A C T I O N A L E R T For US-Based Activists
From Roman Cardenas, Associate Director of Communications
The Communications Department of Metropolitan Community Churches

There is a movement underway that is gaining increasing political support from social and religious conservatives--the movement to deny civil rights and equal benefits to GLBT people by using the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment. This amendment proposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. Not since Prohibition has a constitutional amendment been proposed that would take rights away from Americans, rather than protect their freedoms.

Adding fuel to the fire is Marriage Protection Week (Oct. 12-18) a week being organized by Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, and the Southern Baptist Convention and which is dedicated to "preserving the sacred institution of marriage" and defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman.

To make matters worse, President George W. Bush recently signed on as a supporter. In his proclamation, the president states: "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. ... We must support the institution of marriage and help parents build stronger families. And we must continue our work to create a compassionate, welcoming society, where all people are treated with dignity and respect." Despite his words, President Bush's endorsement denies compassion, dignity and respect to millions of GLBT couples.

MCC is responding to these growing attacks with Marriage Equality Week (Oct. 12-19). That's right, the same exact week--a week we are dedicating to same-sex marriage recognition.

Here is where your help is needed!
I am inviting you to participate in Marriage Equality Week by taking relatively simple and concrete actions.

Take a few minutes to learn more about the movement for same-sex marriage rights. A great starting place is the MCC website. Click on "Same-Sex Marriage" and take a look at the resources available to you. Some other excellent and helpful websites include: Alliance for Same-Sex Marriage, Human Rights Campaign, Freedom to Marry and NGLTF.

Sign the on-line petitions in support of our community. There is power in our unified actions. Check out the following on-line petitions: Don't Amend, Million for Marriage and Alliance for Same-Sex Marriage.

Forward this Action Alert to your friends, your e-mail lists, and LISTSERVS to which you belong. Print this information and place it on bulletin boards at community centers, bookstores, etc. Insert this action alert in your Sunday worship folder. Send it to open and welcoming congregations in your area. Help us get this message out.

What it comes down to...
...is the same thing you hear every Sunday in your MCC congregation: WE ARE ALL MINISTERS. These five action steps are vital ways you can minister on behalf of everyone in our community. Please take some time today and do your part. We can all make a difference!

P.S. Let me encourage you to take one additional step.
I have created the Same-Sex Marriage Propeller, a PDF file which is posted on the MCC website. This is one of the many resources MCC is offering to our allies to gain speed and distance in the movement for the legalization of same-sex marriage. This document can be easily downloaded, printed and reproduced for use in your community.