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Based on the documentary, "God & Gays: Bridging the Gap," this event looks to stop the suicides and put sex and religion on the table. Featuring controversial progressive Christian speakers Bishop John Shelby Spong, Rev. Dr. Mel White, Peggy Campolo (disagreeing wife of evangelical Tony Campolo) plus hear an amazing story from an Arkansas mother who "wished her daughter was dead than be gay" and soon got her wish. Break out groups include ex-gay survivors support, youth alliance workshops, straight ally support, healing the sense of separation for GLBTQ adults and transgender education.
Gays in the Pews: Documentary Film Comes to Life at God & Gays Gathering
"I rather she be dead than gay," confesses a mother who, unfortunately, got her wish. She lost her daughter to suicide and openly talks about it in the heart-wrenching and yet unifying feature documentary, God and Gays: Bridging the Gap. Filmmakers, gathering founders and life partners, Luane Beck and Kim Clark, created God and Gays: Bridging the Gap to offer an intimate look into the lives of people raised in Christian homes and who struggle, knowing -- or fearing -- their homosexual path. Now, they host the largest, most impressive line-up of qualified speakers on the country's most non-discussed topic, can you be Christian and be gay? With the religious right and mainstream Christianity teaching emotionally traumatizing ex-gay therapies, celibacy or subtle and equally as harmful forms of tolerance, it's the perfect time in history for the God & Gays Gathering.
The God & Gays Gathering features progressive Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spong, previous ghost writer to Jerry Falwell Rev. Dr. Mel White, evangelical minister's wife Peggy Campolo and ex-Exodus group leader Darlene Bogle plus many more. The event will take place in Nashville, TN, considered a central location for people all around the Bible belt area to attend,
Gathering founder Kim Clark says, "Anyone who is tired of being asked to vote on marriage equality and hearing only fear as the reason to keep people divided and are ready to deal with the human side of the debate around homosexuality and religion in a safe, accepting environment is welcome. We are ready for the parents and friends of gays, lesbians and transgender people to come so we can support them, as they will and do get flack from society for not disowning their loved one. We are ready for the gay person with nowhere to go safely, who has contemplated or attempted suicide to instead invest time in him or herself, in what they're going through and how to work with their faith to be the solution, not the problem. We're ready for the church leader, the teacher, the therapist, to give them support in leading their groups to learning more on what it's like to be gay and religious. The goal is empowerment. Get people out of victim status and they become more of who they are, how God made them."
Clark is best known for her quote, "Comfort zones are slow dream killers" and lives by it on a daily basis, which is what got her through making God & Gays: Bridging the Gap and creating several support services like the gathering. Her partner, Luane Beck, originally made the film based on Clark's own personal struggle with being gay and Christian. Since premiering, they've toured the country speaking to large groups, showing the movie, receiving thousands of emails, letters of support and stories about changed lives.
God and Gays: Bridging the Gap is a rare opportunity to get questions answered, challenge the myths about gay people, and to put a human face on a hot political issue. The story is uniquely told by the people who live the struggle, judgment, fear and ignorance of others every day. "This is about real human beings, contributors to society, educated, kind, God-loving people. This is for real, and people deserve to see and hear the stories of the people whose lives they will affect," says Producer Kim Clark.
God and Gays: Bridging the Gap unifies Christianity and sexual preference in a time where church denominations are on the verge of dividing, in an era where history doesn't repeat itself, but people repeat history.
For more information on the Gods and Gays Gathering, visit www.godandgaysthemovie.com/conference.
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2007 by AlternativeApproaches.com
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