Our Hearts Are With You, a faith-based campaign offering support to those denied the right to marry, has erected a billboard along Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte, NC, that apologizes for “the narrow-minded, judgement, deceptive and manipulative actions” committed by those who endorsed Amendment One “in the name of God.”
A statement on the group’s Facebook page offers more details:
In 2008 when Proposition 8 passed in California, Missiongathering Christian Church wanted to make a statement that some Christians don’t speak for all Christians. San Diego was ground zero for Prop 8 and the churches that started the ballot initiative. Within a week of Prop 8’s passage, we put up a billboard apologizing to all those who were hurt by the voting results. Then the billboard went viral. With emails and phone calls coming in from all over the world, we decided to create the “Our Hearts Are With You” campaign giving people a place to dialogue, post stories, discuss, and be encouraged by this message, join the movement, and spread the apology on their own.
Now in 2012 with the passage of Amendment 1 in North Carolina, the apology has started making the rounds again. After many Facebook changes over the last few years, we have recreated the “Our Hearts Are With You” campaign here as a fan page. At the end of May the apology billboard will go up in Charlotte, NC, to say to the LGBT community and their allies, that they are not alone.
The sign cost California-based Missiongathering Church about $3,000 and will stay up for a month. Pastor Alex Roller told reporters the intention was to remind LGBT Carolinians that they have straight allies across the country, including those with religious convictions.
Tracy Johnson
This was lovely. More churches need to start protecting their faith with statements
that are more in line with the true teachings of Jesus Christ. God bless them and
their congregation.
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That actually made a crap filled day a little better, thanks to the church and queerty
Kenton Forshee
Apologies are cheap. If you’re sorry for what others have done don’t apologize for what you haven’t done, instead STOP THEM FROM DOING IT.
DanChi
Too freaking late. Left North carolina a few weeks ago. Most assbackwards state I’ve ever been. F’n wilmington.. ugh…
B
No. 3 · Kenton Forshee wrote, “Apologies are cheap. If you’re sorry for what others have done don’t apologize for what you haven’t done, instead STOP THEM FROM DOING IT.”
FYI, the church that put up the billboard is located in San Diego, California. They probably weren’t even aware of what was going on in North Carolina until after the election results were reported in the news. They put up a similar billboard after Proposition Eight passed as well. A small church is not capable of stopping a well-funded initiative campaign, even if its members contribute to groups opposing the initiative.
Kenton Forshee
B, Apologies are still cheap. And I find the fact that a small church cannot stop a well-funded initiative campaign to be funny. Where is their god? Of any war where both sides believe they have god on their side the winner is the one that is most well funded.
n900mixalot
@Kenton Forshee: Speak for yourself. I’ll accept an apology over more hate.Yes, I am looking right at you here. Whose side, exactly, are you on here? Militance works when your “enemy” is not those who are admitting wrong-doing, and taking some step, no matter how small, to speak out.
Kenton Forshee
n900mixalot, I do speak for myself. I’m not interested in an apology. Apologies on a sign are meaningless, and don’t really do anything. It’s no better than putting a yellow ribbon on a car to “support the troops”. It does nothing.
What the f**k
Can’t you simply take a pause ,acknowledge a sweet sentiment and then get right back to the hardline? Maybe their stance brings them their own negative responses……anyway this is OUR fight….so their small but considerate action is,at least to me,appreciated.
Curt
@Kenton Forshee:
You missed the point by a mile, not all Christians are against us, they have no more control over the actions of others than you or I do. Should you or I be judged by the actions of all gays? I wouldn’t want that and it isn’t fair to put churches in than situation either. You should take your allies where you can get them and be grateful when you do, because it is the fault of attitudes like yours that we have so few allies in some communities..
Kenton Forshee
Curt, Okay, let’s put it in these terms. Let’s say I’m the smaller brother of big kid in school who is the bully who beats the crap out of you at school every day. After he has just beat you up I come up to you and say, “I’m sorry that is happening to you. Not everyone in my family is like that.” Does that really any consolation when you’re going to be beat again tomorrow by my brother?
I would suggest that it is none.
Macmantoo
You can’t fault one church for the actions of another. There are some hateful people out there and with all the hate & killing talk being made by some of the stupid preachers, we need all the support we can get. That along with buying a gun and keeping it near.
B
No. 6 · Kenton Forshee wrote, “B, Apologies are still cheap. And I find the fact that a small church cannot stop a well-funded initiative campaign to be funny. Where is their god?”
Did you miss the part that this church is located in California, not North Carolina?
As to “Where is their god,” I’ll refer you to http://stardate.org/feeds/podcast.xml – it seems that the galaxy NGC 3393 has two supermassive black holes near its center, the result of a collision with another galaxy. While currently 500 light years apart, these will slowly spiral into each other and merge, possibly creating quite a show. God probably decided not to miss this show and has planted himself in the best possible seat as seating is unreserved.
