05/03/2005
We Are Family
During a second day of protests at anti-gay Focus on the Family ministry's headquarters in Colorado Springs stacks of letters from members of Soulforce, the interfaith gay rights organization, were delivered to founder James Dobson.
Phil and Randi Reitan and their gay son Jacob wanted to personally deliver their letter and were arrested for trespassing after crossing the barricade. When police warned them, Phil Reitan said, "I'm an attorney, I'm a Christian, I'm a father, I love my family."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 12:56 AM EST by Andy in Current Affairs | Permalink
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One of the many absurd parts of that story is the part about Fred Phelps and his group protesting Focus as well.
Posted by: bmw | May 3, 2005 10:26:34 AM
Let our own backlash officially start now...
Posted by: munky | May 3, 2005 10:37:01 AM
I think, Andy, that if you point out that their son was gay and they're delievering a letter of protest to Dobson, it's be a bit more clearer. Because, at first reading, I couldn't tell what was so important about this family delivering a letter.
But then reading the jump, I figured out that they son is gay, and then the father's comment makes sense: that's he's Christian and loves his family and his gay son.
That way it doesn't seem like such a anti-gay comment coming from a maybe gay family.
Posted by: Schroeder | May 3, 2005 11:05:51 AM
Schroeder you're absolutely right. I've added that. Thanks.
Posted by: andy | May 3, 2005 11:09:41 AM
I interviewed the family that was arrested yesterday at Focus on the Family following their release.
Here:
http://www.0xdeadbeef.org/blog/non_prophet/archives/005551.html
Posted by: Non Prophet | May 3, 2005 3:15:42 PM
You should have had a link to Soulforce in the post. They do good work. www.Soulforce.org
Posted by: Patrick | May 3, 2005 5:27:01 PM
Amazing people...they are on the front lines of protesting the Christian Reich.
It makes me sad there are more posts for "Is Jesse hot or is Jake?" thread below...
Posted by: Todd | May 4, 2005 2:00:18 AM
Hi Todd,
You're right - that is a sad thing. Unfortunately most gay men are stuck at a 14-year-old girls emotional level and will never develop into an emotionally healthy, mature adult capable of having adult relationships and concerns about society. Look at any group of gay men and that is what you will see. It's nobody's fault really...it just has to do with trauma (being closeted/afraid of coming out) and shutting down your feelings. We avoid what we don't want to talk about and we avoid dealing with anything that makes us look bad.
I think what this family did was terrific - this is a good Christian Family!!! They love their son for WHO he is - a young man who happens to be gay. This is how parents should treat their children. I think that a lot of gay men wouldn't have the addictions and mental health issues they have today if their parents were like this young mans. Of course, society and relations to the gay community play a big part also.
It's sad that many of us don't take notice of things like this - or how powerful these hate groups are. You should see the things they say about us - and some of those things aren't too inaccurate - one site said "Gay men are so hated that they even hate each other" and we can't even get along with other gay men - etc...there is some truth to that!
Posted by: Zoe | May 8, 2005 2:39:51 PM