Gay Protesters Arrested at Focus on the Family

[Rick336]

Gay Protestors Arrested At Focus On The Family HQ

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: April 29, 2007

(Colorado Springs, Colorado) Two members of the nondenominational Soulforce were arrested Saturday at the headquarters of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs.

The group said it wanted to confront what it called numerous "inflammatory and dehumanizing statements" that Focus founder James Dr. Dobson and his associates have published over the years regarding LGBT people.

About 20 demonstrators held a vigil outside the headquarters, quoting from some of the FOF statements that homosexuality is "choice" and can be "cured", that homosexuality is harmful, that gays live shorter lives, and that same-sex relationships threaten opposite-sex marriage.

Focus on the Family is one of the most vocal anti-gay organizations in the country and a leading advocate of the so-called ex-gay movement.

In a recent interview with Reuters Dobson claimed that he has never made a hateful statement about lesbians and gays.

Following the vigil two protestors entered the headquarters building. Chris Hubble and Leigh Lyon, armed with two dozen yellow roses for Dobson and copies of the Soulforce booklet "A False Focus on My Family" and a DVD letter titled "Dear Dr. Dobson", asked to see the conservative Christian leader.

"The goal of this direct action campaign of civil disobedience is not to embarrass or shame Dr. Dobson--but to open his heart," said Hubble.

"I sincerely hope that this 'nonviolent conversation' will persuade him and his associates to finally end their partisan campaign of untruthful rhetoric which causes so much suffering for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," Hubble said.

"As a mother, I am here to stand against the condemnation that Dr. Dobson and his colleagues heap on gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people and the parents that raise them--because it results in suicides and alienation from God. I want to see this end and I am here to say NO MORE! God loves us all," said Lyon.

When they refused to leave after being told Dobson was not available, the two were arrested and charged with trespassing. They were later released.

FOF spokesperson Gary Schneeberger Dobson was not in the building.

Last year openly gay actor Chad Allen and Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard who was murdered because he was gay, led a Soulforce organized march to the FOF headquarters.

Soulforce also is the sponsor of the Equality Ride

Two busloads of Equality Riders crisscrossed the country trying to engage students at the mostly conservative Christian colleges that bar gay and lesbian students.

This year's ride ended last week following arrests at almost all of the campuses the group visited.

On Friday 10 Equality riders were arrested when they entered the Bethany Lutheran College campus in Mankato, Minnesota. There have

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[Rick336]

Originally Posted by 356gay.com

"I sincerely hope that this 'nonviolent conversation' will persuade him and his associates to finally end their partisan campaign of untruthful rhetoric which causes so much suffering for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," Hubble said.

"As a mother, I am here to stand against the condemnation that Dr. Dobson and his colleagues heap on gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people and the parents that raise them--because it results in suicides and alienation from God. I want to see this end and I am here to say NO MORE! God loves us all," said Lyon.

Thank you Chris Hubble and Leigh Lyon and the twenty other protesters. I appreciate your courage and commitment to truth.

It's stuff like this that makes me proud to be a member of Soulforce.

Rick

[sjbouza]

I send many kudos to all of the Equality Riders and others that are taking a stand against James Dobson and his like. I think it needs to be brought out, the lies and mistruths that he spouts must be brought into the light. He says that he hasnt said anything hateful towards GLBT people. I beg to differ. He may not think it is hate, but it is. When you lie to or about someone, that is coming from hate. If one loves another person, no matter if they agree with them or not, they will not tell lies or mistruths about or to them. True love for your brother doesnt contain lies. Lies come from hate.

I feel for Mr Dobson and his like. I pray for them. Whether they do come to agree with us or not is not the point. But they must stop the lies and truly begin to love.

All my love to everyone that is out there fighting this fight and standing up for what is right.