Existential Punk

Adele & Peter: Queer & Christian: Conversation 7

Peter says, 'Here, Adele shares more of her painful experiences with ex-gay ministries, how she attended Pat Robertson's Regent University (TRULY!), and how these experiences nearly led her to suicide...'

In the next segment, i ask PETER a few questions! So, STAY TUNED! Adele

Adele & Peter: Queer & Christian: Conversation 6: 'Is There Any Gray Here?'

Peter says, 'In this segment, Adele is INCREDIBLY patient and tolerant with me as I dig into possibilities of gray area in a subject that is so deeply personal to her.

Please understand that I would NOT ask these questions in casual conversation with someone who didn't already have some relational foundation with me. It's easy for "outsiders" to try to talk "objectively," and I'm often guilty of that. For oppressed and marginalized people, objectivity is a luxury few can afford.

Adele's willingness to humor me in grappling with such sensitive material is a gift, as I work to reconcile my own relational dynamics with friends on both poles of the theological and social spectrum. I can't overstate the caution and humility in which I want to approach this particular subject matter. Thanks Adele!'

NO, THANK YOU, Peter!

Adele & Peter: Queer & Christian: Conversation 5: 'Claiming To Know Christ...So Unloving...'

Peter says this, 'In this 5th segment of my interview with Adele, she makes some especially poignant remarks that I think you'll appreciate.

When the online attacks from fundamentalist bloggers were at their peak on www.Queermergent.com, Adele thought:

“If I weren’t already Christian, I wouldn’t want to be Christian…

“Who are these people who claim to know Christ and love Christ, but they are so unloving and unkind and ungenerous.'

 

Iggyrocks! Podcast

My friend Iggy interviews me for his podcast here.

Iggy says this:

'This was a fun interview. Adele Sakler is funny, witty and this interview could have gone on for hours. We cover many things from fear of gay people, to how we can move beyond focusing on "sin" and focus on Jesus.'

Camp Courage Sacramento

UPDATE: Sorry to say that something came up and i was unable to attend this event. i was able to donate a little bit of money. Life just hits you in ways sometimes that suck!

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Saddened and angry about the anti-equalitty vote in Maine on Tuesday but excited about the progress we made in Kalamazoo and Washington state, i was am REALLY excited to be participating in the following grassroots training this weekend. i really want to be an active participant in seeing marriage equality restored in California. If you are in Sacramento or nearby, PLEASE consider signing up and joining us! Allies welcome too!

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Welcome to Camp Courage Sacramento! 

We can't wait to meet you, work with you, and learn from you this weekend as we continue the important work of helping build a movement for marriage equality and social change across California.



Inspired by the "Camp Obama" trainings that powered neighbor-to-neighbor organizing across America in 2008, Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principles and skills of community organizing to activists working to restore marriage equality to California.

Drawing on techniques honed for decades by progressive social movements, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills.

We are humbled by the response to Camp Courage Sacramento and we are looking forward to your involvement as well as your feedback so that future Camp Courage trainings can be even better.

Camp Courage Sacramento is just hours away. And here is everything you need to know before we see each other on Saturday morning:

CAMP COURAGE SACRAMENTO

WHEN: Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8

Full-day participation required both Saturday and Sunday. Please also allow extra travel time so you can be on time to the opening session.

8:30-9 a.m.: Registration. DON'T BE LATE!
9 a.m.: SHARP! Training begins
5:30 p.m.: Training ends

WHERE:
Elks Tower
921 11th Street, Suite 210 (2nd Floor)
Sacramento, CA 95812

MAP: http://tinyurl.com/SacramentoCamp

PARKING: City Hall Garage (11th & I). Weekend Rates: $5 daily maximum charge

FOOD: A small continental breakfast will be provided but it is necessary for participants to bring their own lunch to Camp Courage on both Saturday and Sunday. As lunch time is limited and there will be no time to leave the Camp venue to purchase lunch, please make arrangements before you arrive at Camp to bring lunch with you.

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS SATURDAY NIGHT SOCIAL RECEPTION: Join your fellow leaders, facilitators and activists at a mixer directly following Camp Courage on Saturday evening, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Stonewall Democrats are graciously sponsoring this event, organized by fellow activists Cooper Rae and Steve Hansen, at The Verge Art Gallery in Downtown Sacramento.  There will a number of special guest speakers, including local politicians. Come network with other Sacramento area activists and start making plans to restore marriage equality to California.

The address of The Verge is 1900 V St., Sacramento, CA 95818. There is ample free parking both in a parking lot there and on the street.  Food and beverage will be provided, including alcoholic beverages for our guests 21 and over. A $10 donation is requested but not required.

