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Southern Baptist Convention Protest in New Orleans

Compiled By GayToday

"Because Southern Baptist teachings turn even our friends and families against us, we weep when their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children are born." -- Rev. Dr. Mel White, Executive Director, Soulforce Inc.

Soulforce Founder and Executive Director the Rev. Mel White

New Orleans, Louisiana-Protesters led by Soulforce will convene in in New Orleans, June 11 - 13, at the Southern Baptist Convention, objecting to the anti-gay teachings of Southern Baptists. More than 10,000 Southern Baptist "messengers" gathering at the Superdome for their annual convention will be met by Soulforce supporters holding vigils and nonviolent protests at the same location. Additionally, several Soulforce local groups across the country will hold prayer vigils to show solidarity with those in New Orleans.

Soulforce, an interfaith network of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) individuals and their families, friends and allies, is committed to applying the principles of nonviolent resistance as taught by Gandhi and King to the liberation of sexual and gender minorities.

Three letters from Soulforce Executive Director, Rev. Mel White, have been sent to Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President, James Merritt, asking for him to dialogue with Soulforce representatives regarding GLBT individuals and the SBC anti-gay teachings. James Merritt has indicated he intends to respond to the letters, but as of today he has not.

The letters to Merritt are available at http://www.soulforce.org/nolaaction.html and include a list of requests for dialogue and action on the part of James Merritt to stop the SBC anti-gay rhetoric. Additionally, Soulforce has prepared a case showing the history of anti-gay Southern Baptist teachings. It is available at http://www.soulforce.org/nola_case.html.

"Southern Baptist teachings are a primary source of misinformation about sexual and gender minorities," declared Bill Carpenter, Soulforce co-chair of the event. "Their teachings lead to discrimination, suffering, and even death. Our volunteers feel called to stand up against this spiritual violence and put a face to the suffering that their anti-gay teachings cause."

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The culmination of two days of vigils in New Orleans will be a "historic jazz funeral," followed by a press conference and planned civil disobedience and arrests.

Additionally, Soulforce participants in New Orleans are bringing handkerchiefs inscribed with the names of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Southern Baptists who have been ostracized by the Southern Baptist Church and hurt by their anti-gay teachings. A 20' x 4' Banner will proclaim that Southern Baptist Teachings Are Killing God's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Children.

"If we can help just one Southern Baptist to 'see' the truth, or prevent one gay Southern Baptist from committing suicide," said Karen Weldin, co-chair of the New Orleans event and a member of the Soulforce Board of Directors, "it is worth all the energy, expense and time all of the volunteers have committed to this cause."