Your Immediate Action

Tearing Down WallsBuilding Up Hope
A C T I O N A L E R T
For U.S.-Based Activists

A Message from
Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach is an 18-year Air Force veteran. He has received more than 30 awards and decorations, including nine air medals, one of them for heroism in service to his country. Now he is being unfairly discharged under the discriminatory policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) because an acquaintance told his military superiors that he is gay. In May, Fehrenbach told his relatives he is gay and that he would soon be going on national television to fight to save his career and end this destructive policy that unnecessarily continues to ruin the lives of thousands of gay and lesbian service members each year.Lt. Dan Choi is currently being discharged by the Army National Guard for refusing to lie about who he loves. Lt. Choi is a West Point graduate who served as an infantry officer on an extended combat tour in Iraq. His fluency in Arabic was especially useful because he did not need an interpreter.And on June 30th of this year, Seaman August Provost of Houston, Texas, was found shot execution-style and his body badly burned at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California. Privately, investigators are confirming that there is a "gay angle" to the murder. Channel 10 News in San Diego reports that an anonymous source says Provost was murdered by a fellow service member during a violent argument over Provost's sexual orientation. Provost's family had been urging him to tell his supervisor about harassment he had experienced, but in view of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), it would have been highly unlikely that he would have chosen to do so. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) estimates that more than 13,000 individuals have been separated from military service since DADT was signed into law and it is unknown how many in the armed services live daily under the constant threat of harassment and physical violence. Many have chosen to leave quietly, but groups such as SLDN and an ever-growing number of individuals are becoming increasingly vocal about the need to abolish this law that hurts so many American citizens, and deprives the military of highly capable women and men who wish to serve their country in this way.Metropolitan Community Churches stands in solidarity with Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, Lt. Dan Choi, and with Kaether Cordero, Seaman Provost's partner - the latest people in a long line of lesbian and gay service members and their families who are suffering under DADT. We call upon all people of faith, and especially those in MCC churches, to speak out against this unjust law that has the effect of destroying lives, careers, morale, and unit cohesion throughout every branch of the U.S. military.HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP!FIRST:Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102636712994&s=11968&e=001RDRd1AVswIfJS2yvauankRTiFO3fyy7lxxLa8M-J75Eq_5U4_WLRzNWHjoG0ooe56kKvDMCbGmgp5_XcnEjdEPgHWP2sGhYawmATtVmv6g4= and sign the petition to the Secretary of the Air Force recommending that Lt. Col. Fehrenbach be allowed to continue to serve.SECOND:Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102636712994&s=11968&e=001RDRd1AVswIf-f7neEexS6hhCZQqdrgKYtuXZDPGJefbHIU0zg1BOA_IMK0XSZWRr2jUW--w6faXOV9HGH_voxWQdnHUOzZ3sp4w2vH6z7VKeN2zXoLqJF3u6x1s2roNT and sign the letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asking her to make ending DADT a priority. Nearly 90,000 have signed already: I have signed as moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, as have Rev. Pat Bumgardner, head of MCC's Global Justice Team, and Rev. Lea Brown, MCC San Francisco senior pastor who has also worked with SLDN for a number of years. Every signature counts!THIRD:Pray for the partner and family of Seaman August Provost, for all victims of gay bashings in the military, and for justice to be served in the investigation of this latest anti-gay atrocity in our armed forces. Within MCC we recognize that we have a broad diversity of views related to the military and military service. We also know that we have a significant number of our members who are veterans or who are currently serving on active duty or in the reserves.Within this broad spectrum of beliefs and service, we know that we are united in our conviction that no one should be discriminated against in the workplace or live in fear of losing their life because of their sexual orientation. Ending DADT is a justice issue, one that MCC is committed to addressing until DADT is finally abolished.Lt. Col. Fehrenbach recently said, "I swore an oath to defend and support the U.S. Constitution. I'm going to speak out and fight this until DADT is repealed because it is not constitutional." MCC supports Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, Lt. Dan Choi, and all those who loved Seaman Provost in their struggle for justice.

We are committed to making sure that they do not struggle alone.

/signed/

Rev. Nancy L. WilsonModeratorMetropolitan Community Churcheshttp://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102636712994&s=11968&e=001RDRd1AVswIeTBJn0Xqbsopx8PILL2E76Zo_7SKAxlxRerocUbQg9Vd_uT_p9bK8UemZHBy8vk4PcDfshDEsw5JrTzgfkWgtyUtaR5j_4j9e4xRbPJN9Eyw==


For Additional Information, Contact:Jim Birkitt, Communications DirectorMetropolitan Community ChurchesP.O. Box 691728Los Angeles, CA 90069Tel. (310) 625-4177Email: info@MCCchurch.net

Cluster Team Meeting Scheduled for Sept. 19

Please mark your calendars! Our first ever Cluster Team Meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, September 19th at King of Peace MCC in St. Petersburg. Please see the flyer for more information. I hope that this will be the beginning of a wonderful and fruitful exchange of information between and among all of us. As we discussed in both Florida Cluster Conferences last month--we will be paying special attention to the continuing role of the Lay Delegate in our churches and work together to provide resources and enhanced communication. Please email me (revcarol@joymcc.com) if you have specific concerns or questions you would like to see addressed in this meeting. I'm so glad you've decided to join us on this exciting journey and look forward to seeing you in September.