Love Won Out - next conference in my town

[Zerbie]

Hi all,

Just found out the next Love Won Out conference is going to be here in Phoenix in a few weeks. Was looking over the ad for it - it includes classes on "how gay marriage will affect society" and "what about the gay agenda?" among others.

Why can't they leave people alone to make their own choices? Like these aren't scary enough issues for most folks already.
It makes me sad. :(

[NathanATX]

MCC's general conference will be in Phoenix in July.

[Zerbie]

As a straight acting, femme female, married, bi-sexual, right-on woman you would make an excellent spy. Ya gonna go? take several air-sick bags in your purse

I would need about a hundred sickie bags!
I ain't givin' them money!!! Though it would be tempting to go be a fly on the wall and see exactly how it runs. It can't ALL be horrible? can it?

Seriously, I would think about registering to go see what it's like except that 1) I don't wanna give those people ANY money, and 2) I'm sure I will be required in rehearsal that day. So I will show up to rehearsal in the "I love my gay Christian friends" T shirt that Nate designed, and wear the rainbow armbands.

PS if it turns out for some reason I'm not called to rehearsal, I'll think about going to check it out. Still having problems with the idea of feeding money to the organization tho.

[Zerbie]

MCC's general conference will be in Phoenix in July.

WHOA!!!!!! You sure you don't wanna re-think that? July in Phoenix is typically about 117 F degrees in the daytime, getting down to the low 100s and high 90s at night, and if you get there while the monsoons start, it will also be humid!!!!!!!

Why are y'all coming to Phoenix in July ON PURPOSE!?! Lol!

Lemme guess - you can get a resort hotel for cheap?

Seriously tho Nate, if we're in town (if we haven't fled to cooler climes) when your conference happens, let's get together for a visit. :love: :)

MCC is Metropolitan Community Church?

[NathanATX]

WHOA!!!!!! You sure you don't wanna re-think that? July in Phoenix is typically about 117 F degrees in the daytime, getting down to the low 100s and high 90s at night, and if you get there while the monsoons start, it will also be humid!!!!!!!

Why are y'all coming to Phoenix in July ON PURPOSE!?! Lol!

Lemme guess - you can get a resort hotel for cheap?

Seriously tho Nate, if we're in town (if we haven't fled to cooler climes) when your conference happens, let's get together for a visit. :love: :)

MCC is Metropolitan Community Church?

Oh, I know!!! It's unbelievably hot there. I went to our regional conference last summer in Phoenix. I rented a convertible, but it was so hot I kept the top up!

(I think it's less expensive in the summer...)

[pnggrad79]

Zerb,
Seriously, you oughta go to it, with your hubby, and wear the rainbow bracelets and the T-shirt Nate designed. It would freak them out! I wonder if Joel Osteen will attend. Oh wait, that would mean he would have to be passionate about something other than his prosperity gospel and plastic Christianity, which doesn't require passion, but does require a hefty salary so he can afford his home in River Oaks, and his Bentley (not sure that's what he drives, but it's expensive and I just thought he might have one, two, three...)
I need to stop ragging poor Joel. It's fun though.;)

[Daniel]

I like this secret agent gal stuff Zerbie. You could pull this off easily. Hey-I'd fund you. Pehaps- if you are free that day- we could send you as our emissary.

But the thought crosses my mind: will Wayne Benson be there? I would hope so. Protesting nonviolently. Instead of being inside, I can see you working alongside his group. The guy does good stuff.

http://www.waynebesen.com/index.html

[Zerbie]

Thanks y'all for the carrots. :D ;) :) :love:

Given that the opera opens 2 weeks from the date of the conference and I've got a major principal role onstage in nearly every scene, I'm betting I will be called to rehearsal the entire time this conference is going on, so no protesting/secret infiltrating for me.

What I WILL do is wear the T shirt and pride jewelry to rehearsal in long-distance response to the conference.

Anyway, I thought about if I had some hours off, going and sitting outside or something in the T shirt Nate designed - the only thing being, we would have to be so careful protesting an event like that because the most important thing has to be the individuals who are going as participants. I never want the people caught in the middle of our political fray to feel like they are unsupported, because it really is an unfair situation for them. That's why I like Nate's T shirt message so much - it isn't confrontational. Just a message of love and support. :love: It just hurts so bad to think that there might be hundreds of people right here in town who feel so badly about themselves that they want this thing to change them. :'(

[Steven E. Webster]

Zerbie,

Ex-gay Watch has noticed the Phoenix Love Won Out event:

http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/index.html

See their entry for January 10th.

Steven Webster

[tdogg]

Maybe some "We Love You, God Loves You Too" signs outside the entrance, to let the participants know that they have support and someone to talk to who understands. Something along those lines, instead of basic protest langugage might be uplifting and stick with people even after the ones running the show put them down and attemp their brainwashing.

Well I wish you could go Zerbie, but totally understandable that you can't. I would fund you as well! Any other takers?? When is it? I have a couple free plane tickets stashed at Southwest, perhaps I should think about it?? Very hard to get away for the next few months but if it's only a day or two... I'll look at the website and see what's up...

I just finished Religion Gone Bad. It's pressing on me that my/our work is more than support at a computer or checkbook - like Mel says, if we really want to see a change, we need to be willing to put ourselves on the line to effect the change we want. I don't want to risk my professional or person life, but then again, where is progress without risk. If I'm not willing to risk it, then who? Where do I/we start? A lot of questions, and it's bed time. Better go sleep on it for tonight...

