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Letters of Support for PLAGAL
The following are letters PLAGAL received in the days and weeks following the arrests
of Cecilia Brown and Erik Jurek at the 29th Annual March for Life on 22 January 2002. The
letters have been posted with permission from the authors. If you wish to add your voice
of support for PLAGAL's open participation in the March for Life, please send your
comments to plagal@plagal.org.
Index:
Robert Barnes
Emily G. Barrett, Feminists For Life of New York
Pastor Maria Bernardo, Associate Pastor, House of Prayer, Cleveland, Ohio
Jennifer Brees
Ron Chandonia, Atlanta, GA
Jim Deger, Former Legislative Director of the American Life League (ALL)
and the American Life Lobby
Lydia Marie Farmer, Chicago, IL, [2nd letter]
Michael T. Ferens, Chairman, PLAGAL PAC
Mary Guiney
Carole Jordan
Mike Krempasky, Board Member of American Collegians for Life (ACL)
Joseph E. McGrory, Ed.D., Department of Behavioral Science/Psychology,
Community College of Philadelphia
Molly, Washington, DC
Mary Jean Mulherin, Minnesota
Stephen M. O'Brien, Staten Island, NY
W. R., Washington, DC
Laura Robinson, Woodson, TX
Lori A. Schwabenbauer, Bensalem, PA
Robert Barnes
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Hello.
I just wanted to write and say how profoundly embarrassed and ashamed I am
of Nellie Gray for her indefensible actions yesterday. Not only has she
shamed all of us who strongly believe in pro-life principles AND inclusion,
but she, in my strong opinion, has disgraced and violated the teachings of
her own religion. Although I am not religious myself, I am extremely
familiar with Christian scripture and theology. According to the teachings
of Christ, we are ALL living in sin, no matter how pious we may appear. For
Nellie Gray, or anyone, to single out one group for exclusion and
intolerance is a supreme act of hate and hypocrisy. I have already written
the March For Life expressing my extreme outrage and calling for Nellie
Gray's resignation from all further organizing activities for all future
March For Life events.
Finally, I would just like to tell you what you probably already know, and
that is that Miss Gray does NOT represent the sentiments of most pro-lifers,
or even most activists in the movement, from what I've been able to tell.
Her's is a singularly vicious form of hatred that defies rational
explanation. I truly hope that the movement will soon pass on to a new
generation of leaders who will not waste their time and energy judging
others, but who will concentrate on our common mission -- to save unborn
babies from abortion.
Thank you for your time.
Emily G. Barrett, Feminists For Life of New York
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Just wanted to write to let you know how appalled I was to hear about the arrests made
at the March yesterday. Nellie Gray certainly allowed her own biases to interfere with the
cause for Life. I find this offensive. Her own agenda seems to have little to do with the
purpose of March For Life and much to do with spreading her own sentiments about gays and
lesbians. I wholeheartedly applaud your open participation in the March. I had hoped to be
there and would have undoubtedly been another voice of support for you.
Pastor Maria Bernardo, Associate Pastor, House of Prayer, Cleveland, Ohio
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
I am completely appalled at the actions of Miss Gray and of the police toward Cecilia
and Eric of Plagal at the Washington March . Miss Gray did indeed shift the focus from
abortion to participation of gays. A city against itself cannot stand, and Miss Gray's
actions will surely cause the Pro-Life movement to collapse upon itself if she continues
in this innappropriate manner. What a disgrace to the Pro-Life Movement! Only pro-life
if you're not gay! A gay life does not matter! This is not the spirit of the Gospel.
Jennifer Brees
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Tue. 22 Jan. 2002
Oh dear God. As a straight pro-lifer, I am outraged at Miss Gray's tactics. How disgusting. I do not have much, but if they're still incarcerated, I would be happy to help add to the bail fund. Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Jennifer Brees
Ron Chandonia, Atlanta, GA
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Dear PLAGAL leaders:
I was saddened but not surprised to learn that Nellie Gray had at last
carried out her threat to stop PLAGAL from participating in the March for
Life. I was with you in 1999 when the group deferred to Gray's wishes and
carried the banner by a side route to the Supreme Court, and then in 2000 I
took the photos of what I prayed would be the final incident of that sort.
Unfortunately, it seems the election and nominal support of a conservative
President have emboldened Miss Gray. She seems not to realize that no
President would dare appear in person at the March because ardent
pro-lifers are still regarded by the public as dogmatic right-wing bigots,
the very image her move against PLAGAL has once again reinforced.
I do hope the move against PLAGAL will get some publicity for the
organization and perhaps help to ignite a debate about the importance of
expanding the pro-life base. I did see some evidence along those lines in
a discussion today on the conservative website Free Republic. You might
want to check it out:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/614085/posts?q=1&&page=1.
