<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

YWCA plans ‘thoughtful’ rally to counter church’s anti-gay protest

By Howard Buck
Published: May 28, 2010, 12:00am

YWCA Clark County will sponsor a “thoughtful and respectful” rally to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community at its headquarters on Tuesday.

The interfaith event is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. on the front lawn of the YWCA community office at 3609 Main St. in Vancouver.

That’s shortly before anti-gay followers of a Kansas church are expected to picket outside Heritage High School — a scene several church and civic leaders want no part of.

Rather, the local leaders will proactively address LGBTQ inclusion as full and equal members of society. They will explain the issue’s importance and describe how their organizations are working to break down barriers and discrimination.

Tip: you can interact with this map using your fingerscursor (or two fingers on touch screens)cursor. Map

Scheduled speakers include: Sarah Theberge, YWCA board member; the Rev. Tom Tucker, pastor of Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church; the Rev. Farley Maxwell, former pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Vancouver; Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver; Debra Adams, director of the YWCA SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program; and Susan LaLone, YWCA board member and public policy committee co-chairwoman.

Kathy Kniep, YWCA executive director, will moderate the rally and a question-and-answer session following the speeches.

“We’re wanting to do something that’s very essentially positive,” Kniep said. “That’s how we see this event, as very separate from (the Heritage picketing),” she said.

The Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kan., has scheduled pickets to appear outside Heritage High immediately following school Tuesday.

The church has not stated why Heritage was chosen. Another picket is set two days later at Portland’s Grant High School, one of several planned in greater Portland starting today.

At the YWCA rally, the organization will provide information on available resources, including how to be an ally to the LGBTQ community and on its domestic violence and social change programs.

The rally is occur rain or shine, organizers said.

For more information: http://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org.

Howard Buck: 360-735-4515 or howard.buck@columbian.com.

Loading...