[Zerbie]

Maybe some "We Love You, God Loves You Too" signs outside the entrance, to let the participants know that they have support and someone to talk to who understands. Something along those lines, instead of basic protest langugage might be uplifting and stick with people even after the ones running the show put them down and attemp their brainwashing.

Well I wish you could go Zerbie, but totally understandable that you can't. I would fund you as well! Any other takers?? When is it? I have a couple free plane tickets stashed at Southwest, perhaps I should think about it?? Very hard to get away for the next few months but if it's only a day or two... I'll look at the website and see what's up...

I just finished Religion Gone Bad. It's pressing on me that my/our work is more than support at a computer or checkbook - like Mel says, if we really want to see a change, we need to be willing to put ourselves on the line to effect the change we want. I don't want to risk my professional or person life, but then again, where is progress without risk. If I'm not willing to risk it, then who? Where do I/we start? ...

Way to go Tdogg!!!!
:tup: :tup:

That's exactly the kind of message I would want to go with - one of unconditional support for the participants letting them know that at least there are people out there who will love and welcome them if this ex-gay thing fails them, as it fails most.

I can't wait to get my schedule and see if I have any holes that day when I could get to that church. There are a couple ensembles I'm NOT in, so if it chances that I have a few hours off, I'll go and hover, in Nate's T shirt.

Tdogg and Daniel - it just computed with me that you two have offered to pay for me to go to this thing - :love: :love: Amazing! Thank you for your support! :love: No, I would have paid for it myself, the point wasn't me personally saving the money, but of not wanting to add to FOF's coffers another $50. I'd rather give $50 to our local LGBT advocacy group. I'm going to contact them and ask what they are planning to do in response to this.

If they're planning to be there, I wonder if they might like to order some of Nate's T shirts? Nate - where IS that link? I may have a dozen people looking for various versions of that shirt!

Oh and T - if you DO fly in for this, we HAVE to meet. The conference is only a one-day thing, I think 9 to 5 on Saturday at a big church somewhere in the valley. It's Feb 10th. Let me know if you DO decide to do it, and if so I'll PM you my contact information.

[tdogg]

My thoughts were to reach out not only to the participants that may not know what lay in wait for them, but to the speakers and presenters as well. Hey, we don't agree with them and hate what they are doing, but we don't have to hate them - we could offer them the same love and resources as those they are offending.

Wow, Feb 10th is NOT a good day for me. I'll have to really mull that one over. Zerbie, I would have to PM you on that one, explain the issue and see what you think?

Maybe an additional sign idea is www.soulforce.org - give them the web site, they can jot it down, check it out on their own time and privacy???

If I decide to go Feb 10, and/or any other time I'll be in the area Zerbie, you can be sure we'll get together! Something to think about...I'll have to see what other events are planned where, if i can't make Feb 10, I can still participate actively in the near future.

[Joe Brummer]

My thoughts on the Love won out billboards.....

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (http://joebrummer.com/WordPress/?p=529)

[pnggrad79]

Joe, that is so good. I have seen these advertisements on billboards around town and although it infuriates me, I have to wonder how much organizations like Exodus is paying these people to say this. It all comes down to money. It really does. :confused:

[Emproph]

My thoughts on the Love won out billboards.....

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (http://joebrummer.com/WordPress/?p=529)
I've got to get to the next LWO protest just to use that on a sign. It's too perfect.
~~
Here's the latest for anyone who's interested, courtesy Ex-Gay Watch – the REAL experts on the subject...

Arizona Human Rights Fund (http://www.ahrf.org/)

The conference runs from 8:30am to 5pm on Saturday, Feb 10th. No Longer Silent and Crosswalk America will be holding a prayer vigil from 8am to 9am as people of faith gather to share their message of real love and acceptance. Then, from 11am to 1pm, there will be a good old fashioned protest outside of the church. All are welcome to join us in our efforts and police will be on site to monitor the events.

[Zerbie]

So I managed to get there for about 2 hours earlier today.
:)
There was quite a turnout of protestors - someone estimated the group at about 200. Rumor was there were 500 registered participants inside the conference, but actually, I can't imagine there were that many people there, as the parking lot wasn't even full.

We protestors lined the sidewalk outside the church for a couple of short blocks. There was a lot of creative signage (yippee!), and a bit of chanting and singing going on. Mostly, a lot of peacefully standing around chatting with one another, holding up signs to the passing traffic and waving. We got a lot of cheers of support from drivers passing by the corner. :)

So to answer Daniel and RevTJ - the moment I arrived I introduced myself to the fella standing next to me and he turned out to be Wayne Besen. Coincidental much? :p We chatted for several minutes - turns out he flew in from Miami Beach to be at our protest.

Ran into a lotta familiar friendly faces from around town, which was fun. Kind of like an activists' reunion - a lot of the same people who campaigned against Prop 107 were there. So was the minister who officiated at my wedding. :tup:

On the whole, I thought it was a success. Our messages were pretty overwhemlingly positive, kind, and inclusive.
:pray:
Hope we did some good today. :pray:

[Daniel]

One day soon, these kinds of conferences will considered archaic and obsolete. And that will be a wonderful day indeed.

Thanks for being there! We can all make a difference. And you did!

Yes!!!!!!

[tdogg]

Yeah Z!! So glad you made it there. :applause: :weee: :rainbow: :aparty: And how cool to meet Wayne??!! :cool:

Right on sister, keep it going in Phoenix!

T

[Zerbie]

Thanks Daniel.

Thanks T.

:D :D :love: :love:

I hope that the people who participated in that conference will find acceptance and inner peace, in whatever form peace comes to them.

:pray:

[keltic63]

Zerbie, thanks for making it to the protest! thank you for updating us here.