intersectional justice panel. Download Vincent’s paper “Critical Witnessing and Multilingualism: Building the Counter Movement.”

Six months ago, I started working with Soulforce, running our web and media efforts. I have a three year history with Soulforce which started as a 2007 Equality Rider. Soulforce retained me just as the 2010 Equality Ride was setting out and a week into the campaign, I joined them in North Carolina for a visit to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Some things I remember: the long hours, the instant bond between riders, the unmistakable feeling that we are doing something truly remarkable. Some things were different: the diverse group of riders were even better prepared and more intentional… the ride improves every year.

After our short visit to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, I spent the entirety of a community picnic speaking with a seminary student. We talked about The Law and Leviticus for three hours. It was grueling and utterly exhausting.  During that conversation I also connected, briefly, with another seminary student. The student joined us later that night for conversation in our hotel lobby and for lunch the following day. They shared a bit of their passions and joys, some struggles and theological differences they experienced at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. After talking with young adults about queer issues for three years, I have a pretty good sense of when a person wants to say something but can’t. I got that feeling from this person.

Today, that student, now a graduate, sent me a message. They shared a brief update on their life and then, almost in passing, mentioned that they are now in a queer relationship and could not be happier. They are starting to come out, they might lose their job at a Baptist church, but all will be well.

That is all I have to share today: that six months ago I spent three hours talking about Leviticus in a park in rural North Carolina and today a Southern Baptist told me that they are beginning to love themselves. The Equality Ride never really ends. And thank goodness it doesn’t.

Please help us ensure the future of the Equality Rides be making a donation toward the next ride today.

California was given  a “do over” as the decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger was handed down, today, August 4 (www.hrc.org).

There are major implications for all of us within the LGBTQ & A community which we will address more thoroughly in a later alert.  This notice is to help everyone understand what has happened in the past and what happened today.   We want to acknowledge Chris Geidner, Washington, D.C. http://lawdork.net/ for his excellent comments regarding the context for today’s decision, contained herein.

Soulforce & Marriage Equality

Marriage equality has been a core issue within the Soulforce community since our inception.  Why?  Religious bigotry,  patriarchy, mysoginy and sexism are intertwined within all US legal rulings on heterosexual and same-sex or same-gender loving marriage and the rights of partners within that defined class of individuals.  While we may not all hold the same views on the fight for marriage equality, it is our prayer that today’s ruling will really serve as a refiner’s fire within our movement and engage more people in our fight for justice for LGBTQ & A people.

Today’s ruling is very important and, as you will see below, is by no means the end of our work.  We must continue to be active and increase our level of activism to ensure that we advance.  To that end, on Saturday, August 6, Meg Sneed, one of our Equality Riders will be sponsored in part by Soulforce as she starts the Arizona Right to Marry Walk.  If you wish to assist in this effort, please donate online.  You can follow Meg at the Soulforce blog.

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The Layman covered Soulforce’s actions at the recent PC(USA) General Assembly. Here is an excerpt from the article.

MINNEAPOLIS – Deliberations at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) were interrupted Friday afternoon by members of Soulforce, an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights advocacy group.

Approximately 20 protestors, some wearing badges identifying themselves as GA commissioners or observers, walked through the area restricted for commissioners only, surrounded the platform and sang “Lord Hear Our Prayer.”

After refusing requests to end the protest from PCUSA staff, GA Moderator Cindy Bolbach, building security and finally police officers, 11 protestors were arrested and escorted from the Minneapolis Convention Center. They were issued trespassing citations and released. Some protestors left the convention center voluntarily and were not cited for trespassing.

Read the full article at The Laymen

What do you think of the news coverage and of other reactions to the events at the General Assembly? Why is non-violent resistance necessary and what are some other creative ways we might speak truth to power?