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HeartStrong, Supporters Rally Against Camden NJ Diocese' Anti-GLBT Activity
Seattle WA - "December 6th
will be a day of celebration," Marc Adams states proudly.
"Rather than allow the attempt to intimidate and censor defeat us, we will
use this opposition to our message as motivation to be louder than ever in
our quest to reach gay. lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students in
religious schools."
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore (UUCSJS)
and the Stockton College student organization Pride Alliance will cosponsor
the Rally for Pride and Against Prejudice on Wednesday, December 6 from 7 to
8:30 p.m. in the Alton Auditorium of the Richard Stockton College of New
Jersey.
Pride Alliance is a student organization dedicated to unity and awareness
among gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual people within the Stockton
College community. UUCSJS is a religious community committed to
supporting the individual search for truth, meaning and spiritual growth.
The rally is in direct response to the attempts by the Knights of Columbus,
Father Pat Lavin and the Bishop of Camden, New Jersey, to censor the message
of HeartStrong & Marc Adams. HeartStrong has provided outreach and support
to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students from religious
educational institutions for ten years. Marc Adams is a co-founder and
volunteer executive director.
Adams was scheduled to speak at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
South Jersey Shore on November 5, 2006. The congregation has leased
space without incident for three years from the Catholic Campus Ministry
Center at John Stockton College in Pomona, New Jersey. Prior to the
regularly scheduled service, the Knights of Columbus, Father Pat Lavin and
the Bishop of Camden, made attempts to coerce the congregation to cancel
Adams' appearance.
When the UUCSJS refused to give in to the preposterous demands to censor
their own Sunday service, they were threatened with immediate eviction of
their leased space. After fighting back, the Diocese backed off and
simply gave the congregation 90 days notice of termination of their lease.
An action perceived by many close to the situation as a punishment.
"Until 1996, religious schools, like the ones promoted by the Diocese of
Camden and the Knights of Columbus, could get away with oppressing gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students in their Catholic schools
without public awareness," says Shelley Craig, president of HeartStrong.
"That ended more than ten years ago. Just as we make every effort to
raise public awareness about what goes on in these schools, attempts like
this to censor our message will not go without public exposure."
"On December 6th, we will be doing two things," Adams continues. "The
first thing we are doing is showing those who tried to censor us that their
plans were ill-fated and that they should think twice before attempting to
try it again with anyone else. The second thing that will happen is an
educational forum about the work of HeartStrong. As serious as our
work is, our forums are always enlightening and interactive."
Adams and HeartStrong have sent written requests for public apologies from
the Knights of Columbus, Father Pat Lavin and Joseph Gallante, the Bishop of
Camden.
"We don't expect these men to ever do the right thing," Adams admits. "For
the sake of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students who are
oppressed in their Catholic schools, we will continue to raise public
awareness. In doing so, we will continue our quest to ensure that the
voices of hatred toward them is overwhelmed by the voices of real love, real
family and self-acceptance."
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