Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 11:37:12 -0400 From: "David B. O'Donnell" [ Send all responses to CORick@AOL.COM only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] Contact: Rick Cendo GLAIL 303-440-5055 COLORADO ANTI-GAY GROUP AGAIN ORDERS ARREST OF ITS BIGGEST ENEMY: FACT-SHEET DISTRIBUTOR An Angry Kevin Tebedo orders non-police force and then arrest of gay activist Tebedo scheduled for a jury trial next week for allegedly striking a woman last year DENVER, June 6, 1995 -- For the second time since May, the distribution of fact sheets has prompted Kevin Tebedo, head of Colorado For Family Values, to order the arrest of a gay activist at his "Time to Stand" seminars in Colorado. Tebedo today ordered the arrest of Rick Cendo, president of Gays and Lesbians Against Immoral Lifestyles, at the Bear Valley Christian Church in Lakewood, CO. Cendo was standing at the entrance of the CFV meeting, handing out fact sheets that contradict the claims made in the video "Gay Right, Special Rights," a standard feature shown at CFV seminars. Tebedo began by grabbing fact sheets out of the hands of people who had taken them from Cendo. One woman refused to give her fact sheet to Tebedo. When the entrance area was clear of people, Tebedo ordered CFV "security guards" to forcibly take Cendo's fact sheets away from him. When the CFV "security guards" were unable to dislodge the fact sheets from between Cendo's chest and wrapped arms, Tebedo ordered them to push Cendo away from the CFV entrance and down the church steps to the parking lot. Cendo sat down, and the CFV "security guards" carried Cendo by his arms down the steps. Tired, they dropped Cendo in the parking lot. When Cendo attempted to return to the entrance, one of the CFV "security guards" placed Cendo in an arm lock. Meanwhile, Tebedo, who said that he would personally press charges against Cendo and that Cendo would spend all night in jail, went inside to phone the police, telling them that Cendo was violent and disruptive and that the police must come right away. A Lakewood policewoman arrived shortly thereafter and, having been told by Tebedo that Cendo was disruptive, immediately handcuffed Cendo to a guard rail. Realizing that Cendo was calm, polite and only interested in handing out fact sheets, she uncuffed him about a minute later. Cendo said he has a First Amendment right to hand out fact sheets at a public meeting, regardless of whether the meeting is on private property. Having refused to leave before the end of the meeting, Cendo was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and disobeying an order of a police officer. His arraignment is scheduled for July 24 at Lakewood Municipal Court. Cendo and a second man were arrested on May 2 for distributing fact sheets at the Mission Hills Baptist Church in Greenwood, CO. Before ordering CFV security guards to push Cendo down the church steps, Tebedo said to Cendo, "Either you will destroy the nation or you will be destroyed. There is no middle ground." Tebedo is scheduled for a jury trial in Colorado Springs on Monday, June 12. He is charged with striking a woman and mother of 2 after the woman jokingly suggested that Tebedo may be a self-tortured homosexual. After being released from the Lakewood police station about 1 1/2 hours after being arrested, Cendo said, "Kevin Tebedo and his organization, CFV, have a deep, deep hostility toward factual information about gays, an open debate of gay issues, or moderation or reconciliation of any sort regarding gays. Instead, Tebedo thrives on intimidation, violence, disinformation and a fanatical dedication to his extremist delusions. He is a truly evil man. Hopefully, one day he will find the love that he desperately needs"