Straights Come
Out for Equality, September 14-20

"Gay and transgender Americans are our neighbors" will be the simple message of faith leaders across the nation during the week of September 14-20.

These religious leaders are part of Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights 2008, a week that will spotlight fair-minded straight people across the nation. In 2007, the project's inaugural year, nighttime vigils lit up 36 American cities in 25 states over seven nights.

This year, churches in cities as diverse as Brooklyn, N.Y., Superior, Wis., Danville, Ind., Modesto, Calif., Denver, Colo., and Portland, Ore., will sponsor Seven Straight Nights events.

Among the clergy speaking out is Jay Bakker, son of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner and pastor of Revolution NYC Church. "As Christians, if we follow the example of Christ in loving our neighbor as ourselves, then we have to realize that everyone is our neighbor, everyone deserves to be treated with love and respect and grace," says Bakker.

Bakker's nontraditional approach to ministry achieved national attention in the Sundance Channel documentary One Punk Under God, which documented his journey to become a gay-affirming Christian.

Nationally, Seven Straight Nights is sponsored by Atticus Circle and Soulforce, who are currently seeking straight people who are interested in organizing a Seven Straight Nights event in their communities. For more information, visit www.sevenstraightnights.org. (The Advocate)