Message Update on the Million Fag March 30th of March 2008

First, the bad news...

I finally heard from the city of Topeka regarding what we can and can't do. And there are two pretty major "can'ts" that are going to affect us. But before you decide all is lost, please read all the way through and see what we've come up with.

The first "can't" involves "picketing a private residence." The WBC is considered a private church, and therefore falls under the same rules as a private home. In short: we can't picket directly outside the Westboro Baptist Church.

Trust me. I hear your thoughts, and I understand completely.

The second "can't" (which doesn't really matter so much after the first) is that the city attorney's office feels this many people in the street constitutes a parade. Had they informed me of this earlier, I could have attempted to get the proper permits. And in fact, I was told on one occasion that we would NOT be needing any permits.

The officer I spoke with, however, thought the city might deny our permit anyway, based on the streets we'd have to block. We won't even discuss what this would have done to the cost of our little grass roots event. (On the plus side, we're freed from any prior time contraints.)

Not surprisingly, there aren't any sidewalks in that area, which might have given us some leeway. So, yeah. Those thoughts you're still having? I had them, too. But read on...

What do we do then?

Well, if we can't focus our attention on the WBC specifically, we'll just have to let the entire city of Topeka know why we're there. A great way to do that is to line ourselves up along a major street where we can't be ignored. And there happens to be one not so far from the WBC. While we're at it, why not take over one of the nicest parks in town as our base of operations?

Next, we let the Phelps know where we'll be. Some have commented that the WBC probably wouldn't know we existed if we weren't outside during their service. Let me assure you: They know we're coming. But just so we're positive, I'll personally send them an invitation letting them know where we'll be and when (don't worry, I'm getting to that). I'll even ask them to come speak with us. I notice a certain date is conspicuously absent from their picket schedule, so I'd bet they're free that day.

In other words, the only way we won't see them is if they decide they don't want to be seen.

So, where will we be? Ah, now for the details.

• - On March 30th, 2008 at 11:00 AM, everyone should gather at Gage Park, located at the corner of 10th St and Gage Blvd in Topeka. There should be plenty of parking right across 10th Street.
• - At that time, we will hold a pre-March rally hosted by Jack E. Jett, featuring the music of Oreaganomics, Bill Boll, and perhaps a few others.
• - At the conclusion of our rally, the March begins! We'll line up down Gage Blvd (be sure to keep things legal and stay on the sidewalk!) Bring your signs, shirts, and any other Marching gear you see fit!
• - We'll be free to make ourselves known well into the evening, with a police force to keep everyone safe.
• - And yes, I really am going to invite the Phelps.

One other thing to brighten your day: you will undoubtedly want to see the church. Luckily, we will only be a couple of blocks away. And while this won't be officially MFM-sanctioned... well, I'll just tell you what the Topeka police officer told me. "They are still public streets." Just watch out for two things: Don't block street traffic, and don't take any "hate" signs directed at the Phelps clan past the church (this can be construed as "picketing" them. But you shouldn't have those anyway, because you're better than that). Signs that do not contain a hateful message will probably be fine.

So... that's it! Please send any feedback my way -- good or bad -- and I'll respond as soon as I can.
See you all in a couple of weeks, and you'll be hearing more from me between now and then. With your support, this year's "can'ts" will become small hurdles for next year's 2nd Annual MFM.

- Chris Love

Million Fag March @ Westboro Baptist Links

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UPDATE: I-35 Highway of Holiness: Ex Gay Youth Recants 700 Club!

In a story that F6 began reporting on in December, recent updates have come to attention which affirm the commentary given by F6's Editor of the purity sieges established by a group of pastors were in fact focused towards direct anti homosexual, political, and theological, politics and appropriations of religious excercises.

In a article by John Wright (copied below), recently updated online and originally published on the 20th of December, 2007 in The Dallas Voice, James Stabile, the young man focused on in a direct interview (@ 2:30 mark in the video) by Pat Robertson's 700 Club Show, has exposed his own deciet in the situation and revealed some very disturbing details of Pure Life Ministries (an ex gay compound in Northern Kentucky) and Heartland World Ministries Church in Las Colinas and the original 700 Club report.

