Protests loom over National Prayer Breakfast

I have to hand it to GetEqual this time. In spite of my differences with their past protests, the one at the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning is right on and if I was there, I would be protesting with them:

On Thursday, February 3, GetEQUAL -- a national direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization -- in partnership with multiple LGBT and human rights organizations will host a “Breakfast Without Bigotry” protest outside of the National Prayer Breakfast. The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event, keynoted by the President and attended by many politicians and business leaders, that is organized by a secretive religious group called "The Family" and is tied to the Ugandan lawmaker who authored the “Kill the Gays” bill in the Ugandan legislature.

In front of the Washington Hilton Hotel (1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW) from 6:00am – 8:00am (ET), civil rights activists, faith leaders, human rights organizers, and LGBT advocates will gather during the National Prayer Breakfast to ask that both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress and our President stand against the hatred and bigotry that the National Prayer Breakfast organizers have promoted worldwide. Groups joining GetEQUAL in this event include the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Unitarian Universalist Association, Soulforce, and others. (An updated list will be available at www.getequal.org on the day of the event.)

In the wake of the murder of Ugandan gay activist, David Kato, and the pending deportation of Brenda Namigadde from the UK back to Uganda, organizations across the country are uniting to make sure that “The Family” is exposed for their influence on world affairs, including the annihilation of LGBT people worldwide. "History has proven time and again that the kind of hatred, bigotry, and prejudice promoted by 'The Family' cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. 'The Family' already has blood on its hands, and must be stopped before it can kill again in even greater numbers. Uganda today serves as a lethal preview of what 'The Family' hopes to accomplish worldwide," said Michael Dixon, a lead organizer for GetEQUAL DC.

In addition, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has called on President Obama and all members of Congress not to attend the breakfast tomorrow morning:

"The National Prayer Breakfast uses the attendance of elected leaders to give the Fellowship greater credibility and facilitate its networking and fundraising," said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. "President Obama and members of Congress should not legitimatize this shadowy group with ties to scandal-ridden politicians and hateful and discriminatory positions against gays." Sloan continued, "It is all the more important that American political leaders avoid this event in light of the murder of prominent Ugandan gay activist David Kato."

The Fellowship, also known as "The Foundation" and "The Family," is run by Doug Coe, a spiritual advisor to some government officials, who uses the organization to push his brand of Christianity. The Fellowship owns and operates the infamous C Street House, a congressional residence and meeting place on Capitol Hill that has been a frequent haunt of some ethically-challenged elected officials identified by CREW, including Sen. John Ensign (R-NV).

. . . Members of the Fellowship pushed for anti-gay legislation in Uganda that made homosexuality a capital offense. Just last month, prominent activist David Kato was murdered in Uganda. Much of the wave of anti-gay sentiment can be linked to the promotion of anti-gay policies by American evangelicals.

Most likely President Obama and other members of Congress will  still be attending this breakfast. It would be nice if Obama took the time to give a little hell to these folks over their past actions.

Oh well, one can dream.

But the main point is that attention is slowly but surely growing about this awful group (The Family) and their ties to that awful situation in Uganda which claimed the life activist David Kato.

A USA Today article gives more details:

This year, lawmakers, clergy, power brokers and diplomats will break bread under a disturbing pall cast by the Jan. 26 murder of David Kato, a well-known gay activist who was bludgeoned to death in his home in Kampala. Kato had been targeted by a Ugandan newspaper in a front-page article identifying him and dozens of other Ugandans as "known homos" under the headline, "Hang Them."

While a number of high-profile prayer breakfast and Fellowship participants have repudiated the proposed Ugandan law, many human rights activists and other critics nonetheless remain convinced of the Fellowship's role in catalyzing support for the law.

The Fellowship, for its part, keeps a low profile. Its participants and leadership generally shun the media and the group maintains no official website, membership roster or official spokesperson.

You all can run but you can't hide. God don't like ugly, even if it's done in His name.

Hat tip to Americablog Gay and Pam's House Blend.

Related posts:

Homophobic murder in Uganda is not about DOMA or ENDA


Matt Barber: 'Homofascists' picking on 'Christians' for murder of Ugandan gay activist


LaBarbera makes Scott Lively out to be a victim in wake of Ugandan murder


President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton condemns murder of gay Ugandan activist


Did Scott Lively's homophobic 'nuclear bomb' cause a death in Uganda?