How do you boycott a homeless shelter?

[awediot]

Ain't been around for awhile... but just had to share this lovely bit of news form down the street with my old haunt...

"Man claims he was evicted from shelter for being gay"

Sara Reed, Thurs. June 14 Coloradoan (http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706140363)

Exerpt:

"However, even if Garon had not gotten into the altercation, he still could have been denied a bed at the shelter simply for being gay, Thebo said.
Gays and lesbians are allowed to eat meals and take showers at the facility, Thebo said, but are not allowed to sleep in the shelter.
"I will not let them exert their sexuality here," he said. "Men have to sleep next to other men (in the shelter)." "

Guess one man's good night sleep is another's sexual exertion... Paranoia, bigotry and failed Christian love rear their ugly heads once again... (this has got national human interest story written all over it... )

[Zerbie]

Ain't been around for awhile... but just had to share this lovely bit of news form down the street with my old haunt...

"Man claims he was evicted from shelter for being gay"

Sara Reed, Thurs. June 14 Coloradoan (http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706140363)

Exerpt:

"However, even if Garon had not gotten into the altercation, he still could have been denied a bed at the shelter simply for being gay, Thebo said.
Gays and lesbians are allowed to eat meals and take showers at the facility, Thebo said, but are not allowed to sleep in the shelter.
"I will not let them exert their sexuality here," he said. "Men have to sleep next to other men (in the shelter)." "

Guess one man's good night sleep is another's sexual exertion... Paranoia, bigotry and failed Christian love rear their ugly heads once again... (this has got national human interest story written all over it... )


:'(:'(:'(:'(

What a heartbreak - as if there isn't already ENOUGH to deal with in that situation without adding homophobia to it.

This is why in many areas (Phoenix is one:love:), communities are establishing LGBT homeless shelters.

It sounds like you're looking for solutions, a way to help.
And that this is right in your local neighborhood?

There may be others in your community who are concerned about this who have the inclination and, taken together, the know-how, for establishing a homeless shelter to meet the needs of LGBT homeless. If you want me to look around, I'm sure I can find out what groups and organizations are sponsoring the one being built in my town, and then you could search out their Colorado counterparts and approach them. PM me if you want me to do that.

Another possibility is organizing a letter-writing campaign: have a group (hint, we're a group;)), write letters of concern to Thebo - make sure a lot of local persons contact him to express their serious concern. Ask for a change of policy. If a change is not forthcoming, then think about approaching the media.

Those are the first thoughts off the top 'o my head.

:pray:

Nice to seeya. :love:

[ladyinred]

Ugliness is characterized by these people who hold their "Christian views" as righteous to deny LGBT homeless the right to shelter. I agree with you I don't think anyone would catch "gayness" from a gay man sleeping in a shelter and it is highly unlikely that a gay man would make a pass at a straight "dude". He knows better.

[ladyinred]

I firmly believe that those who gay bash or are homophobic are insecure in their own sexual idenity and manhood, otherwise they would not be threatened by homosexuals.. if they had such a strong masculine idenity as they claim to have, then why would they feel so threatened by anothers sexuality?It's almost like they go out of their way to prove their manliness and heterosexuality, if they didn't have all the hangups, why should they do that?

They even have to remake Jesus into a macho muscled guy to fit their criteria of what a man should be. None of that "sissie" stuff like being able to show emotions like sensitivity or tenderness or affection. And no crying,"man up". Real men don't cry or show emotions. Actually I would say they are pretty stifled and repressed. They should be pitied not feared.

Can you imagine Jesus punching you on the arm, saying,"Hey dude,give me a high five?"

[Daniel]

I read of this story a few days ago here....

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/061407colorado.htm

Homeless Man Says Shelter Threw Him Out Because He's Gay
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: June 14, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET

(Denver, Colorado) A 34-year old homeless Fort Collins man says that he was told to leave a shelter because the pastor who runs it will not allow gay men to stay there.

John Garon tells the Coloradan newspaper that he had been staying at Open Door Mission for about three weeks when he was suddenly told by the director, the Rev. Richard Thebo, that he was no longer welcome.

"He said 'I don't allow homosexuals to use these facilities,'" Garon told the Coloradan. "I was blown away ... To be put out for something I can't change has profoundly impacted me."

Thebo does not deny he told Garon to leave. He said that Garon had "hit on" another man at the shelter and a fight ensued. He also told the paper that Garon would "flaunt his sexuality".

The pastor said that he will allow gays and lesbians to use the soup kitchen and shower at the shelter but not sleep there.

"I will not let them exert their sexuality here," he told the Coloradan. "Men have to sleep next to other men (in the shelter)."

According to Garon there had been a fight but he denies "hitting" on anyone. As for "flaunting" he says he made occasional passing comments about his former partner.

Garon said that he came to Fort Collins from Florida with the hope of attending graduate school at Colorado State University but fell on hard times.

Last month Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law legislation making it illegal to discriminate in the workplace on the basis of sexuality but the law does not cover accommodation.

