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Coalition Sends Flowers to Man Facing Excommunication “My bishop told me they would likely excommunicate me”
September 25, 2008 Washington, DC—Thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were alarmed to hear political calls over church pulpits throughout the United States urging members to take political action that will ban marriage equality in states like California, where Proposition 8 is currently on the ballot to outlaw marriage commitments between same-sex couples. Mormon blogs and e-mail discussion lists from coast to coast have been active with expressions of dismay over Salt Lake’s political directives. One such blog, Signing For Something. org, was created by Nebraska resident Andrew Callahan, who is now facing excommunication proceedings in Hastings, NE for daring to dissent publicly with Church orders. The LDS Safe Space Coalition is arranging for a large delivery of pink carnations to be delivered to Mr. Callahan just prior to the excommunication proceedings that will sever his ties to his life-long church. The Safe Space Declaration reads, in part, “The color pink has been embraced worldwide as a symbol of Safe Space, a reminder of the prejudices and torture of the past, and a commitment to creating safe spaces for all of God's children to progress together as equals.” Many in the LDS Church report that LGBT members feel they are left with few choices: live in perpetual silence, distance themselves from family and friends, or—as has happened in many cases—commit suicide. “We don’t want Andrew to suffer through these excommunication proceedings alone,” said LDS Safe Space Coalition Founder Brecken Chinn Swartz, a university professor in the Washington DC area. “We want Andrew and others to know that there are many others out there who support them for being true to their hearts, even in the face of tremendous pressure.”
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www.affirmation.org