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   There is growing interest across the country in a national (and perhaps international) response to the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 4th, 2010 because of The Family’s role with that event and motivated in part by the Uganda bill criminalizing homosexuality with the death penalty, and the US/The Family’s role in that effort. Before we lock down the messaging, I’d like to offer a few observations to that conversation. Some are suggesting the theme of a “Protest Against Homophobia”. While this is energizing and appropriate for The Family – it casts a rather broad net. It also fails to present an alternative positive vision. Ultimately we are struggling FOR equality. And while most of our agenda is to “end discrimination”, we have not necessarily moved the hearts and minds of the middle of the religious spectrum with that message. The thing that inspired me the most about the March was that it was changing the nature of the movement – from an “anti-discrimination” cause to a pro-equality cause. This is also where the “marriage equality” messaging has made progress in changing the terms of the debate from special segregated rights to a collective positivism. I also think that a protest may gain headlines, and is a good defensive measure, but that too much of our movement has been defensive. Now I understand the need to motivate and that our anger motivates, and that we have to react when opportunities like this present themselves. But just because we’re reacting to negativity – doesn’t mean we have to sculpt our message negatively. I suggest we discuss the value of at least adding a second tag line or theme to this, if we are going to formalize it. A “Prayer Vigil for Equality” – presents a positive alternative to the hate mongering The Family is engaged in and makes us look like we are on the right side of the love/hate continuum. It offers an alternative – in practice and word – that will resonate with the religious middle – which we desperately need to win over in the short and long term. While this is political, it is also clearly religious. We have not had many high-profile opportunities to engage religion directly since condoms and child molestation scandals. Nevertheless, we have made HUGE inroads in developing support among clergy of all faiths – a fact that is under-reported and not deeply understood among the masses or internationally. This moment presents a perfect storm of sorts – for us to motivate from a negative action by The Family – and to turn the tide in a pivotal way – in the religious debate around the world. The message becomes, not only that homophobia is wrong, but that religions are increasingly embracing equality and fairness for all people, including us. The recent Vatican Statement to the UN offers a great stepping off point for rallies everywhere. The huge numbers of clerics who endorsed the March offer a key source of allies to spread the positive message that discrimination is OUT of Touch with the ultimate religious doctrine of love. Most importantly, if we message this right – we take the high ground and we appear reasonable. While we may see The Family as evil, not everyone does. We will not win over the middle with accusations that everyone in the religious community that opposes our cause is a homophobe (particularly given the confusing use of that term as applied to political-religious opposition en mass). We can protest, do sit-ins, stop traffic until we are blue in the face. But let’s do it with a prayer vigil, with a positive message of love that really marginalizes ONLY the religious right’s message of intolerance and hate – and doesn’t marginalize US in the process – or alienate the middle. So my pitch if we promote this organizationally – is that we say something along the lines of: A Protest Against Homophobia. A Prayer Vigil for Equality. Personally I would drop the first part. If we have demonstrations billed only as Prayer Vigils for Equality – we loose all the negativity. We can promote the idea of “Equality Sermons” for that week that all faiths can embrace. We can have a website – where clergy can post their Equality Sermons, etc. It can truly be a moment in which we reclaim the debate among religions and start to win over the good hearted among those people who do not appreciate being labeled as homophobic – and who – if given a chance – will likely embrace the message of equality. The loss in NY shows we do not have many congregations on our side, but they have not been given something else to say “yes” to. They will not pay attention to the news of our sit-ins and protests and accusations. But they will listen to their service. We can either make headlines in a few places for one day as outsiders and put a minor pr wedge between the religious right and our politicians – or we can start the real work of dialog inside our places of worship with the constituents who will really determine what our politicians ultimately do. In the true spirit of the National Equality March – let’s have a National Prayer Vigil for Equality. We will not be handed another opportunity as perfect as this to confront the opposition on its own turf and terms. If we start controlling our messaging and driving this bus the concept of “equality” will be the new playing ground for all of our electoral and legislative political battles ahead. Let’s give Obama and Congress “equality” cover to do the right thing – and to win another term by neutralizing the wedge value of our cause among the republican party and religious communities. Let’s give the world an “Equality” spirit. Yours in cause,
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