July 19: Readings in Nonviolence--“You are invited to Join us on the Journey...”
| By Christopher Hubble - Jun 11th, 2008 at 4:42 pm EDT |
| Also listed in: COEqual | Faith Progressives | GLBT Progressives |
On Saturday, July 19 from 1-3 pm Soulforce in Colorado will launch a discussion group exploring the wide-ranging oeuvre of nonviolent theory entitled "Readings in Nonviolence". We will meet at The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado (1050 Broadway in Denver). I hope you might consider joining us.
Christopher Hubble
"You are invited to Join us on the Journey..."*
Nearly a decade ago those words began my discovery of Satyagraha, Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent "soul force". In February, 1999, Soulforce, Inc. co-founder Rev. Dr. Mel White had published an audacious column: "Bashing Jerry Falwell Hurts Our Cause". Falwell had recently "outed" Tinky Winky, a charge so preposterous and provocative that many in the GLBT community practically overnight had made Tinky Winky a new icon… a Queer symbol of resistance in our struggle for equality. Undeterred by the scathing emails he received for "defending" Falwell, Mel shortly launched his "17 Step Journey into Soulforce", an email seminar introducing the principles of nonviolence to several thousand readers--200 eventually visited Falwell and his congregation later that fall. The historic "Journey to Lynchburg" debuted Soulforce, which then described itself as a "movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."
In Fort Worth recently, Soulforce celebrated its 10th anniversary reunion during the same weekend of its April direct action at the 2008 Conference of the United Methodist Church. Scores joined Mel, defrocked Methodist pastor Jimmy Creech, along with civil rights legends Rev. Gil Caldwell and Phil Lawson to once again demand that the United Methodist Church fully honor its slogan, "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors". Standing in the vigil line that weekend brought back memories of my sympathetic fast ten years ago when Gil, Mel, Jimmy, Arun Gandhi and over two hundred others were arrested in Cleveland at a similar conference.
It also reminded me of several dozen Coloradoans who were arrested with Mel here in Denver on July 4, 2000, protesting at an Episcopal Church convention. How many of us could have imagined that on June 7, 2003, V. Gene Robinson would be elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire?
Coloradoans have been great friends to Soulforce. In May, 2005, nearly 700 picnicked, rallied and marched around Dr. James Dobson's Colorado Springs headquarters to confront his anti-GLBT rhetoric. In July, 2006, several hundred took part in the 1,000 Watt Walk, Vigil and Concert. Some marched over 65 miles from Denver to Colorado Springs to help "connect the dots" between Dobson's untruths and the laws which deprive GLBT Coloradoans of their inalienable rights. On the event's final evening, the rest joined Judy Shepard and Chad Allen as we delivered a family photo album to Focus on the Family.
Soulforce's vision--"freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance"--has evolved over the years: from vigils outside religious conventions to the youth and young adult led Equality Ride. But how many in Denver could have foreseen the September 24 arrest of local couple Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder after they staged a sit-in for marriage equality at Denver's clerk and recorder office? About the recent trial proceedings, a local journalist reported that many prospective jurors bluntly told the court they simply couldn't remain impartial--because they supported what Kate and Sheila had done.
Foremost amongst the priorities of "Soulforce in Colorado" are our community-building efforts--especially to equip local organizers with an in-depth understanding of nonviolent philosophy. On Saturday, July 19 from 1-3 pm we will launch a discussion group exploring the wide-ranging oeuvre of nonviolent theory entitled "Readings in Nonviolence". We will meet at The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado (1050 Broadway in Denver).
"You are invited to Join us on the Journey..."
To learn more about "Soulforce in Colorado", contact Christopher Hubble at cahubble08@gmail.com or visit www.soulforce.org.
* As published in the June 11 issue of Out Front Colorado
********************
Christopher Hubble
"You are invited to Join us on the Journey..."*
Nearly a decade ago those words began my discovery of Satyagraha, Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent "soul force". In February, 1999, Soulforce, Inc. co-founder Rev. Dr. Mel White had published an audacious column: "Bashing Jerry Falwell Hurts Our Cause". Falwell had recently "outed" Tinky Winky, a charge so preposterous and provocative that many in the GLBT community practically overnight had made Tinky Winky a new icon… a Queer symbol of resistance in our struggle for equality. Undeterred by the scathing emails he received for "defending" Falwell, Mel shortly launched his "17 Step Journey into Soulforce", an email seminar introducing the principles of nonviolence to several thousand readers--200 eventually visited Falwell and his congregation later that fall. The historic "Journey to Lynchburg" debuted Soulforce, which then described itself as a "movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."
In Fort Worth recently, Soulforce celebrated its 10th anniversary reunion during the same weekend of its April direct action at the 2008 Conference of the United Methodist Church. Scores joined Mel, defrocked Methodist pastor Jimmy Creech, along with civil rights legends Rev. Gil Caldwell and Phil Lawson to once again demand that the United Methodist Church fully honor its slogan, "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors". Standing in the vigil line that weekend brought back memories of my sympathetic fast ten years ago when Gil, Mel, Jimmy, Arun Gandhi and over two hundred others were arrested in Cleveland at a similar conference.
It also reminded me of several dozen Coloradoans who were arrested with Mel here in Denver on July 4, 2000, protesting at an Episcopal Church convention. How many of us could have imagined that on June 7, 2003, V. Gene Robinson would be elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire?
Coloradoans have been great friends to Soulforce. In May, 2005, nearly 700 picnicked, rallied and marched around Dr. James Dobson's Colorado Springs headquarters to confront his anti-GLBT rhetoric. In July, 2006, several hundred took part in the 1,000 Watt Walk, Vigil and Concert. Some marched over 65 miles from Denver to Colorado Springs to help "connect the dots" between Dobson's untruths and the laws which deprive GLBT Coloradoans of their inalienable rights. On the event's final evening, the rest joined Judy Shepard and Chad Allen as we delivered a family photo album to Focus on the Family.
Soulforce's vision--"freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance"--has evolved over the years: from vigils outside religious conventions to the youth and young adult led Equality Ride. But how many in Denver could have foreseen the September 24 arrest of local couple Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder after they staged a sit-in for marriage equality at Denver's clerk and recorder office? About the recent trial proceedings, a local journalist reported that many prospective jurors bluntly told the court they simply couldn't remain impartial--because they supported what Kate and Sheila had done.
Foremost amongst the priorities of "Soulforce in Colorado" are our community-building efforts--especially to equip local organizers with an in-depth understanding of nonviolent philosophy. On Saturday, July 19 from 1-3 pm we will launch a discussion group exploring the wide-ranging oeuvre of nonviolent theory entitled "Readings in Nonviolence". We will meet at The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado (1050 Broadway in Denver).
"You are invited to Join us on the Journey..."
To learn more about "Soulforce in Colorado", contact Christopher Hubble at cahubble08@gmail.com or visit www.soulforce.org.
* As published in the June 11 issue of Out Front Colorado
********************
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