Freedom to Marry Day Picket of Holy Name Cathedral
LGBTLib...@aol.com
Picket Holy Name
Cathedral
on Freedom-to-Marry Day!
In opposition to the desires of millions of lay Catholics for simple justice for all, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has long alligned itself with, and often led, the forces of hate and bigotry opposing equal rights for gays and women.
At 10:30 AM on Freedom-to-Marry Day 2010 – Sunday, February 14, Valentine’s Day – the Gay Liberation Network will host an informational picket of Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, to highlight the role the Church’s leadership has played in promoting inequality.
For many years the Catholic leadership has attempted to fly under the radar screen with its opposition to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. A key secret to their success has been their stealthiness, ironically often assisted by gay rights “leaders.” These “leaders,” not trusting rank-and-file Catholics to be fair and too worried about hurting their fundraising base with well-connected and wealthy Catholics, are too cowardly to call out Catholic leaders for promoting hate and discrimination.
As a local example, Chicago's Catholic leader Cardinal Francis George has worked tirelessly -- albeit from behind the scenes -- to block our path to full legal equality. George attempted to kill LGBT inclusion as a protected class in the Illinois Human Rights Act, which now protects us from housing and employment discrimination. He and other Catholic bishops circulated petitions in a failed effort to force an advisory referendum on "gay marriage," and George is the head of the national Conference of Catholic Bishops which spent big bucks backing Prop 8 hate in California. Back in Illinois, George is working hard today to block same sex-marriage and/or civil unions.
On Sunday, February 14th, with our picket of Holy Name Cathedral, we will make a start in dragging Francis George's bigotry out of the closet.
But Cardinal George is no lone voice in the wilderness. He is joined by almost the entire hierarchy of the Catholic Church whose record of activism against gay equality is long and sordid:
** Speaking of the current pope, the Associated Press reported that
“Benedict,
the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, spearheaded a Vatican campaign against same-sex unions in 2003, issuing
guidelines for Catholic politicians to oppose laws granting legal rights to gay
couples when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith.” Associated Press, 6/6/05
** The Portland, Maine Archdiocese gathered more than a quarter of the funds recently used to defeat marriage equality in Maine. In addition, Marc Mutty, the chair of the principal statewide organization in Maine that fueled anti-gay discrimination there, was the Portland Archdiocese’s head spokesperson until taking a leave of absence from his job to spearhead the successful effort to rob gays and lesbians of their equal marriage rights.
** The Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus bankrolled California’s anti-gay Proposition 8 to the tune of over $1 million.
** As California’s East Bay Express noted about newly-minted Oakland Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, “What almost no one knows is that without Bishop Sal, gay men and lesbians would almost surely still be able to get married today. As an auxiliary bishop in San Diego, Cordileone played an indispensable role in conceiving, funding, organizing, and ultimately winning the campaign to pass Proposition 8. It was Bishop Sal and a small group of Catholic leaders who decided that they had to amend the state constitution. It was Bishop Sal who found the first major donor and flushed the fledgling campaign with cash. It was Bishop Sal who personally brought in the organization that took the lead on the petition drive. And it was Bishop Sal who coordinated the Catholic effort with evangelical churches around the state. Bishop Sal even helped craft the campaign's rhetorical strategy, sitting in on focus groups to hone the message of Proposition 8. “
While Catholic leaders decry any attempts to label them as haters and bigots, their own scapegoating statements tell a very different story about their true feelings:
** Former pope Karol Wotija, aka John Paul II, condemned gay foster parents for doing "violence" to children. He called us "disordered," and "against the natural law." He railed against civil marriage equality for all same-sex couples whether Catholic or not, condemning our civil marriage contract as an act "against God," and proclaimed defeating marriage equality his "primary task" for 2005.
** In a 2005 pastoral letter read in every church in the diocese of Calgary, Alberta, Bishop Frederick Henry called on his flock to stamp out same-sex marriage. “Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the State must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interests of the common good." (365Gay.com)
** In an end-of year address in 2008, the current pope, George Ratzinger (aka Benedict XVI), said that the existence of gay people threatens humanity as much as the destruction of rainforests and that "blurring" genders through acceptance of transgender people would kill off the human race.
** Beginning in 1986, Ratzinger wrote a series of church documents that branded sexually active gays as "evil," told church officials to kick Dignity chapters off church property and even warned Catholic lawmakers that voting in favor of gay-rights legislation is "gravely immoral" because "the approval or legalization of evil is something far different from the toleration of evil." (Deb Price, Detroit News)
** Ratzinger has disparaged lesbian and gay couples as engaging in “pseudo-matrimonies by people of the same sex.”
** Bishop Cordileone has called same-sex marriage a Satanic plot: "The ultimate attack of the Evil One is the attack on marriage.”
** In 2007 Chicago’s Cardinal George wrote that same-sex behavior "brings people's salvation into jeopardy" in a column for the Archdiocese of Chicago newspaper.
When haters garb themselves in clerical robes, their statements and activities must be exposed.
The Gay Liberation Network encourages all people of good will, regardless of faith background, to join us at 10:30 AM, Sunday, February 14 for an informational picket of Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, Chicago.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Kill Gays, Blacks” Band
Tries Again in Chicago
“Evil Incarnate,” the local band that gloats over calls to kills gays and African Americans, is at it again. After our successful effort to get their show a local Northwest Side club cancelled, they’ve now apparently decided to try again, this time at Memories Bar, 4358 N. Cicero, Chicago.
Please call Memories
Bar and urge them to cancel the show -- (773) 286-8640
Thank you!!
