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GetEQUAL Gets GAY Message to National Prayer Breakfast Attendees

Melanie Nathan-February 03-2011.

Today a large group of LGBT people and allies braved the freeze by showing up at the Hilton Hotel D.C. to protest the National Prayer Breakfast.  Present was activist and event organizer,  GetEQUAL’s Managing Director, Heather Cronk,  who gave LezGetReal the following exclusive commentary:-

“This morning was really an inspiring organizing moment.  Gathered together in the icy cold at 5:30 in the morning, GetEQUAL DC organizers were thoroughly equipped for the morning with signs, flyers, flags, bullhorns, coffee, and doughnuts.  We began distributing flyers to National Prayer Breakfast attendees, ensuring that everyone walking into the event had plenty of detailed information about the event organizers (“The Family”) and about David Kato, a gay Ugandan man murdered last week at the hands of ministers and politicians educated and funded by The Family.

After a short time, I moved from the sidewalk across from the hotel to the valet area with a straight 16-year-old ACLU intern — I in my seminary robe and stole, him in his best bowtie.  With enthusiasm and smiles, we distributed flyers to everyone who walked into the breakfast for about 15 minutes until an “international host” for the event (according to her nametag) asked to see a flyer and promptly asked security to show us out of the building.

Returning to the sidewalk with other activists and organizers, I was so proud to be working with such a committed group of folks.  Though we were moved by the DC Police several times — at times, yelled at and harassed — we remained on the sidewalk, chanting and holding signs for all event attendees to see.

We remained outside until the Presidential motorcade arrived at the event before holding our own prayer service for peace and justice.  We were also joined by a friend of David Kato’s, who shared a bit about the first time they met and the vibrancy of David’s life.  His spirit was alive and well with us, and our hope is that it will now be impossible for anyone to attend this annual event without thinking twice about their role in international anti-LGBT and religion-based hatred and bigotry.”

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
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• “Breakfast Without Bigotry” Protest Outside of National Prayer Breakfast (lezgetreal.com)