Isn't that special!
Posted on 07/12/2005 12:43:05 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
A local pastor who has become one of the strongest voices in the state against a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage will be honored by Outreach, Madison's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender center.
The Rev. Curt Anderson, senior minister at First Congregational United Church of Christ, will receive Outreach's "Ally of the Year" honor at the group's 13th annual awards banquet Friday at Monona Terrace.
The banquet will kick off this weekend's Pride Weekend events, which include the traditional Capitol rally, march and picnics at Brittingham Park.
Carolyn Virginia, a member of Anderson's congregation, said she particularly appreciates that Anderson understands the huge toll that fighting for respect and basic rights takes on gay and lesbian activists.
She said he also routinely helps his congregation-at-large understand why fighting the marriage ban is important.
"He's an incredible leader on this issue," she said.
Anderson, who was on vacation in California and could not be reached for comment, is one of the founders of Christians for Equality, a new group founded to oppose the marriage ban.
In February, Anderson helped lead a rally by the group against the ban in the Capitol rotunda.
John Quinlan, executive director of Outreach, recalled that Anderson also played a key role a few years ago on a committee that struggled with discrimination issues related to United Way funding of the Boy Scouts.
"He really helped move the discussion forward and get other allies involved," said Quinlan, who recently joined Anderson's congregation. "He spoke compellingly from the perspective of a person of faith."
Others who will be honored Friday night by Outreach are:
• David Runyon Man of the Year Award: Jason Rasmussen, executive director of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network).
• Susan Green Woman of the Year Award: Lisa "Red" Juday, volunteer with Teens Like Us.
• Special Recognition Award: Jim Cross, who took a personal mission to Africa to work with HIV-positive children.
• Organization of the Year: Rural Dykes Association.
Also on Friday night, New York drag diva RuPaul will be the celebrity guest at an "Underwear Party" at the Orpheum Theatre.
The annual Capitol rally and march are scheduled for Sunday. The Magic Picnic, which traditionally features food, drink, dancing, games, political booths and sales of rainbow gear, will be held on both Saturday and Sunday at Brittingham Park.
Distinguished alumni: The UW-Madison Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Council will also hold its annual brunch on Sunday morning.
This year's honorees are Jess Anderson and Raphael Kadushin.
Anderson, a retired UW computer analyst, has contributed to Madison's musical life for decades as a harpsichordist, music critic for Isthmus, classical music programmer for WORT-FM, and mentor to musicians. He was also a founding activist and public speaker for the Madison gay liberation movement.
Kadushin, as senior humanities editor of the University of Wisconsin Press, launched the Living Out series, one of the country's pre-eminent presses for gay literature. In 2004 the series included his own volume, "Wonderlands: Good Gay Travel Writing."
Kadushin is also a restaurant reviewer for Isthmus, a contributing editor at Bon Appetit magazine and a contributor to national travel magazines.
Lovely.
And now, for all intents and purposes, it's less a church than a sodomy cheerleading organization.
Why does the media feel so compelled to write about such a small percentage of the population day after day after day? They really are agenda driven, aren't they?
Satan is making headway in destroying religious organizations.
Isn't that special!
That's why crosses on UCC churches have been replaced by question marks.
Correction of your post: The United Church of Christ is the church that took over the building that housed the Pilgrims' first church in Plymouth. And, by the way, the Pilgrims were not the Puritans. The Puritans came later to Boston. Please get my family straight! None of us have anything to do with the UCC. Do not paint us with that one!
We're mincing words here. They didn't take it over - they owned it. They are the successor entity to the original Plymouth congregation.
the way, the Pilgrims were not the Puritans
Puritan is a fluid term which covered quite a variety of different groups.
A generic Church of Englander would have called both the Plymouth and Boston colonists Puritans.
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
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