On Saturday, November 15th, thousands of LGBTQ people and their supporters rallied in cities across the country to express their opposition to Proposition 8, a California State ballot proposition that amended the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. In Portland, a group from our church joined hundreds of other people in support of marriage equality. At the same time, our pastor helped organize a demonstration in Stillwater, Minnesota. Read two reports of what happened…
About the rally in Portland, church member Karen Kulm notes that speakers included elected officials, LGBTQ community leaders, and religious leaders. Mayor-elect of Portland, Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city stated, “It’s really about respect.” He urged the crowd to channel their anger and pain into positive work for equality. Religious leaders urged the crowd not to fight hate with hate. “Love your neighbor” is a two-way street and we must all do more to know our neighbor, but also be known by our neighbor.
Reflecting further on the occasion, Kulm says, “The passage of Prop 8 in California demonstrates that we in the open and affirming religious community have not been doing enough to share our message of love and acceptance. We are being challenged, as people of faith, to lead the way. It is clear that this issue affects all of us, not just our brothers and sisters in California. We all must stand up for equality, talk to our neighbors, speak up when we hear homophobic slurs or untruths and continue to work for justice.”
While attending a conference in Stillwater, Minnesota, Pastor Brooks helped organize other conference participants to demonstrate at the busiest intersection in this town of roughly 15,000 people. Pastor Brooks told a local newspaper, “We believe it is important for people to know that our Christian faith and values have led us to take this stand. We believe Jesus advocated for the love and dignity of all rather than the condemnation of some and the denial of their rights.”
