wfn.org | Metropolitan Community Churches Lament Anti-Gay Stance

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>]

MCC, the world's largest Christian organization serving the Gay Community

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: October 8, 2003

Metropolitan Community Churches Lament Stance
MCC, the world's largest Christian organization serving the Gay Community

West Hollywood, CA b The founder of the world's largest church group of 
gays and lesbians has responded to President George Bush's endorsement of a 
Religious Right plan to deny equality to gay couples.

Rev. Troy Perry, human rights activist and Founder of Metropolitan 
Community Churches, expressed alarm at President's Bush's proclamation on 
Friday in support of bMarriage Protection Week,b an event launched by 
such conservative social and religious groups to bpreserve the sacred 
institution of marriageb by denying the right to marry to gays, lesbians, 
bisexual and transgender people.

In President Bush's proclamation, he wrote: "Marriage is a sacred 
institution, and its protection is essential to the continued strength of 
our society. Marriage Protection Week provides an opportunity to focus our 
efforts on preserving the sanctity of marriage and on building strong and 
healthy marriages in America."

"President Bush is wrong," Perry said. "He is playing the politics of 
division and pandering to the Religious Right. The President promised us 
"compassionate conservatism," but he has again failed to show compassion to 
millions of this nation's same-sex couples who deserve equality and justice 
under the law.b

"The so-called "Marriage Protection Week" is misnamed," said Perry. "In 
reality, it is yet another attempt to deny equality to America's gay and 
lesbian citizens."

Rev. Perry, whose churches perform more than 6000 same-sex weddings 
annually, countered President Bush's assertion that denying marital civil 
rights to gays and lesbians would strengthen marriage in America by 
pointing out the discrepancies in his statement.

"bIn a nation that upholds the value of separation between church and 
state, questions about the sanctity of marriage should be addressed in our 
nation's churches and synagogues and mosques, and not in our legislative 
halls,b Perry said. bThe gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender 
communities pay taxes for the very rights we are denied access to. We 
cannot take sick leave should our loved ones become ill, we can't file 
joint tax returns, we can't even openly serve our country in the military."

Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) across the United States will join 
hands with many other faith communities to observe October 12-19 as 
bMarriage Equality Week,b a week dedicated to the legalization of 
same-sex marriage. Metropolitan Community Churches is an international 
Christian denomination with more than 43,000 members and adherents in 22 
countries.

To launch plans for Marriage Equality Week, MCC has unveiled a new section 
of its website at www.mccchurch.org that is specifically dedicated to the 
issue of same-sex marriage. The website includes a resource kit for use by 
local faith communities, ideas for local activists, a letter from MCC's 
founder, Rev. Troy Perry, and links to other civil rights activist groups.

"Metropolitan Community Churches' observance of "Marriage Equality Week" 
will provide a positive countervoice for all types of families, including 
gay and lesbian families," said Rev. Perry, a former delegate to the White 
House Conference on Hate Crimes and the first openly gay member of the Los 
Angeles Human Rights Commission. bDuring the same week that some groups 
will work to deny a basic human right to gays and lesbians, hundreds to 
faith communities will take public stands in support of equality in the 
marriage laws for gay couples.b

"We are not seeking special treatment," Rev. Perry added. "We seek 
equality. We are asking that the marriage laws be applied equally to all 
couples, regardless of sexual orientation. That is the only gay agenda b 
equality for everyone under the law."

Rev. Perry wed his partner of 18 years, Phillip Ray DeBlieck, in Toronto 
earlier this year after Ontario's historic legalization of same-sex 
marriage in June. In July, he announced a Five-Step Plan to legalize 
same-sex marriage in the U.S. that includes Valentine's Day demonstrations, 
partnering with other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activist 
groups and eventually, a legal case. At the present time, Rev. Perrybs 
marriage and the marriages of hundreds of others who were legally married 
in Canada, are not recognized in the U.S.

"These are weddings that are blessed in the sight of God, but still not 
recognized by most governments," Perry said. "To not recognize my marriage 
and the marriages of thousands of other same-sex couples, would be 
discrimination b and we will not stand for that any longer.b

For more information on MCC activities for Marriage Equality Week visit 
www.MCCchurch.org.

For Additional Information, Contact:
Roman Cardenas, Associate Director of Communications
Metropolitan Community Churches
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, 2nd Floor
West Hollywood, CA  90069
Tel. 310-360-8640, Ext. 228
Cell 310-625-4138
E-Mail: romancardenas@MCCchurch.org

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