The Gay Liberation Network
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Comment on Obama’s
State of the Union Address
Pledge to Real Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Wednesday night President Obama reiterated his pledge to repeal “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.” But as many bloggers have noted, he could have issued a stop/loss order to stop the anti-gay purges on Day 1 when he had the political capital to do it. Now, when he's politically considerably weaker, with double-digit unemployment, his health insurance plan taking on water and Democratic congressmen running for political cover, he has reiterated this pledge, this time saying he'll do it this year.
But those
of us who take a broad view of human rights remember a similar pledge being made
about closing Guantanamo Bay in a year, the deadline for which passed, a
pledge that's made even more hollow by insulting proposals
like Guantanamo on the Mississippi, continued
military tribunals, and extraordinary renditions.
In a move reminiscent of Defense Secretary Les Aspin in 1993 when President Clinton's pledge to end the ban on gays was swiftly sinking, a few weeks ago administration officials floated the idea of 'solving' employment discrimination in the military by setting up separate units for openly gay and lesbian soldiers -- the odious stench of 'separate but equal' institutions in the 21st Century.
President Obama tonight noted that “we face a deficit of trust.” What he failed to note was that with broken promises and proposals like 'separate but equal,' is it any wonder?
― Andy Thayer, co-founder, GLN
ChicagoPridge.com (http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/9441364
) and Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/chicago-reacts-to-obamas_n_440533.html) carried portions of these comments.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BE COUNTED —
Research Study on LGBT Political Movement
The sociology department at Northwestern University is looking for volunteer
participants to help with a new study on the political beliefs of men and women
in the LGBT equality movement. You'll be asked to fill out a short survey about
your political opinions and potentially to participate in a follow-up interview.
This research will help Gay Liberation Network and other groups understand what
drives political action.
If you would like to help out, please e-mail the researcher, Paul Schrodt, at sch...@u.northwestern.edu with the subject line "research study."
If you would like to help out, please submit your contact information on the study's web page, or e-mail the researcher, Paul Schrodt, at sch...@u.northwestern.edu with the subject line "research study."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GLN in the News
Stopping Officer Fiorito
State's Attorney's office reponds to rumor on alleged anti-gay cop
ChicagoPride.com
January 13, 2010
http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/9228529
Corrupt Cop Likely to Go Free
Chicago Now
January 13, 2010
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/whats-a-boy-to-do/2010/01/corrupt-cop-likely-to-go-free.html
FOF #1121 – Bad Cop, No Donut
Feast of Fun
January 12, 2010
http://www.feastoffun.com/podcast/2010/01/12/fof-1121-bad-cop-no-donut-01-12-09/
Fuzz Busters
The Advocate
February 2010
http://www.advocate.com/Print_Issue/Advance/Fuzz_Busters/
Sources: Fiorito proceedings may stop
Windy City Times
January 15, 2010
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=24117
Is An Anti-Gay Cop Being Let Off the Hook?
Chicagoist
January 15, 2010
http://chicagoist.com/2010/01/15/is_anti-gay_cop_being_let_off_the_h.php
Is An Anti-Gay Cop Being Let Off the Hook?
Huffington Post
January 15, 2010
http://koolchicago.com/is-an-anti-gay-cop-being-let-off-the-hook/
Alvarez staffer, Fiorito attorney worked together
Windy City Times
January 28, 2010
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=24570
Martin Luther King Day March for Jobs & Public Services
PHOTOS: Hundreds march for jobs and public service on MLK Day
Chicago Indy Media
January 18, 2010
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/88544/index.php
Spend More on Public Services, Protestors Say
Channel 5
January 18, 2010
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/cta-job-cuts-rally-81980282.html
Chicagoans Demand Public Services, Public Jobs on MLK Day
In These Times
January 18, 2010
March and rally set for Monday to protest CTA cuts and layoffs
Chicago Now
January 18, 2010
Local Organizations Protesting CTA Budget Plans
Chicago Talks
January 18, 2010
http://www.chicagotalks.org/2010/01/08/local-organizations-protesting-cta-budget-plans/
The Elections
People weigh in on
elections
Windy City Times
January 20, 2010
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=24199
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GLN Calendar
Wednesday, February 3 – Monthly organizing meeting of the Gay Liberation Network. Meeting starts
promptly at 7 PM (we recommend that people arrive at 6:45 PM) at a NEW LOCATION -- Berger Park Cultural Center -- 6205 N. Sheridan Road (corner of Granville Street & Sheridan Road). For more information call 773.209.1187
Saturday, February 6 – STOP neo-Nazi band “Evil Incarnate” from playing at Memories Bar, 5:30 PM, 4358 N. Cicero, Chicago. See notice above for details.
Friday, February 12 – Gay Liberation Network live call-in show on CAN TV, 6:30-6:55 PM on Cable Channel 21 in Chicago. You can watch past shows on GLN's new YouTube Channel. Just go to: www.youtube.com/gayliberation
Sunday, February 14 – Freedom to Marry Day (aka, Valentine’s Day) activity in Chicago! Informational picket 10:30 AM at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, pointing out the Catholic hierarchy’s pivotal role in opposing equal marriage rights and other civil rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Formed in response to three September '98 anti-gay bashings in the "Boy's
Town" neighborhood…[we] respond to all serious hate crimes, no matter which
scapegoated group is targeted. We will actively seek out and work with
individuals and organizations in other communities to assist them in responding
to hate crimes that target them. Only by the active involvement of grass roots
people from all communities can we isolate the bigots and thus lessen hate
crimes."
-- from the GLN/CABN founding statement
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gay
Liberation Network
a
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Direct Action Group
(formerly
known as the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network)
For videos, pics and more of GLN activities, check out our website:
www.GayLiberation.net
Check
out GLN's YouTube channel:
And check out our Facebook Account:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52734056600
AND
Our new Flicker Photostream: