An outtake from a chapter written by Melanie Morrison
This is meant to be a continuation of the above post. I found it to be extremely moving. It is one woman's personal epiphany.
She is apparently the first out lesbian to address the Gathering as such. She says:
"I introduced myself, and explained that I work with CLOUT (Ed: Christian Lesbians Out Together), an ecumenical movement celebrating the miracle of being lesbian, out, and Christian. Then I said "We are keenly, painfully aware that the world is not safe for lesbian women, and that often the least safe place is the church. We call upon all of you -- whatever your sexual orientation -- not to leave this holy place without wrestling with these questions: What does it mean for us to be in solidarity with lesbian, bisexual and transsexual women in this decade, and how can we together re-imagine our churches so that every woman may reclaim her voice, her gifts, her loves, and her wholeness? Acknowledging that my white skin may put me in a place where there is less at stake in coming out, I invite every lesbian, bisexual and transsexual woman who is willing and able to come forward and join hands, encircling this platform, facing out."
As soon as I issued the invitation, women in every part of that great hall left their tables and started moving toward the center of the room. At least 150 women circled the stage 3 rows deep and spilled up onto the platform. I intended to ask people remaining at their tables to stand up in solidarity with us. but when women began to stream to the center, a roar went up from the crowd as people rose to their feet and gave the women a long and thunderous ovation.
It was glorious pandemonium. From where I stood on the platform, I could see tears running down the faces of many who stood at their tables. People were cheering and waving their arms. The women who circled the stage faced the cheering people, clasping each other's hands and raising their arms in a triumphant gesture of pride and strength. I reminded all of us that there were women standing at their tables who wanted to be in this circle, but who did not yet feel safe enough to join us. We sang a song together, and then the room erupted in more applause, hugs, and tears.
I want everyone here (especially Nikki and Squirt07), who feels moved by this to respond to it. I know that I am.
Love, Bruce Chris
__________________
"Christianity is not about what you believe, it is about how you treat other people; - with God's love"
Last edited by BruceChris; 03-01-2009 at 04:18 PM.
Reason: Fine tuning
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