Program Advisor Arrested in Sit-In Demonstrating for Marriage Equality

Soulforce In Colorado Stages Sit-In: Draws Public Attention to the Injustice of Proposition 8

"Tuesday afternoon, approximately 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Coloradans protested outside Denver's Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building. At 3:45pm, several couples and individuals entered the Denver City and County Clerk and Recorder's office to stage a sit-in and nonviolent civil disobedience. Denver residents (and members of Soulforce In Colorado) Kate Burns, Lewis Thompson, Laurin Foxworth, John Ferguson, and Shari Wilkins were arrested at approximately 4:45pm. The arrest occurred after a young heterosexual couple entered the clerk and recorder's office to obtain a marriage license and were unable to do so because of the sit-in that blocked business as usual."

Read the rest of the article by clicking here. The couple who were interrupted in their attempt to obtain a marriage license later commented supportively of the demonstrators and their purpose for staging the sit-in.

John Ferguson is a leader in the Denver Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays) and was an advisor to the Called to Be One program on April 2nd entitled "Religion and Its Impact on Attitudes Toward Gay and Lesbian Families." A video of the sit-in demonstration and arrest can be viewed at YouTube.

Obama nominates lesbian parent for U.S. Attorney

by Robert DeKoven
Published Thursday, 21-May-2009 in issue 1117 of gay and lesbian times

President Obama announced this week that he is nominating openly lesbian Seattle attorney Jenny Durkan, 50, as U.S. Attorney for the federal district serving Seattle.

Durkan was formerly legal counsel to Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire. Not only is she the first openly gay U.S. Attorney to be nominated, but she and her partner are the parents of two children. This is even better news, because as a parent she will be sensitive to the effect of GLBT marriage inequality on children.

Click here to read more. Gay and lesbian families and the impact of religious attitudes on them was the Called to Be One Planning topic at our April 2nd program.