A Christian Church for Everyone
with a special outreach to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered

Social and Legislative Concerns
Treasure Valley Metropolitan Community Church
Boise, Idaho

When there are significant concerns, Rev.Robert tries to include these items in his weekly e-letters. If you would like to receive these weekly e-mails, ask to be added to the e-mail list.

To email Rev Cross click HERE

The following are portions of such emails:

Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 18:50:20 EDT
Subject: VERMONT BILL APPROVED

A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. TROY D. PERRY
Office of the Moderator
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches

Dear Saints:

Please join us in celebrating the passage of a bill that has been called the closest thing in America to gay marriage! This bill won final approval in the Vermont State Senate on Wednesday, April 19. The bill will enable gay couples to form "civil unions" that would entitle them to all 300 or so rights and benefits available under state law to married couples. No other state has gone as far as Vermont to give gay couples something approximating marriage. Governor Howard is expected to sign the bill.

Rev. Nancy Wilson, Pastor of MCC Los Angeles and Vice Moderator of UFMCC, states, "This is another important chapter in our struggle for equal rights in the LGBT community. In this struggle, profiles of courage are continuously being evidenced in our country and I praise the Vermont State Legislature for taking this very brave step to support the dignity and right of gay and lesbian couples."

"Vermont's recent ruling is the wave of the future," adds Rev. Wilson. We look forward to ways this will concretely improve the lives of gay and lesbian couples in Vermont and hopefully the rest of the nation."

UFMCC has always believed that all loving and mutual and consensual relationships have a sacred character and were glad that the state of Vermont now also acknowledges their civic importance.

We are continuing this fight for our rights at the Millennium March on Washington (MMOW) on April 29-30, 2000. Please stand together with other members of the LGBT community and our allies as we demand from our government all our civil rights.

"The Wedding; Now More Than Ever", a public demonstration and non-sectarian blessing in celebration of same-sex marriage, will take place during the MMOW at the Lincoln Memorial on April 29. We believe that "The Wedding", along with Vermont's action, will do a great deal to undercut the argument that extending civil rights to gay and lesbian couples will undermine the "institution of marriage".

For more information on the March on Washington, please go to our web site www.ufmcc.com. We look forward to seeing you at the March. Together, we make changes!

In Christ,

Rev. Troy D. Perry
Moderator, UFMCC
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This was sent to us from the IdahoSafeZone 4/4/00

I have been on a mini-tour of the Northwest the last week and I have some startling things to share. A young black, gay, man in Queens, NY was murdered by his white stepfather...who then killed himself with his own gun during a seven-hour standoff with police. His name was Steen Joseph Fenrich, he was 19-years-old. I attended a rally hosted by Home Alive, Q-Safety Patrol and the Lambert House in Seattle. When questioned, few people knew who Alex Smith was. Alex Smith, for those who do not know, was a kind man, also 19, who was viciously murdered at his apartment in Vancouver.

I was in Vancouver during my travels. I stood outside the apartment where Alex was killed. For the first time in my life I felt as though I were an animal in the cross-hairs of a hunters gun. I stood outside the cold metal door, and an even cooler chill sent shivers up my spine. How cold is the grave? How long did Alex lay bleeding to death before his misery finally came to an end? How many more of us will die; will I too be murdered? The Vancouver police department is still investigating Alex's death. Was this a hate crime? Only time will tell. The person or persons who murdered Alex did not force entry into his home, Alex knew who they were. So-called friends? Or did Alex leave his door unlocked?

Please, lock your doors. Remember Alex, Remember Matthew, Remember all of those who have died, and those who will die, in our battle against ignorance. Do all you can, every waking moment and with every breath you breathe, dedicate your life to making our world a little brighter, a little safer.

Remember.
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This was sent to us from the IdahoSafeZone 3/21/00

NOW THAT THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS COMING
WE MUST TURN OUT OUR COMMUNITY IN FORCE!!!

SB 1934 WOULD ALLOW THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN

SB 1934, the so-called "Religious Freedom" bill would allow individuals to break state and local laws if they were motivated by a deeply held religious belief.

Child abuse, open discrimination based on sex, race, nationality (just to name a few) and scores of other laws could be violated if a person did so because of their personal religious beliefs.

This bill is CRAZY! It takes rights away from others in order to give a select few the "special right" to do whatever they please, regardless of the law. Contact your congress people today and tell them to vote NO on SB1934!

**************************************************************************** Subject: ALERT! ALERT! February 2000
Anti-gay bill passes senate, endangers Idaho's youth!!!!!!!
From: IdahoSafeZone@aol.com

The House of Representatives is poised like hungry jackals and is ready to strip away a most precious right from Idaho's gay and lesbian youth. They plan to LEGALIZE the abuse, assault and battery of gay youth who are in abusive relationships!

You heard me right. By only applying SB 1523 to "OPPOSITE SEX" couples the Idaho State Legislature is legitimizing domestic violence toward gays and lesbians. This dangerous bill must be stopped before it sets a precedent of hate for all Idahoans.

Once again the bill that would become "Cassie's Law" would EXCLUDE GAY AND LESBIAN TEENS FROM BEING PROTECTED in domestic violence situations. There has never been a time more great in the history of our hate-riddled that calls more for your action. WHETHER YOU ARE GAY OR STRAIGHT YOU MUST ACT!!!! To stand idly by in this situation is to agree that gay and lesbian youth deserve to be THE TARGETS OF VIOLENCE. The Senate has already voted to strip gays and lesbians of our rights...will you now allow it to happen in the House?

CALL 332-1000 and tell your Representative to VOTE NO on SB 1523. Tell your Representative that it is imperative that ALL youth are protected...and tell him/her that he/she is obligated by his/her office to protect and defend Idaho's citizens. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CONGRESS TO BE DOMINATED BY BIGOTS. Stop the hate before it becomes law.

TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE NO ON SB 1523!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out our website for more information:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/safe/
To get the latest on SB 1523 click on the book with blank pages. The pages may be blank, but our history exists. Do not let the state of Idaho forget that we too are citizens.

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6/22/00--cj