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Utah Pride Interfaith 2005 - Holy People, Equal Rights May 2005
 Story in the SL Metro(May 18, 2005) SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – The Pride Interfaith Council and the Gay Lesbian Transgender Community Center of Utah are pleased to announce plans for the 2005 Pride Interfaith Celebration on June 11, 2005, beginning at 6 pm. The service will be held at First Baptist Church, located at 777 South 1300 East, and will mark the fourth year that GLBT people of faith have come together during Utah Pride for the event, and the first year as an official part of the Utah Pride proceedings. The service, which will last approximately one hour, includes religious leaders from a variety of faith traditions and will celebrate the theme “Holy People: Equal Rites” – a play on the Utah Pride 2005 theme “Equal Rights. No More. No Less.” Following the service, attendees are invited to share refreshments and learn about various area religious organizations which are welcoming of GLBT people during a social hour. “It is erroneously and tragically thought by many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, especially GLBT youth, that on the event of their coming out, they lose all rights to consider themselves people of faith, spiritual and capable holiness,” said Interfaith Committee Chair Duane Jennings. The goal of the Pride Interfaith Celebration is to show that GLBT people are found in every faith tradition and many have strong religious and moral influences on their lives. “There are three things that are remarkable about the Interfaith Council,” commented Jere Keys, board member for The Center. “First, that an amazing number of queer people are reclaiming their spirituality. Second, that there are so many dedicated religious leaders determined to welcome them in without stigma or shame. And third, that these religious leaders are able to put aside their own differences in belief to work together on a common vision of acceptance and inclusiveness.” The Pride Interfaith Celebration is a thoughtfully crafted worship service that includes elements of many different faiths – including Christianity, paganism, Judaism, Buddhism, and more. The Interfaith council itself is composed of a diverse group of men and women, gay, straight and transgender people, from many different faiths. “Many mainstream churches teach and believe that being gay or transgendered is sinful, therefore, it is not surprising that religion is often one of the first appendages of one's old life abandoned by the person who is newly identifying oneself as a member of the GLBT community,” said Jennings. “As an interfaith community we come together from many diverse faiths and cultures, to proclaim loudly and proudly that such is not the case. The Utah Pride Interfaith Committee firmly believes that each GLBT individual is a being of love, made as we are. We proclaim that the Divine, regardless of how one sees the Creator, embraces us all and delights fully in our being. Being gay or transgendered or lesbian or bisexual is no more a sin than what being heterosexual is. It is who we are, and who we are Holy.” Faith groups that are participants in this year's Pride Interfaith Service include Integrity Utah (Episcopal), Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons, South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Congregation Kol Ami, Sacred Light of Christ Metropolitan Community Church, Family Fellowship, Gamofites, Wasatch Presbyterian, LDS Reconciliation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Holladay United Church of Christ, The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, The Wasatch Zen Center, and several other unaffiliated faith groups of Christian, Jewish, Non-Denominational, Pagan, Native American, and Eastern Traditions. Other participants include the Salt Lake Men's Choir, the Dark Moon Drummers Guild, P-FLAG-SLC, individuals from The Center, and others. Utah Pride Interfaith Service takes place June 11, 6 pm, at First Baptist Church, located on the northwest corner of 1300 E 800 S. For more information visit www.utahprideinterfaith.org. The Utah Pride Interfaith Council is a non-profit coalition of religious individuals and leaders from religious organizations welcoming of GLBT people. Utah Pride 2005 takes place June 8-12 in and around Washington and Library Squares. For the latest line-up of events and activities, please visit the website at www.utahpride.org. The GLBT Community Center of Utah is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 1992, whose mission is to be a catalyst for personal growth, acceptance and equality for GLBT people in Utah. Contact: Duane Jennings, (801) 486-6977, WasatchAff  aol.comValerie Larabee, (801) 539-8800 x 10, valerie glbtccu.org
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www.affirmation.org