500 gay rights supporters protest outside Focus (on Family in CO)

[struggle4progress]

JUDITH KOHLER
May 1, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS - About 500 people braved spitting snow showers Sunday outside Focus on the Family's headquarters to protest the group's campaign against homosexual rights and same-sex marriage.

"We are here to say, Jim, we love you enough to stop you from doing the damage you are doing to families across the nation," said Mel White, executive director of Soulforce, a national interfaith organization that supports gay rights and is supported by roughly 100 churches and groups. <snip>

Speaking to the crowd that included gay and lesbian couples, White called Focus on the Family "a toxic religion zone." <snip>

Despite the weather it was a festive atmosphere with several strands of rainbow colored balloons and music and people eating hotdogs. <snip>

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050501/NEWS/105010024

[dkofos]

1. They should make this a weekly event.

[Ian David]

8. They should rent office space across the street

Anyone have money to donate?

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

2. Counter Protests! 'Bout time we stuck it to the christofascists.

Hell, yeah! I'm so sick of allowing these christofascists to dictate governmental policies. Let's see how they like protests outside of their centers of hate.

JB

[NMDemDist2]

3. well done! n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. well done

show the world that gays/lesbians are-PEOPLE- and have rights. Do it this way, adding, perhaps, a few words from people like Jesus on how to treat others.

[yorkiemommie1]

5. Good!

Get a copy of Harper's May issue. talks all about the militant religious right and focuses on Colorado Springs. real eye-opener for me.

[TwentyFive]

6. Tell Media to stop calling fundies PEOPLE OF FAITH or VALUES VOTERS

Calling focus on the family types People of Faith is wrong. They are Theocrats.

Are not progressives People of Faith too? Are we not Values Voters? Every time the media starts calling them values voters, etc....we need to write in a call them out on it.

It is good that we have protests to draw attention to how radical these people are.

[DesEtoiles]

16. and Radical Clerics

[lady lib]

7. Good for them.

There needs to be more of this to bring the fundies back to reality.

[bertha katzenengel]

9. GO, SOULFORCE, GO!

I have protested w/ Soulforce. I believe wholeheartedly in what they do. I used to be a fundy and I believe that Jesus Christ would drive the Dobsons out today, the way he drove the moneylenders out in the Gospels.

[Sugarbleus]

11. I completely agree and relate to your experience =o) n/t

[Sugarbleus]

10. Well Done! Kudos to SoulForce!!!

:bounce: :bounce:

[intheflow]

12. Two of my photos from the rally:

There were way more than 500 people there. I'd say there were at least a thousand.

These are just the first few I've been able to get formatted in in the short time I've been home (an hour away) from the rally. I'll post a full thread in GD later tonight.



This is the minister from one of the Springs' two UU churches. (I had to do a plug for the UUs!)


One of the many great signs.

[Coloradan4Truth]

19. Thanks intheflow

I look forward to seeing your other pics later on.

[Pissed_Progressive]

13. Fantastic!

This is so heartening! I'm glad someone is standing up to that Fascist prick! I just joined Soulforce in my city and I love the idea of writing to the media renaming the so-called Poeple of Faith.

[DesEtoiles]

15. Welcome to DU

Nice avatar!

[DesEtoiles]

14. KICK !!!!!!!!!!!

[Zhade]

17. This bisexual atheist says GREAT JOB!

Keep it up! :)

[Coloradan4Truth]

18. What a wonderful day...

the cold was nothing thanks to the company of such a wonderful crowd.

Here's to a future where all can feel loved just as they are.

Great job Soulforce!

[Maraya1969]

20. In case anyone wants to contact Dr. Dobson here is the link

http://family.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/family.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9OTAmcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_li=

[DanCa]

21. God bless Soulforce

To have the courage to face down the focus on the family is truly heroic and noble. My heart goes out to any gblt person of any faith or non faith who has been hurt by these rednecks. Great job guys. Now if I can get a bunch of people to do something like that with stem cell life will be good . We have to start playing the religious right.