A hardliner who at every step has opposed equality for women and gays within the church, the new pope has launched a new crusade to ban equality OUTSIDE of the church. The hierarchy of the church has vigorously organized against equal access to jobs, housing and places of public accommodation for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans people. There is a very simple term for this: BIGOTRY.

Why Protest the National Bishops’ Conference?

The leadership of the Catholic church has stepped up its assault on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.

* Responding to the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the church declared in 1998 that supporting equality for gay people will "inevitably lead to violence and barbarity and introduce the 'culture of death.'"

* Prior to his death, John Paul declared that fighting against marriage equality -- not war or poverty -- was his "top priority" for 2005.

* John Paul II and the newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI have called gay sex "intrinsically disordered," gay adoptions "violence" towards children, and equal marriage rights "evil." Coming from supposed Men of God, this defamatory rhetoric against a whole group of people invites legislative and physical violence toward our people.

Previously, the Bishops' Conference now meeting in Chicago voted overwhelmingly to support both the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment and the efforts to amend state constitutions to ban marriage equality. Bishops in Massachusetts have railed against marriage equality, hoping to divert attention from their nasty pedophile priest scandal. The Vatican and the Spanish bishops have urged government workers to refuse to perform civil same-sex marriages.

Clearly, the leadership of the Catholic Church does not intend to keep its bigotry confined behind the altar. It has been active with organizations run by Protestant antigay bigots that are attempting to push gays onto the margins of society. Anti-gay organizations that pushed through state constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage during the 2004 presidential election laud their ties to the Catholic leadership. By trying to influence legislation, the Catholic leadership and its rightwing Protestant allies are trying to erase one of the pivotal foundations of democracy: the separation of church and state, where the state is not beholden to the sectarian edicts of any denomination.

SUPPORT EQUAL RIGHTS -- PROTEST THE NATIONAL BISHOPS CONFERENCE!

8 AM - 9 AM, Thursday, June 16
Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive

DIRECTIONS: The hotel is 1-1/4 blocks south of Wacker Drive, south of the Chicago River. From the North Side, take the #147, #146 or #151 bus to Wacker Drive; from the South Side, take the #6 Jeffrey Express or the #3 King Drive bus to South Water Street, then walk east to Columbus; or take the Red Line “el” to Lake Street and walk east to Columbus, and then north to the Hotel.

Downloadable flyer below.


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...AND DON'T FORGET THIS FRIDAY...

Protest at the fundraiser for the Illinois "Family" Institute, as they charge $100 a plate to launch a campaign for an anti-gay amendment to the Illinois State Constitution.

6 PM, Friday, June 10th
Monroe Harbor -- Randolph St. & the lakefront

For details, see: chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/58093/index.php

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...AND JOIN THE ANTI-WAR CONTINGENT IN THIS MONTH'S GAY PRIDE PARADE...

"Money for Health Care, NOT for Warfare"

The contingent, initiated by the Gay Liberation Network, is a superb opportunity to outreach with an anti-war, pro-gay message to 400,000 Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans people and our allies.

Participating organizations in the contingent include the newly-formed Chicago chapter of Code Pink, Peace Pledge, Not In My Name, and the Queer and Trans Caucus of the Chicagoland Anarchist Network.

To join us, meet at the corner of Halsted and Diversey at 11:30 am, Sunday, June 26. We strongly suggest that you do NOT drive to the parade (if you must drive, park your car near a Brown or Red line stop of the "el" and take the train to the "Diversey" stop of the Brown line el, then walk about four blocks east on Diversey to Halsted).

If you would like more info about joining the contingent, contact us at LGBTliberation (at) aol.com, 773.209.1187, or www.GayLiberation.org

Please download and circulate the handbill (chicago.indymedia.org/media/all/display/15042/index.php) and poster (chicago.indymedia.org/media/all/display/15043/index.php) advertising the contingent.