Articles From Our July, 2000 Newsletter

July Program features NCCJ Speaker

The National Conference for Community and Justice, founded in 1927 as The 
National Conference of Christians and Jews, is a human relations organization 
dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. NCCJ promotes 
understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through 
advocacy, conflict resolution and education.
Speaking on behalf of the organization will be Juan Rangel, whose topic 
will be “Anytown, Unitown.”
Come and join us on Sunday, July 9, at 3 pm.

PFLAG ASSAILS COURT DECISION TO EXCLUDE GAY SCOUTS & LEADERS

Washington, DC - Disappointed by the United States Supreme Court's vote 
against gays participating in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), members of 
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) spoke out today in support of James Dale. PFLAG, along with several other national 
organizations that are dedicated to the best interests of youth, had filed an 
amici curiae on Dale's behalf.
"We of PFLAG, who are the parents, families and friends of gay, lesbian, 
bisexual and transgender people nationwide, are disappointed and angry that 
our loved ones are now prevented access to a place in the ranks of Scouting," 
said Paul Beeman, President of PFLAG. "I was once proud to have been a Boy 
Scout, counseled in Boy Scout camps, and organized two troops. But since my 
own gay son would now be excluded, I can no longer support their work."
In BSA v. James Dale, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to deny gay and bisexual 
youth and leaders the opportunity to participate in BSA, one of America's 
long-standing traditions. PFLAG Board member, Gary Watts, noted that BSA's religious justifications to exclude gay and bisexual members are just excuses. 
"The Mormon Church threatened to withdraw from the Boy Scouts if the
organization was forced to include gays in leadership positions. The message 
from Church leadership is unmistakable: gays are not acceptable. The Church's 
position taken to its logical conclusion suggests that no gay person, regardless of his qualification, should serve in a leadership position."
The National 4-H Council; National Education Association; National Youth 
Advocacy Coalition; Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; National 
Association for Multicultural Education; and the Matthew Shepard Foundation 
joined PFLAG in the amici curiae.

Coca-Cola Co. announced plans recently to extend health care benefits to
same-sex domestic partners of its United States-based employees.
The Coca-Cola Co. released a statement today announcing the benefits, which 
will begin Jan. 1, 2001. According to the statement, employees will be able 
to sign up during the fall benefits enrollment period. The company also said 
it is researching opportunities for implementing its policy on a global basis.
"Our company is committed to attracting and retaining the most diverse 
workforce in the world," Coca-Cola said in the statement. "Our goal is to 
ensure that the Coca-Cola Company is the best place for all people to work. 
This extension of benefits is another step toward achieving that goal." 
Many of America's leading companies offer these benefits including: IBM,
Microsoft, Shell Oil, Walt Disney, Fannie Mae, Citigroup, Xerox, Time Warner 
and United and American Airlines. Additionally, more than half of the Fortune 
500 include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies.

A Taste of Their Own Medicine?: Episcopal Church Excommunicates Anti-Gay Member

The Far Right has often talked about their right to discriminate based on 
their religious beliefs, but they have never considered what happens when 
people of differing values exert that same right. PFLAGers have to wonder 
about the issue of inclusiveness and using the tactics of exclusion in our 
places of worship. Is this a useful tactic for progressive organizations? 
How does this affect our own advocacy for non-discrimination policies and 
what about the free speech argument? 
In this case, officials at an Episcopal church have cast out a member of the 
congregation who has spent years criticizing them for welcoming gay members. 
He's been banned until he apologizes. 

Excerpted from an Associated Press Report:
Lewis Green accused the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore of trampling on 
his First Amendment right to free speech. Church leaders sent Green a letter 
May 30 notifying him that it was banning him from church property and denying him the sacrament of communion. The rare but reversible step of excommunication is so infrequently imposed that the Episcopal Church USA does not keep statistics. Green would be reinstated only after studying a Bible passage on how to treat fellow Christians and apologizing in writing for making an obscene gesture to the congregation at a Mass last December. 
"Due to your refusal to seek reconciliation with the parish of All Souls and its members, and your continued efforts to attack this parish and its members, I hereby place you excommunicate," wrote the cathedral's pastor, the Very Rev. Todd Donatelli. Green was warned that if he sets foot on church property and refuses to leave, "a warrant for trespass will be issued and a restraining order obtained," Donatelli wrote. Green has refused to back down: "I said, 'It'll be a cold day in hell before I apologize.' I don't look at this as a church; it's a liberal Democrat precinct."

United Church to Affirm Gay Leaders

CLEVELAND (AP) - The United Church of Christ set up a $500,000 scholarship fund for gay and lesbian seminarians Friday and urged wider acceptance of homosexuals by other denominations.

The fund, which the Cleveland-based, 1.4 million member church will seek to 
double, will provide as many as 10 annual scholarships of at least $2,500 to 
openly gay men and lesbian women planning to serve in the church ministry.

PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES