Notes & Reflections from the Soulforce Journey

Join me in standing up to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM)

Posted in News & Updates by Rev. Dr. Cindi Love on August 9th, 2010

Dear Friends and Allies,

We want to ask you to represent Soulforce over the next few weeks in nonviolent relentless opposition to the hate-filled rhetoric of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).  You may be aware that NOM is on a bus tour this month throughout the United States in those cities and states that are considered “on the fence” on the marriage issue for our community.  Their “one man/one woman” campaign is well-funded and well-organized.  Go to http://www.marriagetour2010.com/ for more information about what they are saying about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and our allies.  One poster that I saw showed two lesbians with nooses around their necks and the words “The Solution to Gay Marriage.”

If you live in any of these cities or can go to any of them to stand in silent vigil or otherwise protest this hate-filled campaign, please make that commitment to do so in the name of Soulforce.  Wear your Soulforce t-shirt and invite your friends to join you.  Call the locations that are hosting these events and/or e-mail them and send a nonviolent message of what is really true–that God loves all of us and gay marriage is no threat to heterosexual marriage.

I plan to be at the rally in Washington, D.C., so if you are available, please join me.  There is not time to bring together an official “action,” but we can assemble at a set location and create a vigil if you will send me your e-mail and/or cell numbers to me at cindi@soulforce.org.

Thank you!

Peace,
Cindi

UPDATE: Get a “No More Hate: Yes! on marriage equality” poster and review our committment to nonviolence so that you have the tools to effectively stand up to NOM. Get the details here.

Orlando, Florida
Summer for Marriage Tour Stop:
Sunday, August 8, 2010 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm
First Christian Church
1140 S. Lakemont Ave.
Winter Park (Orlando), FL 32792

Raleigh, North Carolina
Summer for Marriage Tour Stop:
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
State Capitol, South Side
Raleigh, NC 27601

Charleston, West Virginia
Summer for Marriage Tour Stop:
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
State Capitol, Kanawha Blvd. Steps
Charleston, WV 25305

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Summer for Marriage Tour Stop:
Friday, August 13, 2010 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
State Capitol
N. Third and State Streets
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Washington, DC- Rally for Marriage 2010
Rally for Marriage 2010:
Sunday, August 15, 2010 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Capitol Steps
Washington, D.C.
Featuring a live performance by Grammy Award Winner Karen Clark Sheard

6 Responses

August 9th, 2010 Cindy H

Dear Cindi, Mel, Bill & ALL -

I see nothing coming here to Seattle – Tacoma area. But I will relate the issues in letters to our editors and if I find a way – we will work for vigils and media attention.
thanks for ALL you do!

cindy hadden
Centralia WA 98531

August 9th, 2010 Aaron A

Unfortunately, I am unable to join you for any of the rallies because I live in Barcelona, Spain. I didn’t want to leave my home in Laguna Hills, CA, but as you already know, the DOMA specifically prohibits gays from sponsoring their foreign partners for a green card.Rather than allow the government in our bedroom, I chose to move to Spain in protest and to join my partner (now almost 10 years). It hasn’t been easy, but it was worth it; we are unlikely to ever again live in the USA, despite the fact that my two grown children & 1.8 grandchildren live there (Kate is due to deliver my second grandchild in October).

I grinned at the NOM poster of two nooses as a way to solve the gay marriage issue. The Catholic Church tried that approach during the Spanish Inquisition; Muslim countries still do it today, but guess what? No amount of murders will ever reduce the number of people attracted to their own gender.

NOM is a complete sleazeball group – in a couple of years we will probably discover the founder is a closeted gay (like Rev? Ted Haggard).

Thanks for all you do.

August 10th, 2010 Ben M

There were about 300 non-violent counter-protesters in Atlanta this past Saturday. There are some pictures on projectqatlanta.com.

August 10th, 2010 Audrey GetEQUAL Smith

I planned a non-violent, non-hateful visible response to NOM’s stop in Harrisburg this Friday Aug. 13th; because Equality PA & LGBT Community Center Coalition of Central Pennsylvania partnered with Freedom to Marry and decided to **NOT** confront NOM in Harrisburg — they are showing a movie the night before across town. I have been receiving emails almost daily trying to discourage me from counter-protesting.

Even the Silent Witnesses of PA were turned against the counter protest by EQPA!

If anyone from Soulforce is near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania this Friday, PLEASE come to support the counter-protest!

August 10th, 2010 Audrey GetEQUAL Smith

Just got a call from Cameron of Freedom to Marry and they did not know about my counter-protest on Friday until today when GetEQUAL told them about it.

So now FTM is supporting my Justice League – Activate!’s Harrisburg counter-protest this Friday! Yay!

August 12th, 2010 James, DC

I’m organizing a silly-sign counterprotest for NOM’s big hate event in DC.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143618022326926

Please share this link with your friends and invite them to RSVP to the event. The more the merrier!

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