Happy Valentine's Day - Soulforce Style

Thanks to Carol Rosine for forwarding this email from Soulforce:

The following text is modified from an article written by Soulforce organizer Chris Hubble, and originally published in Out Front Colorado:

There may be no contemporary narrative more compelling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people than Valentine's Day. However commercialized this romantic icon has become, couples still fervently celebrate it. On this day, too, LGBTs subtly remind ourselves (and everyone else) just how "mainstream" we really are. We plan commitment ceremonies, trade sentimental gifts, deliver extravagant bouquets of roses, consume voluminous quantities of chocolate, and spend profligate amounts on restaurant dinner bills ... just like everyone else!

But Valentine's Day also evokes a mythological, historical narrative which tells the story of a civil resister of an oppressive regime seeking to deny its citizens' rights. When the Roman Emperor Claudius II sought more soldiers for his brutal military campaigns, he tried to deny young Roman men the right to marry -- apparently believing that single men might be more easily persuaded to join his legions. Valentine, a Christian priest living in a pagan world, defied the emperor's decree and continued to observe the holiday honoring Juno, Roman goddess of marriage, by secretly marrying young Roman couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was jailed - and subsequently died on February 14, 269 C.E.

This year, in addition to celebrating Valentine's Day in the conventional way, Englewood, Colorado couple and Soulforce volunteers Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder also remember this historic St. Valentine. You see, last September 24th, they were arrested for staging a sit-in at the Denver Clerk and Recorder office after being denied a marriage license. For this courageous act of civil disobedience, Kate and Sheila went to court yesterday and a hearing was set for February 28, with the actual trial set for April 13 and 14, 2008. Numerous local religious leaders have already submitted affidavits on their behalf, arguing that the State's denial of their marriage rights (and refusal to recognize their marriage rites) represents a violation of both the "Free Exercise" and the "Establishment" clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Kate and Sheila have been interviewed by both local and national media outlets and today their story appeared in The New York Times.

Like other couples, Kate and Sheila now celebrate a shared narrative. A Colorado native and civil rights activist, Kate is an author of three books and an editor of numerous anthologies. Sheila is a Professor of Communications at the University of Denver and an award-winning filmmaker. They met several years ago in Eldora, Colorado, at Kate's family cabin. Sheila was visiting with Kate's sister during a family gathering. Months later, they first said "I love you" while watching a meteor shower from an immense slab of rock in the cabin's backyard. On that same rock, they also celebrated their 2003 commitment ceremony with their pastor, Rev. Mike Morran of First Unitarian Church of Denver. Sheila even burned her Valparaiso University college sweatshirt on that rock after they refused to publish her and Kate's wedding announcement in the school's alumni newsletter. She included that scene in her ironically named short film, Proud Alumni.

Kate and Sheila are now completing their latest project: SoleJourney, a full-length documentary film which "plunges into the center of Soulforce's relentless nonviolent resistance as it follows diverse families confronting the anti-LGBT rhetoric of the fundamentalist mega-organization Focus on the Family."

Neither of them regrets their recent civil disobedience. Sheila, when responding recently to a question about marriage equality and the 2006 ballot initiatives, quipped: "Once you get kicked in the seat, you have to get back up and give it another try."

On this Valentine's Day, Soulforce wishes to acknowledge and honor Kate and Sheila, as well as the impressive leadership of Christopher Hubble, who serves as the Lead Organizer for Soulforce In Colorado.

Meanwhile, the young activists of Soulforce Q prepare to launch the second installment of their "Right to Marry" Campaign by returning to New York state to work closely with student and community leaders in the Bronx, the Binghamton area, the Plattsburg area, and the Poughkeepsie area. Their goal is to speak directly to businesses and ask for their vocal support for marriage equality, which will be used as meaningful evidence with chambers of commerce, city councils, mayors, and local politicians. Soulforce will update you on their efforts over the next several weeks. For more information, go to www.soulforce.org/righttomarry.

Happy Valentine's Day - Soulforce Style! To make an online contribution to help Soulforce work toward marriage equality and social justice, go to www.soulforce.org/donate.

The goal of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

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