Gay/Lesbian Religion News

NEWS RELEASE 
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2003           



Predominantly Gay Metropolitan Community Churches
Hail US Supreme Court Decision
Striking Down State Sodomy Laws For Gays
MCC, the World's Largest Church Group Serving Gays and Lesbians

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"For US residents, this is the single most significant legal victory for
the GLBT community in US history. This is more than a legal victory --
it is a powerful reminder that love and sexual expression are of equal
importance and value to both heterosexual and homosexual families."
                                                                 -- Rev. Troy D. Perry
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West Hollywood - Calling it "The most significant victory for gay and lesbian rights in my lifetime," veteran human rights activist and founder of the predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Churches Rev. Troy D. Perry hailed today's Supreme Court decision striking down state sodomy laws.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the case of Lawrence and Garner vs. Texas today, striking down the state legislature's right to criminalize sodomy for homosexuals. The ruling effectively upholds a right to "privacy and liberty interest" in the constitution for all people, heterosexual and homosexual alike.

"This is a great victory in the fight for equal civil rights for homosexuals," said Perry. Metropolitan Community Churches had filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court urging that sodomy laws be abolished. "What a fantastic day this is! The work Metropolitan community Churches have done for over 30 years to gain equal civil rights for homosexuals makes this celebration all the more sweet."

"For US residents, this is the single most significant legal victory for the GLBT community in US history. It's more than a legal victory -- it is a powerful reminder that love and sexual expression are of equal importance and value to both heterosexual and homosexual families," Perry added.

According to Perry, "Laws that have been used to justify discrimination against gay people are no more. Laws that have been used to intimidate gay people are no more. Laws that have been used to harass the gay community are no more. Sodomy laws in the United states are no more."

"This marks a new the beginning," Rev. Perry said. "We must take pride in this victory, but we must not rest. There are still battles for equality that must be won."

Perry points out, for example, that gays and lesbians still do not have equal rights under marriage laws. MCC conducts 6,000 marriage ceremonies each year. To date, however, none of these unions are recognized under state laws in the US. Perry said MCC will now have even greater fortitude and determination to change that.
 
With 46,000 members and adherents in 300 congregations in 22 countries, Metropolitan Community Churches is the world's largest church group providing positive, supportive ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons. Additional information is available at www.MCCchurch.org.


(END)


 
For Additional Information, Contact:
Jim Birkitt, MCC Communications Director
or
Roman Cardenas, Associate Communications Director
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor
West Hollywood, CA  90069
Tel. (310) 360-8640, Ext. 226 or 228
E-Mail: info@MCCchurch.org
Website: www.MCCchurch.org


SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS TEXAS SODOMY LAW
 
Soulforce Expresses Jubilation and Hope for the Future
 
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Soulforce Press Release: June 26, 2003              
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt
Cell:  717-278-0592  
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(Lynchburg, VA) - Leaders of Soulforce today express jubilation at the decision by the United States Supreme Court in Lawrence v Texas overturning Texas's sodomy law.  Until today, it had been illegal in 13 states for same-sex couples to engage in certain types of sexual behavior in their own homes.  
 
The Texas case began when police responded to a false report of a weapons disturbance and busted into John Lawrence’s home.  Although the police found no weapons, they did find Mr. Lawrence with Tyrone Garner engaged in sex and arrested them both. Texas courts found both men guilty and today’s decision overturns those convictions.
 
“This is a fantastic day for all people because the Supreme Court has recognized that our government has no place in our bedrooms, nor a right to selectively single out people of minority sexual orientation for criminal punishment,” said Rev. Mel White, founder and director of Soulforce, Inc.  “Maybe some churches that alienate and degrade us will see the light after today as well.”
 
Soulforce, a national interfaith organization dedicated to ending spiritual violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, signed on to an amicus curiae brief filed by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund urging the Court to strike down the Texas law as it did today.
 
Today decision overturned both the Texas court decision in Lawrence v. Texas and the1986 Supreme Court decision in the Bowers v Hardwick case that upheld Georgia sodomy laws.  According to CNN, the late Justice Lewis Powell, the deciding vote in the Bowers decision, later said he probably made a mistake with his decision on that case.  Today’s decision corrected that mistake.
 
“I’m free, I’m free, I am no longer a criminal for who I love, I am free to be who God created me to be,” said Karen Weldin, Soulforce Director of Operations. “I hope this gives people hiding in the closet the sense of freedom and courage to come out and be proud of who they are and who they love.”
 
Soulforce, a national interfaith movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT).  We teach and employ the principles of nonviolence as taught by Gandhi and King to the liberation of sexual minorities.  www.soulforce.org


UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2003

Contact:    Mr. Ron Buford, Public Relations Manager, (216) 736-2180
            The Rev. J. Bennett Guess (216) 736-2212

OPENLY GAY MINISTER NAMED EDITOR OF UNITED CHURCH NEWS

An openly gay minister has been named editor of United Church News, the
national newspaper of the United Church of Christ. The Rev. J. Bennett
Guess, 36, will succeed the Rev. W. Evan Golder, who retires in July.

United Church News, with a circulation of 175,000 and an estimated
readership of 315,000, publishes 30 different regional and national
editions with each monthly issue. Since its inception in 1985, the paper
has won more than three dozen awards from Associated Church Press and the
Religion Communicators Council.

Prior to the appointment, Guess served as minister for communication and
mission education for the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries. In that
position, he was the ministry's principal writer, editor, designer and web
coordinator.

Prior to working in the national setting of the UCC, Guess served as pastor
of Zion UCC in Henderson, Ky., where he also was managing editor of the
peace and justice literary journal, "Out of Line." He also has been a
general assignment reporter for The Daily News in Bowling Green, Ky., and a
regular contributing columnist for The Gleaner in Henderson, Ky.

A native of Kentucky, Guess was a founding member of the Kentucky Fairness
Alliance, the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights
organization, which he co-chaired for five years. In 1999, he led the
successful campaign to ban anti-gay discrimination in the city of
Henderson, Ky., an effort that was overturned in 2001 when a supportive
city commissioner did not seek re-election and an opponent of the ordinance
won the seat.

A veteran journalist, religious communicator, and justice advocate, Guess
earned a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Kentucky School
of Journalism (1988). He earned an M.Div. degree from Vanderbilt University
Divinity School in Nashville (1991) and a D.Min. degree from UCC-related
Chicago Theological Seminary (2000). In 1997, he received the UCC's
national Just Peace Award.

"I'm excited that Ben Guess will be the next editor," said Golder. "He has
talent, commitment, grace and a broad range of experience in the UCC that
will serve him well in this calling."

Guess has referred to United Church News as "the most visible ongoing
expression of the oneness of our life together as the United Church of
Christ."

The United Church of Christ, with 1.4 million members in nearly 6,000
congregations, has its national offices in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1985, the
UCC's General Synod -- the denomination's highest deliberative body -- has
called upon all settings of the church to be open and affirming of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. Although differences of opinion do
exist among its members, and individual congregations are free to affirm or
reject General Synod statements, the UCC has a history of prophetic witness
for LGBT equality. The UCC's first openly gay minister, the Rev. William R.
Johnson, was ordained in 1972.

Guess and his partner, Jim Therrien, are members of Pilgrim Congregational
UCC in Cleveland.


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The Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess
Editor, United Church News
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-1100
(216) 736-2212  

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