YWCA rally preaches tolerance, inclusion

More than 100 people gathered on the front lawn of YWCA Clark County at noon today in an early response to an expected anti-gay rally by the Westboro Baptist Church later this afternoon at Heritage High School.

“Thank you for standing up for the inclusion and dignity of our fellow citizens who are lesbian or gay or bisexual or transgender or queer,” Kathy Kniep, executive director of YWCA Clark County, told the crowd gathered at the center, 3609 Main St. in Vancouver.

“As you know, there is an event scheduled at Heritage, one motivated by hate,” Kneip said. She said YWCA felt compelled to hold a positive rally “to let people know that it’s not who we are.”

“This is what we want our community to be about,” she said. “I want my community to be inclusive and welcoming to all.”

Among other speakers in the event was Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker of Congregation Kol Ami, who told the crowd, “the minute God’s name comes up for hating, they’re wrong. They’re just wrong. They’re afraid. They’re afraid of all the beauty and possibility that exists in the human race.”

“When we show hatred to other people, we deny the divinity that is in each one of us,” Dunsker said. “Only by honoring our differences will we be honoring God’s mission.”

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

The church has not stated why Heritage was chosen.

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