Ex ex gay recants by John Wright

Stabile apologizes for lying, says he was 'badly hurt' by Pure Life Ministries

Representatives from Heartland World Ministries Church in Las Colinas had already uncovered James Stabile’s web of lies. In fact, Stabile had decided to leave the congregation after being confronted by church leaders, and he’d been kicked out of the home where he’d been staying with other members.

But that didn’t stop Heartland from asking Stabile to do an interview for a segment on televangelist Pat Robertson’s “The 700 Club” about the so-called purity sieges organized by the church outside gay bars on the Cedar Springs strip. In his interview for the segment, which aired on national TV and was circulated widely on the Internet, Stabile said he’d had a religious experience at one of the sieges that quelled his desire to be with other men.

“He had come clean, and he had said he wasn’t going to lie any more, and they [‘The 700 Club’] wanted him on there,” said Joe Oden, a Heartland evangelist who’s been helping to organize the sieges. “We just gave him the benefit of the doubt. Hindsight is 20/20. Maybe we would have done things differently.” Oden denied the church exploited Stabile, a 19-year-old who is bipolar but was not taking his medication. “There’s no way we took advantage of him,” Oden said, adding that Stabile stayed at the Heartland member’s home for several weeks before “The 700 Club” requested the interview. “We had no idea we would get publicity on anything, period.”

Stabile, meanwhile, apologized to the LGBT community this week and said he hopes his story will discourage others from entertaining ideas that they can change their sexual orientations. Stabile also provided a glimpse inside the ex-gay treatment facility where he went before returning to his parents’ home in Richardson in early December. “If I could, I would take back everything I’ve said,” Stabile told Dallas Voice. “I’ve hurt a lot of people in the gay community, and I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. “I’m not here to get any attention,” he added. “I’m here to say to people that I want to help prevent other young gay guys from experiencing what I experienced, because I don’t want them to be hurt, and I was hurt really badly.”

Stabile, diagnosed with bipolar disorder about a year ago, said he hadn’t taken his medication in 2 and-a-half weeks and had been drinking when he encountered the group from Heartland on the strip Friday, Sept. 28th. Stabile said he told people from the church what he thought they wanted to hear because he’d decided he didn’t like being gay. He said he lied about his family and his past. He even continued to go to gay bars after joining the church and moving in with the Heartland members.

Stabile said it was one of those members who advised him not to resume taking his medication, a claim which Oden denies. In any case, Stabile said being off the medication caused him to act impulsively. He bought a new car that since has been repossessed and maxed out a $5,000 credit line.

After admitting his lies to church leaders, Stabile said he returned to his parents’ home in Richardson briefly before getting word that he’d been accepted into an ex-gay program. Stabile said he went to stay with a family from another church while $2,100 was raised to send him to Pure Life Ministries, which operates a residential facility in Northern Kentucky for those struggling with “sexual sin.”

A representative from Pure Life did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story.

At Pure Life, Stabile said he was given a bunk bed in a room with 15 other men at a ranch house. He was also given a minimum wage job hanging clothes at Ameripride Services Inc., a work apparel rental company. “We called it Amerihumble because it would break any sense you had of worth,” Stabile said. Stabile said his earnings were barely enough to pay his $150 weekly rent at Pure Life, plus laundry, food and transportation expenses. As a result, he lost three pant sizes in the time he was there.

When he wasn’t working, Stabile said there were counseling sessions, prayer meetings, Bible study, reading assignments and workbook exercises — all geared toward making him believe that if he didn’t stop being gay, he was going to hell. Any touching, including handshakes, was strictly prohibited, Stabile said. So, too, was communication with other men at Pure Life to cure their homosexuality.

Stabile said people in the program had to be fully clothed from the neck down at all times, including when they went to bed. There was no radio or television, he said, and only certain types of music were allowed. It was a few weeks into the program when Stabile began to question whether he could change his sexual orientation. He said he decided to pray for the answer. “I said, ‘God, am I going to be gay when I come out of here?’ And he said, ‘Yes,’” Stabile said. “I don’t want to be gay, but I am gay, and because I’m gay, I’m going to have to accept it.”

