Soulforce Email Update - September 27, 2007
In this Email Update:
- Sit-in for Marriage License at City Clerk's Office Ends in Arrest of Lesbian Couple
- Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights: October 7-13, 2007
Sit-in for Marriage License at City Clerk's Office Ends in Arrest of Lesbian Couple
At approximately 5 p.m. on September 24, 2007, Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder of Englewood, Colorado were arrested and removed in police custody from the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building. The couple had entered the Denver Clerk and Recorder Office to demand a marriage license. After requesting an application and being denied on the basis of state and federal law, Burns and Schroeder refused to leave, insisting that marriage laws which deny full equality to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are an example of religion-based oppression and undermine America's tradition of religious pluralism protected by the U.S. Constitution. The two were issued citations for trespassing and were released without bail at 5:26 p.m.
The event drew supportive observers and multiple media crews. Kate and Sheila's minister, Rev. Mike Morran of Denver's First Unitarian Church and a strong supporter of full marriage equality for LGBT people, accompanied the couple into the clerk and recorder's office. "I am proud to stand on the side of love in support of Kate and Sheila. From a church point of view, marriage is a sacrament and the state should stay out of it. This civil right -- the freedom to marry -- should apply to all citizens."
When asked about her decision to participate in this action, Schroeder explained that the couple has faced numerous acts of discrimination since their commitment ceremony four years ago, stating "We experienced panic when I had a potentially dangerous health crisis and we had no security that she could attend to me in the hospital."
The day before Kate and Sheila's direct action, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family urged more than 500 Catholic leaders gathered in Colorado Springs for the Legatus Fall Summit to keep fighting to keep marriage between "one man and one woman." Legatus is a network of Catholic business leaders that serves over 1,800 businesses and has 60 chapters.
The Soulforce marriage equality direct action is one action in the ongoing FOCUS ON THE FACTS campaign, a nonviolent campaign launched at the beginning of 2007 under the leadership of Christopher Hubble and our Soulforce In Colorado team.
To watch news coverage of the sit-in go to www.soulforce.org/article/1302
Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights: October 7-13, 2007
Soulforce and Atticus Circle extend gratitude to the many partnering organizations and dedicated individuals across the country who are making this historic event possible
Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights has been made possible through the dedication and hard work of many organizations and individuals who have graciously volunteered their time and resources. Soulforce and Atticus Circle wish to thank the following organizations:
- Marriage Equality USA
- GLAAD
- Equality Advocates Pennsylvania
- Equality Arizona
- Equality Maine
- Equality Michigan
- Equality Texas
- Equal Rights Washington
- Straight into Gay America
- Know Thy Neighbor
- Love Makes a Family
- Marriage Equality California
- Marriage Equality Iowa
- Marriage Equality New York
- Montrose Counseling Center
- One Iowa
- Participating PFLAG Chapter Members
- South Carolina Equality Coalition
- Texas Freedom Network
- We Are All Related
In addition, many faith communities have come together to make this action possible. The list is growing daily so please forgive us if we've inadvertently left your organization off this list. We are so very grateful for your support.
The perseverance of our state leaders and partnering organizations is leading to overnight vigils that will light up American cities over the course of seven nights, providing unprecedented visibility to heterosexual men and women with the conviction to stand up for their gay and lesbian friends and neighbors. From October 7-13, 2007, straight people across the nation will "come out" as supporters of equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans. Straight community leaders are organizing vigils in towns like Greenville, South Carolina; Duluth, Minnesota; Champaign, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; Humboldt County, California; Madison, Wisconsin; and Salem, Oregon.
The October 7 kick-off will feature an opening night vigil at The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. A partial list of cities holding vigils includes:
| Albuquerque, New Mexico | Tuesday, October 9 and Friday, October 12 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Sunday, October 7 |
| Augusta, Maine | Sunday, October 7 |
| Austin, Texas | Wednesday, October 10 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | TBA |
| Champaign, Illinois | Wednesday, October 10 |
| Denver, Colorado | Saturday, October 13 |
| Des Moines, Iowa | TBA |
| Duluth-Superior, Minnesota | Tuesday, October 9 |
| Greenville, South Carolina | Monday, October 8 |
| Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Friday, October 12 |
| Houston, Texas | Thursday, October 11 |
| Humboldt County, California | Friday, October 12 |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | Friday, October 12 |
| Lansing, Michigan | Saturday, October 13 |
| Madison, Wisconsin | Wednesday, October 10 |
| Montgomery, Alabama | Tuesday, October 9 |
| Nevada, Missouri | Sunday, October 7 |
| New York City, New York | Tuesday, October 9 |
| North Bay, California | Friday, October 12 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Thursday, October 11 |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Friday, October 12 |
| Sacramento, California | TBA |
| Salem, Oregon | Saturday, October 13 |
| Santa Rosa, California | Friday, October 12 |
| Saratoga Springs, New York | Saturday, October 13 |
| Seattle, Washington | TBA |
| St. Paul, Minnesota | Monday, October 8 |
| Tucson, Arizona | Wednesday, October 10 |
| Washington, DC | Tuesday, October 9 |
See all the people leading campaigns in the cities above
The goal of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.
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