Soulforce booklet and video show documented evidence of false claims and untruths perpetuated by Focus on the Family and Dobson’s anti-gay, anti-family rhethoric.
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SOULFORCE MEDIA ALERT: February 23, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt
717-278-0592 Laura@soulforce.org
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(Lynchburg, VA) – On Sunday, May 1, 2005, also known as May Day, Soulforce, Inc. will be confronting the claims of James Dobson against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people (LGBT), as well as celebrating all types of families. Hundreds of individuals, couples, and families are expected to participate in this event. The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression.
Soulforce has named the day, "MAYDAY MAYDAY," an internationally recognized distress signal used to indicate a life threatening situation, used by the stranded to summon help, by the starving to beckon aid, and by the victim to raise alarm. Soulforce hopes to send out a collective "MAYDAY" challenging "the misinformation about GLBT individuals, couples and families that flows to millions of people daily through James Dobson’s radio broadcast, website, e-mail alerts, video, audio, and print materials."
In preparation for the event, and consistent with the first step in the principles of nonviolence as taught by Gandhi and King, Soulforce researched and documented false claims by James Dobson about LGBT individuals, couples, and families
The booklet, entitled, "A FALSE FOCUS ON MY FAMILY: Why every person of faith should be deeply troubled by Dr. James Dobson’s dangerous and misleading words about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community", written by Jeff Lutes, is available online at www.soulforce.org/televangelists/dobson/booklet.shtml. The booklet and An Open Letter Video to Dr. Dobson is available free to press on request by emailing Laura@soulforce.org. The video will be aired on April 30, and will be available to the public in March.
"James Dobson is not my enemy, but his spiritually violent, misleading, and untrue rhetoric is. The false accusations and claims made against LGBT people not only hurt my family, but hurt society as a whole," stated Jeff Lutes, MS, LPC, family counselor and licensed psychotherapist in private practice, author of the Soulforce booklet on Dobson, and chair of the Soulforce Action in Colorado Springs. "As Martin Luther King said, ‘Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.’ Every person in America, whether they are people of faith or not, should be concerned about the untruths and the political power wielded by James Dobson."
Events on Sunday, May 1 include the rally, press conference, picnic, nonviolence training, and concert. According to a Soulforce flyer about the event, those participating are also invited to stay through Monday, May 2, when Soulforce and their supporters hope to "take the truth about our families directly inside Focus on the Family, holding hands as we walk through their building and eat in their lunchroom."
INTERVIEW WITH REV. MEL WHITE:An interview with Dr. Rev. Mel White, Soulforce founder and Executive Director, is available at www.soulforce.org/televangelists/dobson/2005action
NEWS BLURB: A news blurb is available at www.soulforce.org/televangelists/dobson/2005action
MEDIA VISUALS: This promises to be an exciting, controversial event. Participants will be carrying banners and signs proclaiming the truth about their lives, their love, and their families. Media planning to be present should RSVP to Laura@soulforce.orgwith reservations or questions.