This latest information establishes that F6 Editor's original analysis; and secondary commentary, still stands as truthful and now with even more evidence to the intent behind the original story and the movement its self. Additional thanks to Right Wing Watch for the video clip and GayNewsWatch for the tip off on the article. To view news feeds check the bottom left corner of F6.

As the Editor @ F6, I wish to convey my heart felt concern to James on his journey of self discovery, adventures in life, and desires for the best future possible.

Update from CNN: "It shall be called the Highway of Holiness!"

This is an update from a previous post: "I-35 Loredo to Duluth". I have no issue with people praying for others or their city or doing good work to improve their city; however I still have major issues, with the use of Scriptural numerology being played off as divine revelation and the proselytizing that is also being reported in other avenues.

In the original video post all one has to do is watch the counter of the video and see that about a third of the video if not more was a direct attack on homosexuality. These aren't just prayer sessions these "purity sieges" are demonstrations and in some cases in the face protest similar to an old style abortion clinic rally or a civil rights riot and that is another issue, but this is not prayer it is vengeance, and that is reserved to God alone!

For in my honest opinion, this is not a freedom of religion issue or a separation of church and state concern; however as originally reported and still alluded to in this article, is a violation of freedom of association and the possibility for disturbing the peace or inciting a riot as they "chanted loudly and vibrantly, making many people in the neighborhood wonder what was going on" (which is not Constitutionally protected speech). Also not forgetting to mention the fact that, one could consider some of the "praying" defamatory and hate speech, "...They prayed that adult businesses along the corridor would *insert inner baptist black woman here:"see the light" * and perhaps close down....".

You aren't going to close down your adult businesses until you understand that sexuality (no matter how it is defined or practiced with normal regard) isn't a bad thing or something to be feared and you give the people who work in those industries a reason to quit making three hundred dollars for twelve hours of work on weekends or five hundred dollars a squirt in a twenty to forty minute film sessions by forcing the industries to change and raise the standards of workplace environment. Then the employees and businesses start loosing money, which is plain and simple economics. One could start by removing alcohol from the Gentlemen Clubs and allow them to only serve coffee and soda, it works up in Michigan. The other personal reason btw, that I have issues with these "intercessors", they classify normal gay bars as "adult businesses" but not normal straight bars as well. That is what we call a double standard, and oh wait, wait, discrimination- which no longer makes this a religious action but a legal and political one.

Hitting the road (literally) with some faithful

Editor's note: In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events. Here, Gary Tuchman talks about covering people praying on what they call America's "holy highway."

DALLAS, Texas (CNN) -- If you turn to the Bible -- Isaiah Chapter 35, Verse 8 -- you will see a passage that in part says, "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness."

Now, is it possible that this "highway" mentioned in Chapter 35 is actually Interstate 35 that runs through six U.S. states, from southern Texas to northern Minnesota? Some Christians have faith that is indeed the case.

It was with that interesting belief in mind that we decided to head to Texas, the southernmost state in the I-35 corridor, to do a story about a prayer campaign called "Light the Highway."

Churchgoers in all six states recently finished 35 days of praying alongside Interstate 35, but the prayers are still continuing.

Some of the faithful believe that in order to fulfill the prophecy of I-35 being the "holy" highway, it needs some intensive prayer first. So we watched as about 25 fervent and enthusiastic Christians prayed on the the interstate's shoulder in Dallas.

They chanted loudly and vibrantly, making many people in the neighborhood wonder what was going on. They prayed that adult businesses along the corridor would "see the light" and perhaps close down.

They prayed for safety and freedom from crime for people who lived along the interstate. They prayed that all Americans would accept Jesus into their lives. Video Watch believers offer prayers »

The woman who came up with the concept of "Light the Highway" is a Texas minister named Cindy Jacobs.

She says she can't be sure Interstate 35 really is what is mentioned in the Bible but says she received a revelation to start this campaign after "once again reading Isaiah, Chapter 35."

Jacobs also points out that perhaps there is a link between the area near this highway and tragedies that have happened in history, such as the bridge collapse on I-35 in Minneapolis last August and the assassination of JFK 44 years ago near I-35 in Dallas. That's why prayer certainly can't hurt, she adds.