"The new law is a step forward, Judy Calhoun the executive director of the LGBT Center in Denver told 365Gay.com. "But it needs to be expanded to cover accommodation as well."

The case is the second where a gay person has been denied room at a shelter.

A Chicago woman says she was denied access to a City-funded homeless shelter on a cold November evening because she is a lesbian.

With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, Michelle Wang has filed a civil rights complaint with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations and the State of Illinois Department of Human Rights. (story)

Wang later discussed her case with 365Gay.com's Jennifer Vanesco in an exclusive interview. (story)

©365Gay.com 2007

According to the article, it sounds as though the Colorado legislature needs to amend its recently passed law. Carpe Diem. Now would be a good time.

Writing the governor would be a good idea too.

[progressive4christ]

http://www.aliforneycenter.org/ is a good site for homeless Gays in N.Y. i wonder how hard it would be to start a similar facility in ones own state.

[scott snedeker]

Greeat link! wope ther are more places like this one!

[awediot]

As cruel and unChristlike as the action of turning away a gay, or a black, a jewish, elderly, female, hispanic, atheistic et al. person unquestionably is, if it is a privately (zero govt. money) run mission, Thebo (the director) has all the legal right in the world to block who ever he wants from coming in, and I must support that. It is the moral obligation where he failed so tragically and that cannot and ought not be legislated...

This is a link (http://odmministries.org/)to their website and their e-mail can be found at the lower left... If you feel lead by the spirit to send them a message, please keep in mind the good work that they do. They are a homeless shelter after all and personally speaking, do alot more for my community than I do. I don't know about you... Show the love of Christ that is missing, not the bitter anger and finger pointing that they seem to have enough of...

[Zerbie]

As cruel and unChristlike as the action of turning away a gay, or a black, a jewish, elderly, female, hispanic, atheistic et al. person unquestionably is, if it is a privately (zero govt. money) run mission, Thebo (the director) has all the legal right in the world to block who ever he wants from coming in, and I must support that.


It is the moral obligation where he failed so tragically and that cannot and ought not be legislated...

And that is something that must be gently addressed, but I believe MUST BE addressed.

This is a link (http://odmministries.org/)to their website and their e-mail can be found at the lower left... If you feel lead by the spirit to send them a message, please keep in mind the good work that they do. They are a homeless shelter after all and personally speaking, do alot more for my community than I do. I don't know about you... Show the love of Christ that is missing, not the bitter anger and finger pointing that they seem to have enough of...

:dove::earth:

I am sure many SF members will follow this invitation.

I second Daniel's idea about contacting those who are or may soon be in a position to amend civil rights legislation to include accomodations. Even if THIS shelter were to remain exempt from the non-discrimination statute, I would imagine there are other facilities that would not be, and those who rely on them can perhaps be helped in the future.

Thank you for your perspective, too, Awe. I for one appreciate it immensely.

[BrentRichards]

From their site:

We accept everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, or creed.

Well, almost everyone ...

[awediot]

I am sure many SF members will follow this invitation.
In the spirit described, wonderful.
I second Daniel's idea about contacting those who are or may soon be in a position to amend civil rights legislation to include accomodations. Even if THIS shelter were to remain exempt from the non-discrimination statute, I would imagine there are other facilities that would not be, and those who rely on them can perhaps be helped in the future.
If government money is involved, laws already apply (the Catholic shelter in the story is a perfect example). If it is a private institution (ANY institution) the persuit of laws to force compliance to our standard is reverse discrimination and equivilent bigotry... We dare not become as bad as the adversary to defeat them.
Thank you for your perspective, too, Awe. I for one appreciate it immensely.
thanks Zerb... I'll put that to the test.http://www.messengerfreak.com/emoticons/easter/45yth.gif

[Zerbie]

If government money is involved, laws already apply (the Catholic shelter in the story is a perfect example). If it is a private institution (ANY institution) the persuit of laws to force compliance to our standard is reverse discrimination and equivilent bigotry... We dare not become as bad as the adversary to defeat them.

[COLOR="Blue"]Oh - I was under the impression from Daniel's post that the current laws only cover employment, not "public accomodations." Forced compliance is not the point, anyway, but until hearts are spontaneously nondiscriminatory, laws/statutes seem to be the best we have. . . .

thanks Zerb... I'll put that to the test.http://www.messengerfreak.com/emoticons/easter/45yth.gif

Test? What test? Uh oh - I must be in for it now!! (ducks) :shield:

;)

[awediot]

Forced compliance is not the point, anyway, but until hearts are spontaneously nondiscriminatory, laws/statutes seem to be the best we have.

Hearts will never be spontaneously made into teddy bears without two for one lobotomies, and laws/statutes requiring them to be are nothing more than thought police with good, highway to hell paving intentions... I'll never support the forced compliance to my want of tolerance for any individual or their private enterprises... I will try and prod, goad, guilt, educate, coax, converse, love and lead them there, but legislate, never. It does not work or comes at too great a cost... This IS about forced compliance if laws are the only tools at our disposal... My humanity (not my Christianity) comes before my homosexuality...

