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Pen Points
Letters to Gay Today |
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It makes me proud that I can look back on you all and say, these are our role models, these are the men and women who started the fight, and it is now up to us to recognize them, and continue.
Steve Grossman, Cemetery Trustees Approve the First Veterans Memorial Dedicated to Gays Who Died in Wars of the Past Century
The 3 sides of each triangle also symbolize the dedication ceremony for the 55th anniversary of victory in World War II, the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. A granite pink triangle first used by Adolph Hitler to identify gays during the Holocaust will be permanently glued to the obelisk using the design of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America. The use of this logo has been preauthorized by the GLBVA and the creator Miriam Ben-Shalom. Wording No words will appear on the obelisk. A small bronze plaque in the cement foundation will say the following: This memorial is dedicated in honor of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cherished freedom we hold dear and enjoy today. Dedicated May 27, 2001 by AMVETS Post 66
Dennis O'Dell. Tom Swann Honorary Members of the Memorial Fundraising Committee are as follows: Eric Bauman, Sheila Kuehl, Carole Migden, John Perez, Patricia Nell Warren, Rep. Maxine Waters and Morris Kight Open Letter to Reverend Kennedy & Coral Ridge Dear Reverend Kennedy and Coral Ridge Church,
As a Christian I am grieved to hear people arrogantly proclaim that they are "just doing God's work and will" as they discriminate, demonize, demean, abuse and destroy innocent lives and spirits. My resolve and comfort comes directly from Christ's lips "I am saying these things to you so that you may not stumble. They will cast you out of their churches, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think that they are offering service to God. They will do these things because they have not known God or me." For more than two years I have met privately with you to discuss the false witness, untruths, injustice and spiritual violence committed by you and/or your ministries against God's gay children. During our meeting on February 25, 2000 I presented you with examples of the spiritual violence done by your preaching, your church, and your ministries (examples below). I am saddened by your statements at that meeting that you "didn't see anything wrong with them" and "don't have the time or intent to respond." I remained, nonetheless, hopeful that as long as the spirit of truth and God guided us, all things were possible. Unfortunately and sadly, it appears that you are no longer willing to meet or discuss these issues. I realize that you are a busy man, but every attempt to schedule a meeting with you had been met with one excuse or another. You found the time to meet regularly for over a year but now you have no time. Today, in the name of Jesus Christ, I call upon you to not only re-open dialog, but also re-examine your heart and the evidence and pray for God's guidance. Additionally, in the true spirit of Christian love, I call on you to place an immediate moratorium on the oppression, false witness and "holy war" presently being waged by you and Coral Ridge Ministries against God's gay children. I urge you to meet with me and to jointly select a blue-ribbon panel to review the evidence of the injury done to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and to make recommendations of restitution and reconciliation. At the very least, we can honor Christ's command to "love thy neighbor as thyself" and achieve positions that respect the others' beliefs without violence of the fist, tongue or heart. I ask this, I beg this, I demand this in the name of our Lord and Savior and for the glory of all God's people.
Yours in Christ, P.S. Until then, I'm asking all people of Faith and friends of Justice to join this call for Peace & Reconciliation by praying for you and Coral Ridge Ministries and encouraging you to "Give God a Chance." Here are just a few of the untruths that you and your ministries have presented that bear false witness against God's gay children, divide the Beloved Community and break the heart of God: "There are more Ex-homosexuals in America than there are practicing homosexuals." (Spiritual State of the Union 1993 & Sermon 4/20/97). "They have their own churches and halls and whatever, and they preach all of their ungodly, immoral vices there.these people have no other virtues left except 'be tolerant of my wickedness'.that's their only virtue." (The Culture War 6/29/97). "The bible clearly and repeatedly condemns homosexuality many times." (Spiritual State of the Union 1993). "Tens of thousands of homosexuals have left homosexuality behind." (Newsletter Dec. 1998). Homosexuality is a sickness (to be cured) Homosexuality is a destructive behavior. Homosexuality does damage to the nation. Scientific data proves that homosexuals can change. (Truth in Love Ads) "The end goal of gay activism is the ultimate criminalization of Christianity." (Robert Knight at the 1999 Reclaiming America for Christ Conference) To The Reader: If you would like to join this call for Love, Justice and Mercy, please contact Reverend Kennedy and ask him to re-open the dialog, earnestly examine the Truths and evidence and help stop the suffering, abuse, false witness and "holy war" being waged against God's gay children. Call Reverend Kennedy and ask him to "Give God a Chance". Phone: 1-800-229-9673 E-mail: letters@coralridge.org Address: Coral Ridge Ministries, 5555 No. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 |
Barbara Gittings 
The Rev. D. James Kennedy: Spurring hate against homosexuals for nearly two decades 
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