A town meeting, a choral concert and the an exhibition of stoles will be featured during the Gay Games VII opening weekend this summer.
The Human Rights Campaign is bringing in religious leaders from across the nation to discuss the importance of countering religious attacks on the LGBT community. During the free event, to be held July 16 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, the Shower of Stoles—a collection of more than 1,000 liturgical stoles and other sacred items from LGBT individuals—will be on display.
The event will begin with the 'Faith and Fairness' town meeting, followed by a choral concert directed by Professor Gregg Payne, founder and artistic director of IllumiNation Chorale. The concert will feature Bishop Yvette Flunder, founder and senior pastor at City of Refuge United Church of Christ in San Francisco, as well as singer Shirley Miller.
Harry Knox, director of HRC's Religious and Faith program, will moderate the town meeting, which will feature Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Ph.D., the 11th President of Chicago Theological seminary; Daayiee Abdullah, the moderator for the Muslim Gay Men Discussion Group; Larry Yang, who leads Buddhist meditation retreats and groups for various demographics including LGBTQ communities; and Rabbi Joshua Lesser, the spiritual leader of Congregation Bet Haverim, a synagogue founded by gay and lesbian Jews.
The event is being co-hosted by a number of groups and congregations.