I'm just gonna test your appreciation of my input (with posts like this)... Ducking and coverring doesn't help when I can sneak up behind ya http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/jasons_smilie/jester.gif

[Zerbie]

Hearts will never be spontaneously made into teddy bears without two for one lobotomies, and laws/statutes requiring them to be are nothing more than thought police with good, highway to hell paving intentions... I'll never support the forced compliance to my want of tolerance for any individual or their private enterprises... I will try and prod, goad, guilt, educate, coax, converse, love and lead them there, but legislate, never. It does not work or comes at too great a cost... This IS about forced compliance if laws are the only tools at our disposal... My humanity (not my Christianity) comes before my homosexuality...

I'm just gonna test your appreciation of my input (with posts like this)... Ducking and coverring doesn't help when I can sneak up behind ya http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/jasons_smilie/jester.gif

:) You're not sneaking. ;) I thought about expanding the above post, but was running out of mental focus so left it brief. The ellipsis after "laws seem to be the best we have" was supposed to imply ambivalence. So was the word "seem."

In the public sector, we already have laws/ statutes regulating things like non-discrimination, only in most cases sexual orientation is not covered. It should be. In the private sector, I tend to fall where you fall, which is to say the point of a private enterprise is that it's free to operate as its leaders wish. It's why I was so ambivalent about the whole Equality Ride.

Forced compliance is not the point. Internal growth and change, that's the REAL point. The inner transformation is the goal. We are never all going to be at the same place at the same time in that regard.

In the case of a private homeless shelter turning away someone for being gay, by logical extension they should also turn away everyone there who is heterosexual (because that is also a sexuality that can be flaunted and exerted) and remain an empty edifice. Then they would be helping no one. In the short term, my heart is with the poor soul who must now cope with this ludicrous basis for having shelter and human kindness denied. At the same time, I would not want to be the one who turned him away on that superficial basis who must someday discover just Who he turned away at the door.

Your humanity comes before your homosexuality? Not your christianity? Does your humanity come before your Christianity?

I like what you say here. Very much. So yes, I DO appreciate your perspective a great deal.

But why do you compare understanding and love to lobotomized teddy bears? Was Jesus lobotomized? (Provocative by intention.)

[awediot]

Your humanity comes before your homosexuality? Not your christianity? Does your humanity come before your Christianity?
They battle... There is plenty I do not like about either of them and try and find the sanest, kindest and most helpful middle ground... Oddly, I credit and blame my homosexuality for exposing what is ultimately a healthy dichotomy...
But why do you compare understanding and love to lobotomized teddy bears? Was Jesus lobotomized? (Provocative by intention.)
It was in response to your comment: "...but until hearts are spontaneously nondiscriminatory, laws/statutes seem to be the best we have."
I see no way to spontaneously get hearts into a nondiscriminatory state without the equivilent of a lobotomy. It takes a great deal of soul searching and spiritual awakening... not by any means spontaneous. The critical mass, catalyzed wave of enlightenment I perhaps misread between your lines, was the target intentionally provoked... And no Christ was lobotomized. he had the benefit of being God so is a tough comparison...

All that aside we agree far more than not. I am glad to see we share the same ambivalence re. the equality ride (good word for it)...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ernstmul/images/nieuw/bunny7.gif

[Zerbie]

They battle... There is plenty I do not like about either of them and try and find the sanest, kindest and most helpful middle ground... Oddly, I credit and blame my homosexuality for exposing what is ultimately a healthy dichotomy...

Mmmmm 'kay? You allude to a lot behind these words. I get that there is import here, but no idea what it is. What is the dichotomy? Also: What is there about Christianity that you don't like?

It was in response to your comment: "...but until hearts are spontaneously nondiscriminatory, laws/statutes seem to be the best we have."
I see no way to spontaneously get hearts into a nondiscriminatory state without the equivilent of a lobotomy. It takes a great deal of soul searching and spiritual awakening... not by any means spontaneous. The critical mass, catalyzed wave of enlightenment I perhaps misread between your lines,

Going back over this, I see use of the word "spontaneous" is a bit misplaced. Just this morning I referred to one result of 9 and a half years of consistent daily effort at something as "spontaneous." It seems I think things that are spontaneous all rise up out of long consistent effort. . . :confused::confused: I'll work on finding a more descriptive term. :D



was the target intentionally provoked... And no Christ was lobotomized. he had the benefit of being God so is a tough comparison...

All that aside we agree far more than not. I am glad to see we share the same ambivalence re. the equality ride (good word for it)...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ernstmul/images/nieuw/bunny7.gif

Now I still don't see how soul searching and awakening is akin to lobotomy - I understand lobotomy to be a process of cutting out part of the brain and rendering it useless. Spiritual practice does the opposite. The brain becomes more highly functioning and useful.

Okay so Christ came from a different starting point than we. But that still doesn't imply that we need to injure our brains in order to improve ourselves.

Let me go back to the original article you posted and see about sending an email to the gentleman who runs the shelter. That would be a good use of a free moment.