The right-wing movement to pass a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage was the rallying cry for the 5th annual Matthew Shepard March sponsored by Chicago Anti-Bashing Network Oct. 4.
Among the speakers were Rich Halperin of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, National Organization for Women of Chicago Lesbian Rights Leader Meghan Streit, and Church of the Open Door co-pastor Thom Ford, in addition to CABN's Andy Thayer and Bob Schwartz.
Ford spoke passionately about the connections between Dr. Martin Luther King's movements and the fight for LGBT rights.
'[We must have] active participation in the fight to have the larger community's policies, regulations and laws reflect the legitimate needs, wants and desires of the people it represents,' Ford said.
'Achieving these results means moving from our comfort zones to 'carefronting' zones where we can make a difference just by being who we are,' Ford said. 'The issue of same-gender-loving marriage is not the issue as used by this [presidential] administration. What it actually is, is a call to rally by those in power. It is a diversion tactic. To divert attention from the real issues affecting us locally and globally, to rally support and votes from the apathetic constituents who will passionately respond to a perceived personal threat to their comfortable lifestyles and fundamental safe mental paradigms.'
www.DontAmend.com or www.CABN.org