Since NGC 3393 is about 160 million light years from earth, God won’t get the TV broadcasts about North Carolina, nor the “prayergrams” for quite some time. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a response. Besides, He probably wouldn’t want to lose His seat!
mudgeboy
Super, wonderful gesture. Sometimes we think that all christians are the same; just like some straight people think all gay people are the same. It’s nice to know that there are some christians who actually read and try to live the new testament. People who actually think on their own instead of blindly following their pastor/minister/whatever.
hamoboy
@Kenton Forshee: Actually what it says to me is exactly what the bully’s lil brother said: “I’m sorry that is happening to you. Not everyone in my family is like that.”. This is also exactly the line used by “moderate muslims” after the latest Islamist terrorist drama, and by “peace-loving americans” while their trillion dollar armies cut a swathe through the populations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.
Belize
@Kenton Forshee: “B, Apologies are still cheap. And I find the fact that a small church cannot stop a well-funded initiative campaign to be funny. Where is their god? Of any war where both sides believe they have god on their side the winner is the one that is most well funded.”
LOL. How pretentious of you to akin this to a war. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re some sheltered queen living off of daddy’s trust fund.
And in this conflict, what makes you think that there are two sides alone? This narrow-minded view of the conflict is the reason as to why we are having trouble succeeding in some areas.
“Apologies on a sign are meaningless, and don’t really do anything. It’s no better than putting a yellow ribbon on a car to “support the troops”. It does nothing.”
Not to people who have a stick so far up their asses that they think the LGBT plight is the only problem in the world.
Belize
@B: “Since NGC 3393 is about 160 million light years from earth, God won’t get the TV broadcasts about North Carolina, nor the “prayergrams” for quite some time. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a response. Besides, He probably wouldn’t want to lose His seat!”
I freakin’ love that comment.
Poseidon
I have called North Carolina “home” these past 20 years. As most adults learn, we must coexist with those of differing views on politics, religion and life. Amendment 1, is a disappointment indeed. I’m amazed with the progress we (LGBT community) have made in “the South” and NC.
I join those that appreciate the billboard’s message. While words of encouragement at times seem to have NO tangible meaning, they offer a message of HOPE to the viewing audience it’s directed toward. At times, it’s only that HOPE that makes a person remain engaged. It does have a second effect of perhaps forcing those that supported Amendment 1 to rethink their decision. Gratefully, I’ve seen the tertiary effect of annoying the Amendment 1 supporters. I must say, to hear their utter disgust and frustration for an “outside organization” or “church” involve themselves in a “North Carolina” matter has been elating. It’s said it’s a world economy or commerce. Civil/Human rights are as well, and it IS the business of our nation to be involved in this dialogue.
For those that consider this state a lost cause and chose to move because of Amendment 1, it’s okay. NC continues to attract brilliant, talented people across all spectrums of society, not just our LGBT family… and with continued diligence and persistence, coupled with hard work of sharing our story of our “normalcy” among society, more will understand us and appropriate civil rights will be affirmed for all.
Aussie Col
I love this. It will really pi$$ some haters off. It’s a small step, but it’s a step. Every small victory adds up to winning the war.
Geoff B
Love this story. Believe it or not there are more Christians and even right wingers who aren’t hateful bigots than most people realize. The left and right wing media both ignore these people to further prove their respective points. I know very far right wing people who think it’s ridiculous that gays can’t marry and I know gay people from very liberal families that shun them. To pigeonhole all conservatives as Nazis and to assume all liberals are for us is very shortsighted.
Nick
One of my friends recently travelled around the southern states of America. She said it was like being in a fundamentalist muslim country and that it just felt really different to Europe. I can’t comment, I’ve never been, although I’d really like to. Whilst America is undoubtebly heading in the right direction on gay rights, and whilst Europe is far from perfect itself (the West is good I think, the East not so much), it’s just shocking how vocal and viscous some of the stuff coming out of America is. And it doesn’t just apply to gay rights. From an outside perspective, it just looks like so many people in America are just really, really angry and bitter and fearful. I know that’s not at all the case, I’m sure it is just a very vocal minority, but it’s even on things like taxes and socialism and health care…the tea party, one million mums…what is going on?
1equalityUSA
Geoff B, That NOM pledge that nearly every Republican signed was so gross that I don’t think it will be forgotten anytime soon. But I agree that not every conservative is against gender equality. Mr. Ted Olson comes to mind. He’s a hero to me. A picture of Ted Olson and David Boise should grace the walls of every LGBT household, much like Kennedy and King’s did.