And to add more fun to this right wing hate fest, it's being protested for some yet unannounced reason by the Phelps Phamily. My educated guess is because of who's sitting in the mayor's chair right now.
If you have a problem with me calling it a hate fest, too bad. The American Family Association that is sponsoring this event is a documented hate group
So as I continue to tell you peeps, some Texas cities are oases of tolerance in our red state full of conservafools Houston is one of those oases of tolerance and this statement calling out the event was recently released by the Houston Clergy Council
June 13, 2011
As Houston clergy, we write toexpressour deep concern over Governor Rick Perry’s proclamation of a day ofprayer andfasting at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on August 6th. In our role as faith leaders, weencourage and support prayer, meditation, and spiritual practice. Yet our governor’s religious eventgives us pause for a number of reasons:
We believe in a healthyboundary betweenchurch and state. Out of respectfor the state, we believe that it should represent all citizens equallyandwithout preference for religious or philosophical tradition. Out of respect for religiouscommunities, we believe that they should foster faithful ways of livingwithoutfavoring one political party over another. Keepingthechurchandstateseparateallows each to thriveand upholds our proud national tradition of empowering citizens toworshipfreely and vote conscientiously. We are concerned that our governor has crossed the line byorganizingand leading a religious event rather than focusing on the people’sbusiness inAustin.
We also express concern thatthe day ofprayer and fasting at Reliant Stadium is not an inclusive event. As clergy leaders in the nation’sfourth largest city, we take pride in Houston’s vibrant and diversereligiouslandscape. Our religiouscommunities include Bahais, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews,Muslims,Sikhs, Unitarian Universalists, and many other faith traditions. Our city is also home to committedagnostics and atheists, with whom we share common cause as fellowHoustonians. Houston has long beenknown as a “live and let live” city, where all are respected andwelcomed. It troubles us that thegovernor’sprayer event is not open to everyone. In the publicized materials, the governor has made it clear thatonlyChristians of a particular kind are welcome to pray in a certain way. We feel that such an exclusive eventdoes not reflect the rich tapestry of our city.
Our deepest concern, however,lies in thefact that funding for this event appears to come from the AmericanFamilyAssociation, an organization labeled a hate group by the SouthernPoverty LawCenter. The American FamilyAssociation and its leadership have a long track record of anti-gayspeech and haveactively worked to discriminate against the gay, lesbian, bisexual, andtransgender community. TheAmerican Family Association and its leadership have also beenstridentlyanti-Muslim, going so far as to question the rights of Muslim Americansto freelyorganize and practice their faith. We believe it is inappropriate for our governor to organize areligiousevent funded by a group known for its discriminatory stances.
As religious leaders, wecommit to joinwith all Houstonians in working to make our city a better place. We will lead our communities in prayer,meditation, and spiritual practice. We ask that Rick Perry leave the ministry to us and refocus hisenergyon the work of governing our state.
Signed,
Rev. Dr. Jeremy Rutledge,Minister,Covenant Church, Alliance of Baptists/American Baptist Churches
Rev. Douglas Anders,Conference Minister,South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ
Rev. Paul Beedle, UnitarianUniversalist
Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel,Minister,Plymouth United Church, UCC
Rev. Beth Ellen Cooper-Davis,Minister,Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Michael Diaz, Director ofConnections, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Pat Farnan, ResurrectionMetropolitan Community Church
Rev. Lura Groen, Pastor, GraceEvangelical Lutheran Church
Rev. Teddy Hardy, Minister,St. JohnUnited Church of Christ
Rev. Lori Keaton, UnitedChurch of Christ
Rev. Harry Knox, SeniorPastor,Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Janice Ladd, ExecutivePastor,Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Dr. Becky Edmiston-Lange,Co-Minister, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Mark Edmiston-Lange,Co-Minister,Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Dr. Margie Latham,Minister ofAdministration, Covenant Church, Alliance of Baptists/American BaptistChurches
Rev. Mona Lopez, VolunteerStaff Clergy,Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Laura Mayo, Minister,CovenantChurch, Alliance of Baptists/American Baptist Churches
Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell,SeniorMinister, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. David Pantermuehl, GraceUnitedChurch of Christ
Rev. Adam Robinson, AssistantMinister,First Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Ken Richter, SeniorMinister, FirstCongregational Church, UCC
Rev. Bill Royster, UnitedChurch of Christ
Rev. Sam Schaal, TransitionMinister, BayArea Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Robert Tucker, ExecutiveDirector,Foundation for Contemporary Theology
Rev. Ernie Turney, Pastor,Bering UnitedMethodist Church
Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, UnitarianUniversalist
We add our names in support oftheHouston Clergy Council statement released June 13, 2011
Rev. Katherine Fox, ChristUnited Churchof Christ, Garland, TXLeif Hatlen, Board Member,HoustonChapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and StateMichael Pardee, ExecutiveDirector,Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice UniversityDr. Linda Piper Price,Houston, TXRev. Paul Walley, NationalCampusMinistry AssociationRev. Kevin Young, Pastor,Linden UnitedMethodist Church, Linden, TX