Discrimination does not begin in our courts or in our government — it ends up there. The fear and misinformation that drives unjust legislation gets its start within society, and the primary source of the problem is the sanctuaries, wealthy mega-churches, and powerful religious institutions of this country. With gigantic and captive national audiences, both Protestant and Catholic churches teach falsehoods that cause voters to cast their ballot against the constitutional promise of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for their gay and lesbian neighbors.

In this election, like so many others before it, the call from the pulpit was clear: We must stop the gays. As millions of gays and lesbians had their hearts broken, some religious leaders rejoiced in that suffering. The Rev. James Garlow, senior pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego County, told the New York Times “It was a great victory. We just saw the people rise up.”

Right now the grass roots movement in the US against Proposition 8 in California and 102 in Arizona doesn’t have leaders. Protests have been spontaneous, born of surprise hurt and an awareness of human rights injustice that has moved through and beyond a minority group. It is a brief moment in history that can be used for good or for harm of all.

It’s probably going to get ugly.
When Soulforce Equality Rides go to religious universities, they negotiate ahead of time. And when dialogue breaks down they go anyway. Often they are told if they step one foot on campus they will be arrested.

So they train in none violent confrontation, they chose their activists carefully and prayerfully.
And they show up when they say they will, sometimes to fearful, annoyed unwelcoming campuses.
And sometimes they are arrested.
They’ll be there when the US attention span shifts again, and it will.

Public protests empower us and educate those who are still the victims of fear and division.

It’s imperative that we remain nonviolent in our approach. Although it may provide short term emotional release, it’s ultimately counterproductive to scream expletives at those who have harmed us. We must refrain from damaging property or trying to destroy the character of others and instead approach those who promote discrimination in a spirit of nonviolence. As both Gandhi and King taught, we must avoid violence of the fist, tongue, and heart and remember that in truth we are challenging unjust systems, not people. In due course, we seek to be in community with those from whom we currently find ourselves divided.

Soulforce