NEED A PLACE TO STAY?: The Greens Hotel, a hip boutique hotel in Sacramento, is giving a 20% discount for Camp Courage participants. Please mention the "Camp Courage" discount rate when making your reservation:

http://www.thegreenshotel.com

NEED A RIDE? SPECIAL OFFER ON TRANSPORTATION NEEDS: To make Camp more accessible for those commuting, Sacramento activist Mario Guerrero, Camp Courage Sacramento Transportation Coordinator, is organizing carpools.

If you are interested in finding transportation to the Camp Courage training or if you are able to provide transportation, please contact Mario and let him know. Please contact him and tell him who you are, where you are coming from, and whether you need or can give a ride. He will then match you up with people from your area.

Please contact Mario Guerrero ASAP at mg544@cornell.edu.

ACTION BOARD: Many participants already work or volunteer with one of the organizations working on marriage equality. We are providing an Action Board where each group can post information about upcoming actions and activities.

If you have any additional questions about the training, please direct them to "CampCourage@couragecampaign.org".

Thanks so much, and we look forward to meeting you this weekend!

Mike Bonin
Camp Courage Program Director
 
 

The Courage Campaign is part of the Courage Campaign's online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. 

This Man Is Dangerous!

Starting With Our WEAKNESS. . .

My good friend Peter (www.emergingchristian.com) and i are beginning a cooperative blog series of posts writing about what it means to argue from a position of weakness. We resonated deeply with and were inspired from my dear friend, author/thinker/lecturer/philosopher, Pete Rollins:

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What we tend to do is… whenever we are in an argument I will argue from the place of strength, the strongest part of my argument, and direct is at the weakest part of your argument. And you will in turn take the strongest part of your argument and attack the weakest part of my argument. And what I really want to do is to enter into dialogs where I can talk about the weakest part of my argument and you can talk about the weakest part of your argument. and I can accept and celebrate the strongest part of your arguments and visa-versa.

Peter Rollins, from a Nick and Josh Podcast Interview

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i think Rollins hits the nail on the head. We like to hammer people with our insights, revelations, and opinions without really listening to the other person(s) even though we say we are listening. Thus, we end up being narcissistically focused on our own strengths and relish in the weaknesses of others we are in conversation/dialogue with at the moment. i agree with Peter when he says, 'This is probably less about egotism, and more about the brokenness and insecurity of most people. We protect “our weak” by overemphasizing “our strong.” And in doing so, we’re not being entirely honest, are we?' That is what narcissism is, being broken and insecure, which as imperfect human beings, is a big part of our DNA.

i am like Peter and definitely have weaknesses built into me. i tire of inauthenticity and hiding, even though at times that is easier and are masks i will put on to protect myself. Yet, because i am tired of hiding my weaknesses, i'd like to share them with you. As Peter says, 'This demands a difficult level of vulnerability and transparency. It means you’ll have an opportunity to attack where I’m least “defended.'" ' So, we have decided to take the leap and reveal and share our weaknesses with you for the sake of open dialogue/conversation.

i quote what Peter says so eloquently:

'In turn, you have strengths that may frustrate me, confound me, or directly refute something about my beliefs! But they are strengths, nonetheless. And by ignoring or underestimating them, I don’t just weaken my particular “position” (we must get beyond these adversarial identifiers) but I also underestimate and even undervalue your worth, and the complexity of your experiences that have led you to where you are.'

Over the next couple of weeks, Peter and i will be co-op blogging on our own weaknesses, on the strengths we find in opposing DIFFERING viewpoints and belief systems, and we will be reflecting on why this is such a radically different way of dialoguing!

YOU are invited to join us at either...

* www.ExistentialPunk.com OR
* www.EmergingChristian.com

Parents and the Ex-Gay Movement

Oh the damage places organizations like Exodus and Love In Action do not only to the people they are attempting to 'fix' as if they are defective, but the harm and shame they heap on the parents. It is sick and sad. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Here is Peterson Toscano's story:

Portia de Rossi Makes Heartfelt Apology For Marrying Ellen Degeneres

HT Towleroad for the heads up on Portia de Rossi's heartfelt apology to all those she has harmed by her marriage to Ellen Degeneres.This IS HILARIOUS!!!!!!!

Comment Of The Week

Ok, here is the comment of the week that came to Queermergent that i deleted. At first it sounds like it is a nice comment but then it turns south. These kinds of comments are just plain sickening. i just do not understand how Christians like this think they are extending the love and grace of G-D to people. It is one thing to disagree but it is defintely another thing to write something perverse like this. i am not one to judge whether they are a Christian or not as that is up to G-D, but comments like this would definitely not make me want to know G-D if i were not already a Christ-follower. What are your thoughts?

'Thank you so much for your inspirational story about how love indeed wins. I'm much like you. My relationship with my mother has been increasingly one of deep longing. She fostered that love for years, and we know that our love is of God---no matter what others say. You were brave to come out, and I hope one day I can come out in the same way. (I'm just not there yet.) You are a true inspiration to all of us LGBTQI.  Praise God and thank you. Jesus loves you.'