Posted on 01/23/2002 6:22:00 AM PST by helmsman
Washington, D.C. January 22, 2002. Leaders of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians (PLAGAL) were arrested today at the 29th annual March for Life. The arrests were conducted by the United States Park Police by direct orders of Miss Nellie Gray the March for Life Leader and holder of the permit, according to the Park Police.
PLAGAL President Cecilia Brown and Vice-President Eric Jurek were at the March for Life for the sole purpose protesting the 1973 Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion-on-demand. They were simply carrying the PLAGAL Banner -- which states the organization's name and "Human Rights Start When Human Life Begins." Brown, Jurek, and the rest of the PLAGAL delegation were approached by the officers and ordered to remove the offending sign. Consistent with their deeply held pro-life convictions, they refused. Police back-up arrived at the scene. At that time, though not resisting arrest, Brown and Jurek were wrestled to the ground and dragged to an area away from the crowds were they were handcuffed and taken away.
"How can Miss Gray claim to stand for the dignity of all human life while at the same time denying gays and lesbians our dignity in openly defending the rights of all human beings to life?" asked PLAGAL Vice-President, Ms. B.A. Keener. She then went on to comment, "Most every group that attends the March for Life openly identifies itself with signs and banners -- be they Feminists, Democrats, Catholics, etc. It seems that PLAGAL has been targeted by the leadership of the March for Life simply because of their sexual orientation. PLAGAL and its leaders have a long and solid history in pro-life activism."
"Nellie Gray, in a meeting a few years ago, stated PLAGAL may participate in the March for Life so long as we do not identify ourselves as lesbians and gays," stated Moses Remedios, VP for Media Relations. "That's as offensive as telling an African American, 'you can ride on the bus, but just sit in the back.'"
Prior to the arrest Brown stated, "PLAGAL participates in the March because we believe in positive, life-affirming alternatives to the tragedy of abortion. To say that we have no place for open participation in the pro-life movement is not only counter-productive, but it simply wrong." She then went on to say, "We urge Miss Gray to set aside her personal biases, and "FREE THE MARCH" for Life, by allowing all peaceful, pro-life groups to stand in solidarity with women and the unborn."
We are appalled that Miss Gray is incapable of setting aside her personal sentiments against gays and lesbians, thus prohibiting, with the use of police force, our open participation in the pro-life movement," stated Ms. Keener who went on to say, "By this malevolent act and to her detriment, Miss Gray has moved the focus of the March for Life away from the protection of the unborn -- where it belongs -- to the participation of lesbians and gays."
All those wishing to express their disgust with the March for Life for this malicious and divisive act of exclusion are encouraged to contact the March for Life at info@marchforlife.org. For pictures and the latest information on this developing story please visit our website at http://www.plagal.org.
Not unthinkable, but perhaps unusual.
Shalom.
I "hear" you, but I can't figure out whether you're disagreeing with me, agreeing with me, or simply typing.
What point were you trying to make?
Shalom.
Nellie Gray does the pro-life effort a huge disservice, year after year, by excluding the very good people of PLAGAL. She is a disgrace to the cause and should step down immediately.
Wide ranging and unexpected voices such as those of PLAGAL, Pro-life atheists, Vegetarians for Life Feminists for Life strengthen and enrich the anti-abortion message in ways that all the Bible quoting in the world cannot.
Ms. Gray has been holding the annual March for Life hostage for too long.
Of course it is, but it is impossible to know how much of your "atheistic morality" is caused by being raised in the United States, with a very theistic morality as its social undergirding.
Is it possible that if all the prolife atheists had been born in China that they would be fully in favor of the forced abortions the Chinese demand?
BTW: I notice that whenever someone wants to share their problems with homosexual attraction you are right there to take the opposing viewpoint. Just for my own edification, which of the following do you have trouble with?
Do you really mean to imply that identifying themselves as Hibernians, Kansans and Moms is comparable to a group idenfiying itself based on sexual persuasion/behavior that is not only morally corrupt, but also remains illegal in many states in our nation?
Do you think the Hibernians, Kansans or Moms would have refused to participate in the Pro-Life march if they were asked to leave their signs on the bus? The answer is an obvious no! Why then did the members of Plagal refuse? Again, the answer is obvious. They were more interested in being identified by their homosexuality than by their "pro-life" convictions.
They seem pretty sincere with the pro-life cause. People will have to judge for themselves if they have a hidden agenda. Some people have brought up that these people want more babies available for adoption. Maybe that's a valid argument, maybe not. Maybe abortion is just as squeamish to anti-abortion homosexuals as it is to anti-abortion heterosexuals.
So far I have no problem with them marching. Nellie Gray can prevent them from speaking as a guest if she wants, but let them witness to other homosexuals about the evils of abortion if they want. It's about the cause, the preborn victims, not the people running the show.
The PLAGAL members whom I've met and worked with simply aren't that way. Your supposition is wrong. But even if they were recruiting, they still belong and in fact strengthen the pro-life argument. Their voice is as legitimate as your own.
I don't know, but I wouldn't want "Adulterers for Life" marching in the "March for Life" either.
Ten years ago or so, Nellie Gray tried unsuccessfully to exclude the Feminists for Life Executive Director from speaking with all the other recognized groups at the March. I guess she doesn't like feminists either.
What correlation is there between "deeply held pro-life convictions" and the inability to follow the orders of a policeman who is performing his duty and is considered to have authority over you.
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