Now, it's only fair to say most people, the religious and the non-religious alike, don't buy any of this, but none more than the owners of some of the adult businesses along I-35.

At an adult go-go club, the owner tells us he resents people trying to impose their will on others. And he says his club holds fundraisers, food drives and toy drives to help the community.

But on the side of the road, the prayerful aren't going to change their minds. Holy highways and nude clubs, they believe, are not a combination God has in mind.

One one last note regarding the last few sentences of the article:
Who did Jesus dine with? He dined with the fishermen, the publican, and the whore!
I think more than anyone God can use something "evil" (like "nude clubs") for good. If the intercessors stance is negative to that approach, then they are in violation of direct texts of Scripture and the Grace we have all received freely. To assume otherwise is equally blasphemous as they assume the actions or lifestyle of said people and businesses can be.

CLARIFICATIONS
(from questions submitted confidentially):

What do I mean in "certain comments made" without any platitudes?

Yes I am saying that, what they are doing on the side of the road is not prayer but calling down for vengeance and judgment, when they should be calling out for mercy. Somewhere along the way they got the messages of Scripture turned around in their practice of faith and they are actually doing the job of Lucifer, not the job of the Church.

....in a continuation from the last paragraph, an answer to your third and fourth question:

Furthermore, "What they are doing is not true prayer", I am not saying that their hearts aren't in the right place and that God cant work through the groups' intention of righteousness. I am saying that their leaders need to be told to read the Good Book over again and take some instruction in the spirituality and discipline of prayer its self. Prayer is not just something that one does it is something one becomes and changes the world around them. But then again I'm an idealist and a modern traditionalist.

What do I really know, correct?, to respond to your statement in the form of the fifth question:

Fundamentalism is defined as, "a conservative political response to a failed liberal experience with religious overtones and presentation"; therefore, this isn't a religious action but a legal and political one.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:]

Certain questions were modified by Editor so as not to reveal the source of the questions in anyway possible. Thanks to Charles M. Langley for forwarding F6 this CNN news story.

[ To Be Continued...]

I-35 Loredo to Duluth: "A highway will be there, called the holy way;"

I have been asked by a concerned reader to comment on the following video from Pat Robertson's CBN/700Club. The Video is courteously posted on You Tube by Right Wing Watch.



Besides this video being a warning of a Fred Phelps style invasion in cities across the country, it smacks of proselytizing and general abuse of someone's individual constitutional right to freedom of association, by this swarm of prayer warriors. The fact that they are using Scriptural numerology to base their claim, (come on people this is ridiculous) is no different then the methods of divination used by the people they are targeting. This video also illustrates the reason why priests and ministers everywhere have issue with "jail house conversion syndrome". Not forgetting to mention the fact that this video clip was really nothing more than an anti homosexual propaganda piece covered in the guise of a news story about the power of prayer - watch the timer/counter. However since I was asked kindly by a reader of mine to respond in context I will now that I have given my analysis on the intent of the video clip.

First of all Scripture prophecy can be interpreted in anyway that an individual wants to interpret it, as witnessed in this clip, by taking a passage of scripture (in this case Isaiah 35:8a) completely out of its original context. So the usual way to debunk the prophetic vision or application of prophecy is to bring the context of the passage back into the conversation. In other words, "At least use the whole damn sentence, Nimrods!". The second is to apply the historical context of the passage back into the conversation. The third is to realize that the prophecy has already been fulfilled at least once if not twice. Finally know that, the chapter and verse marks, are not an inerrant/infallible part of the Scriptures.

The markings of chapter were added much later for easy reference in the early 1200's and the mark of the verses was made obvious with the introduction of the Douay~Rheims amongst other English Translation of the Latin Vulgate three centuries past. The Scripture's themselves have changed several times over the last two thousand five hundred and some odd years of history with each new version of the BIBLE. Before this time frame of the reconstruction of Jerusalem and rededication of Temple the Scriptures as we know them were primarily an oral tradition and not regarded inerrant or infallible.

[To Be Continued...]