Subject: Special Alert: Marriage Equality Week to counter Marriage Protect ion Week

Hello everyone - We have some breaking news to share with you. All indications are that organizations opposed to marriage for same-sex couples are about to launch an aggressive campaign beginning with 'Marriage Protection Week' starting October 12. The national office of the Metropolitan Community Church has prepared a counter response called 'Marriage Equality Week.'

PFLAG national staff members Dave Mallory and myself just finished a conference call with other members of the national Freedom to Marry Coalition, and all agreed that time is short and it is very important to spread the news of this as widely as possible among our supporters, and encourage GLBT supportive faith communities to take any steps they feel they can.

The timing is, of course, noteworthy - with National Coming Out Day on October 11, and October being GLBT History Month. There may well be ways to include programming about this in any activities already planned throughout the month.

As this issue plays out in the coming year, you can expect ongoing information, resources and on-the-ground support from the national PFLAG office. Whether we feel ready for it or not, the issue of civil marriage for same sex couples will be a hot topic in the coming year, and we are poised to maximize it as an opportunity to educate.

In this posting you will find:

1. Both Sides In Same-Sex Marriage To Hold National Lobby Week - article from 365Gay.com
2. A message from Rev. Troy D. Perry
3. A list of some of the supporting resources you will find on the MCC website

Thank you in advance for your efforts to support, educate and advocate on this important issue. We have been handed an historic opportunity to engage our friends and neighbors, and the wider public, and PFLAG has a powerful perspective to share.

Please keep us posted on any activities you are a part of on the issue of civil marriage for same sex couples!

Ron Schlittler

Director, Field & Policy

1. Both Sides In Same-Sex Marriage To Hold National Lobby Week - article from 365Gay.com

365Gay.com, September 25, 2003
by Doreen Brandt, 365Gay.com Newscenter, Washington Bureau

Washington, D.C. Organizations in favor and opposed to same sex marriage have earmarked the same week for national demonstrations to promote their views.

Southern Baptists, Jerry Falwell, Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family and other conservative churches and lobby groups announced Wednesday that they had earmarked October 12-18 'Marriage Protection Week'.

"There is a tremendous and titanic clash of values and morals that is taking place in our society between the Judeo-Christian understanding of truth and the neo-pagan understanding of truth," said Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

"The best legal minds in the country have come to the conclusion that the only way we can protect ourselves from having the judiciary force same-sex 'marriage' upon an unwilling nation is to have a constitutional amendment that says specifically that nothing in the U.S. Constitution or any of the state constitutions shall be construed as requiring that marriage be anything other than the union of a man and a woman," Land said.

"For too long, 97 percent of our nation's citizens have been denied an appropriate voice as the courts, media and Congress have allowed the avowedly gay 3 percent of our population to assert their agenda," said Tom Elliff chairman of the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life. Elliff ABC's new situation comedy "It's All Relative," that features a same sex couple as an example.

The conservative Christian groups are urging churches to highlight the battle against same-sex marriage in churches across the country during ' Marriage Protection Week'. Organizers have set up a website, www.faithandfamily.com , where churches can download posters and sample petitions to urge politicians to support a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

The same week, supporters of same-sex marriage will hold Marriage Equality Week.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Community Churches across the United States will dedicate the week to the legalization of same-sex marriage.

"During the same week that the Religious Right will work to deny a basic human right to gays and lesbians, hundreds to faith communities will take public stands in support of equality in the marriage laws for gay couples."

"We are not seeking special treatment," said Rev. Troy Perry, MCC Moderator.

"We seek equality. We are asking that the marriage laws by applied equally to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. That is the only gay agenda equality for everyone under the law."

Metropolitan Community Churches performs more than 6000 same-sex weddings annually, but only those performed in two Canadian provinces, Ontario and British Columbia are legal, and even then they are legal only in Canada. The rest are considered invalid.

"These are weddings that are blessed in the sight of God, but still not recognized by most governments," Perry said. "To not recognize my marriage and the marriages of thousands of other same-sex couples, is discrimination and we will not stand for that any longer."

MCC has more than 43,000 members in 22 countries.

Rev. Perry wed his partner of 18 years, Phillip Ray DeBlieck, in Toronto earlier this year after Ontario's historic legalization of same-sex marriage in June.

In July, Perry announced a Five-Step Plan to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S. that includes Valentine's Day demonstrations, partnering with other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activist groups and eventually, a legal case with other human rights groups.

"Metropolitan Community Churches' observance of "Marriage Equality Week" will provide a positive countervoice for all types of families, including gay and lesbian families," said Rev. Perry, a former delegate to the White House Conference on Hate Crimes and the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human Rights Commission.

MCC has set up an online resource kit for Marriage Equality Week

http://www.MCCchurch.org.

2. A Message From Rev. Troy D. Perry

September-October 2003

Dear Friend:

I want to share with you an important way you can help in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

While the information and resources included here have been designed for use by Metropolitan Community Churches, they may be easily adapted by other activists and community groups.

I am asking our community's leaders to do what we do best: Rise to the occasion and take a public stand as part of our commitment to social action.

Let me explain:

A coalition of 22 right wing and religious fundamentalist groups have announced plans to observe the week of October 12-18 as "Marriage Protection Week: A Week Dedicated To Preserving The Sacred Institution Of Marriage."

This coalition is working hard to stop the movement toward same-sex marriage rights. In fact, if you read their literature, many of these groups want to stop all legal protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons.

This right-wing coalition is made up of names and groups you will easily recognize -- Jerry Falwell, Concerned Women for America, Phyllis Schlafly, William Bennett, the Family Research Council, Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family, the Traditional Values Coalition, the 19-million member Southern Baptist Convention, and scores of fundamentalist Christian radio and television stations.

During the week of October 12-18, 2003, these groups will generate huge press coverage for their cause -- and against our community!

We must not be silent.

We must make our voices heard.

We must respond positively and proactively to these messages of intolerance, oppression and hate.

As a positive countervoice, MCC churches are joining hands with activists and GLBT groups to observe the week of October 12-19 as "Marriage Equality Week."

Our observance of "Marriage Equality Week" at the same time we are being attacked by the Religious Right will provide many opportunities in your community for media and press coverage -- and your participation will highlight the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

For the past 35 years, MCC has consistently been involved in Christian Social Action as one important way to live out our faith. Your voice for equality on the marriage issue will serve to empower our community and educate our society.

Troy Perry

Rev. Troy D. Perry

MCC Founder and Moderator

P.S. An excellent starting place is to visit the www.DontAmend.com website and "Sign The Pledge." Want to know more about The Pledge? Click here: Learn More About The Pledge

3. A list of some of the supporting resources you will find on the MCC website

http://www.mccchurch.org

-- Introductory Letter from Rev. Troy Perry

-- On-Line Resources and Web Recommendations

-- An "Action List" of Ideas To Observe "Marriage Equality Week"

-- A Sample Press Release for Use By Local Churches