From: Lmrutt@aol.com Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 11:45:17 EDT Subject: SOULFORCE RELEASE: 73 Arrested at Episcopal Convention 7/4/2000 * SOULFORCE PRESS RELEASE * CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE LEADS TO ARREST OF 73 PEOPLE DURING PROTEST AT EPISCOPAL CONVENTION IN DENVER JULY 4th 4th Demonstration This Summer of Civil Disobedience and Arrests All Across the United States in Protest of the Exclusion of God's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Children PRESS RELEASE July 5, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt, Media Coordinator Cell: 717-951-7712 Denver - On July 4th, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) individuals, and their families, friends and allies joined together in Denver to protest the exclusionary practices by many churches and bishops in the Episcopal Church USA and support the full inclusion of GLBT individuals in all aspects the church. The protest was organized by Soulforce; an interfaith movement committed to applying the principles of nonviolent resistance as taught by Gandhi and King to the liberation of sexual and gender minorities. After a morning Soulforce training session in non-violent resistance to injustice at St Paul's United Methodist Church in Denver, 200 protesters moved to the Episcopal Conference at the Colorado Convention Center for a 45 minute silent vigil and press conference beginning at 1pm. As Bishops and Deputies arrived for their 2pm Opening Orientation Session, Soulforce volunteers trained in nonviolent civil disobedience moved from the steps to the sidewalk in front of the Convention Center, peacefully and symbolically blocking the entrance to the Convention Center. After ordered by police to disperse, the demonstrators refused and were handcuffed and placed under arrest. Several groups of protesters then followed the same pattern, each being arrested after being told to disperse. A total of 73 people, both gay and straight, from the Episcopal church and many denominations all over the United States, were taken to police headquarters, and received a citation for Failure to Obey a Lawful Order and Trespassing. All those arrested were released from custody within two hours. The fine has not been set, but carries a maximum penalty of $1000 and 1-year in jail. One of those arrested was retired Episcopal Bishop Otis Charles. Bishop Charles said, "After being true to myself and my church that I was gay, I came to understand that God loves just as I am. There is no place I can, be except with Soulforce, speaking the voice of truth about God's children." "From the beginning of this tragic debate, Episcopal bishops, priests, and laity have taken courageous and costly stands for full inclusion of sexual and gender minorities," explained Dr. Mel White, co-founder of Soulforce and one of those arrested. "However, many Episcopal churches still exclude us. Many bishops still discriminate against us. The fundamentalist forces in the Episcopal Church want to deny that God loves us the way we are. The debate has been going on long enough! Soulforce is here to say that this debate must end! God loves us just the way we are. We are your neighbors, and your organists, and your clergy, and your Sunday School teachers, and your deacons, and your ushers, and God's children" In a letter to the Deputies and Bishops of the Convention, The Rev. Dr. George F. Regas, Rector Emeritus of All Saints church in Pasadena, CA and one of the most esteemed Episcopal clergy, stated, "The debate on the homosexuality issue has become a primary source of suffering for millions of lesbian and gay people. The fact that bishops, priests and laity are at this General Convention to debate once again whether gay and lesbian persons are acceptable is obscene!" Similar Soulforce protests were held during the United Methodist General Conference in May, and the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian General Assembly in June. In November, a Soulforce delegation will conduct another civil disobedience at the meeting of the National Council of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. All participants in all direct actions are required to sign, wear, and uphold the Soulforce "pledge to nonviolence" used by Dr. Martin Luther King and his marchers in 1963. For additional information on the Soulforce action, or to sign up for civil disobedience training and non-violent direct actions, go to http://www.soulforce.org or call (949) 455-0999.