Soulforce Email Update - January 4, 2006

Soulforce Sends Petition Signatures Calling for an Investigation of Focus on the Family to IRS

In one month's time, two thousand people signed the Soulforce petition calling on the IRS to investigate James Dobson's Focus on the Family for continued violations of their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

On December 28, 2005, Soulforce mailed a package to the IRS which included a letter from Executive Director Mel White, printouts of the petition signatures, and a copy of the original complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

The following are some of the comments made by those signing the petition:

"James Dobson is entitled to his off base opinions, but when he spews his hateful rhetoric in the political arena and endorses candidates, he is breaking the law and must be held accountable."

"As an evangelical pastor in a conservative church I utterly despise the way James Dobson has made Focus on the Family a far right wing political organization. Focus on the Family is no longer a ministry to Christian families. It is a far right organization that promotes partisan politics."

"Dr. Dobson's teachings on sexuality sent me into over 15 years of depression over my homosexuality, and caused my parents to reject me when I came out."

"Be honest and pay taxes. You are no longer a church. You are now a PAC!"

"Mr. Dobson's heart carries a lot of love and a lot of hate."

"I used to be a supporter of Focus on the Family in the 1980's when Dr. Dobson truly addressed family issues. I feel that he and his organization have become a political action group, and the concerns me since they hold nonprofit status."

"The oppressive practice of allowing religious leaders to dictate who runs the government is exactly why our country's ancestors left England."

"We need to maintain separation of Church and State for the well-being of both."

"I believe this situation is analogous to the Christian Coalition situation, which also broke the election laws and lost its tax-exempt status because of it."

"If James Dobson and Focus on the Family hasn't engaged in endorsing the right-wing candidates and other political activities, then I'm Elvis."

If you have not signed the petition yet, go to www.soulforce.org/petition/1.

Gay Into Straight America

Dotti Berry and Roby Sapp, two Soulforce veterans, are on a year-long journey called Gay Into Straight America.

At their wedding, Dotti and Roby made the vow to "change the world through the expression of our love." They see Gay Into Straight America as their continued commitment to bridging the divide and reaching out to those who are wrestling with their understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Dotti and Roby recently wrote the following while on the road:

"We feel that the key to our own freedom is in our own back pockets. It does not lie in the hands of the church leaders or the rest of society, even though so many gay people are sitting back just waiting for the church and the government to anoint us with a magic wand and say, 'You are OK, after all.' We are OK, end of subject. If we need others to tell us we are OK in order to believe it, we are the ones that need continued healing."

To read Dotti and Roby's weekly updates and to send them encouragement, go to www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=73.

You can also visit their website at www.GayIntoStraightAmerica.com.

Soulforce Teams with the Family Pride Coalition for the White House Egg Roll 2006

An LGBT Family Visibility Action

On April 17, 2006, when the White House lawn is opened to families for the Annual Easter Egg Roll, imagine if the first 1,000 families onto the lawn were LGBT families.

The media will be there (they are always there for the egg roll) and millions of Americans – many for the first time – will meet our families. They will see our kids laughing, having fun, rolling hard-boiled eggs down a hill with a spoon, and once they do, there will be no going back. This is not a protest – it is a get together with our fellow citizens on a grand scale. This is an amazing opportunity to reach homes in blue states and red states with positive images of our families participating in this great American family tradition.

This event will be like nothing anyone has ever seen before. The White House lawn – the Bush White House lawn – will, quite unexpectedly, be filled with gay and lesbian families. This is something people will be talking about for a long time, an event that will make history!

It is time to claim our place at the table. Come to our nation's capital and let America see who we really are.

We know how hard it is just to get our family out the door in the morning, so we realize how much this asks of all of you, but this will make a difference in the lives of LGBT families and since it is basically going to be the biggest LGBT family party ever, you and your kids will have a great time.

We need you to make this happen!

To sign up, get more info, or help out, go to the Family Pride website.

Please sign up so we can plan accurately and keep you informed!

The success of this action depends on keeping it under the radar of the media and the administration -- Please be discreet!!! Please do NOT put a link to this website anywhere other than in an e-mail.

Support Soulforce by Shopping at Amazon.com

Did you know that when you shop at Amazon.com you will earn Soulforce 5-7% of the total amount of your purchase? That might not seem like a lot, but it adds up quickly. The best part is that it's so simple.

Here's How:
Whenever you want to shop at Amazon.com, first go to www.soulforce.org and under the Give menu, click Shop at Amazon.com.

Remember, you must go to Amazon.com through the Soulforce website in order for Soulforce to earn a percentage of your total purchase.