Please keep up the good work. PLAGAL already outclasses Nellie Gray. It
will no doubt outlast her as well.
Jim Deger, Former Legislative Director of the American Life
League (ALL) and the American Life Lobby
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org and copied to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Subject: hello Nellie old friend
I am appalled that you encouraged the arrest of gay pro-lifers at the March. Pro-lifers have never been limited to one color of the rainbow. I am shocked that you of all people, who have sought to prevent any one group from hijacking the March and welcomed all at the same time for years, have sunk so low as to now have a litmus test for who may protest the Supreme Court's decision of Roe v Wade.
I pray that you recover from this most un-Christian act or yours and that your work with the March once again back up what it has stood for by ceasing these type of unbelievable actions.
Lydia Marie Farmer, Chicago, IL
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org and copied to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Dear Ms. Gray:
Hello and greetings to you, Ms. Gray, from the windy city of Chicago.
I would like to start off this email/letter by stating that I admire you and the work that you
have done over these past many years. I was able to hear you on the radio yesterday (Tuesday,
January 22nd). You were the guest on the Concerned Women radio broadcast. Sandy Rios
interviewed you. She mentioned that you have been involved in the March For Life since the
very early days of the legalization of abortion. So, I applaud you, ma'am, in what you have
publicly stood for all these years.
I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour as a child, almost thirty-three years ago,
but it wasn't until decades later (since 1999) that I became a staunch, active pro-lifer.
Therefore, I consider you one of my heroes (heroines) in the pro-life movement. You and
others have been involved in the movement far, far longer than I have been. My hat goes
off to you and others in this regard
However, that is not the reason that I am sending you this email. The reason that I am sending
you this email is that upon reading the, Pro-Life Infonet News Alert, that was emailed
to me yesterday (Tuesday, January 22nd), a couple of people from the,
Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians, were arrested at the march yesterday,
"... Cecilia Brown, President of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians, and Eric
Jurek, the organization's Vice-President were arrested by the United States Park
Police because they were carrying the PLAGAL Banner...apparently made on orders of
Nellie Gray, President of the March for Life...'Brown and Jurek did not promote
any cause other than opposition to abortion and the killing of unborn babies,' the group
said in a statement."
Ms. Gray, I can only go by what I have read and from what I've read it leads me to
believe that it was you who had these people arrested and only on the grounds that
they were apart of a gay organization and for no other reason. I don't know how you
had that much power to have them arrested if you were indeed the person to order
their arrests, but out of all due respect, Ms. Gray, knowing that you and my mother are
around the same age (she was in her twenties during WWII)---you were wrong!!! You were very
wrong in having these people arrested! These people and their organization are on the
same side that we're on! We are all trying to fight to save the lives of UnBorn Children!
How dare you do such a thing! You had no right to do that! That showed alot of ignorance
on your part! I believe that these two individuals and the P.L.A.G.A.L. organization
were humiliated.
This is my stance on this incident that apparently occurred at the march, yesterday
(January 22nd). I am sending this letter not only to yourself, Ms. Gray, but also to
the people at the P.L.A.G.A.L. organization (please notice the "Cc" part of this email).
Again, I can only go by what I have read from what I consider to be a reliable news source
(Pro-Life Infonet) and if this incident did indeed happen and if you were the individual
who ordered the arrests of these people, then I reiterate, ma'am---you were wrong!
Lydia Marie Farmer, Chicago, IL
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org and copied to info@marchforlife.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Dear Cecilia Brown and Eric Jurek:
Hello and greetings to you both from the windy city of Chicago.
I will start off by stating that I appreciate the fact that the two of you along with the other people in your organization, the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians, were at the life march, yesterday (January 22nd). I didn't know that your organization or any organization like yours existed until this morning. This morning I read in the Pro-Life Infonetnews alert that you were both arrested, apparently, by direct orders of Nellie Gray, the President of the March For Life.
Cecelia Brown and Eric Jurek, I am so sorry that this has happened to you. That is ridiculous! I just sent Ms. Gray as well as you and your organization (a "Cc") an email/letter which, basically, exhibits my outrage at what I consider to be an injustice. Ms. Gray, if it was indeed herself who ordered your arrests, had no right to do that! She was wrong!
Again, I am so sorry that this happened to you and your organization. You were treated quite unfairly and unjustly. I believe that incident defeats all of our purpose of fighting against abortion.
Cecelia Brown and Eric Jurek, you both have my support and encouragement.
Michael T. Ferens, Chairman, PLAGAL PAC
Originally faxed and mailed to the March for Life Board of Directors, Thu. 24 Jan. 2002
Attn: Board, March For Life
This is a request removal of Nellie Gray as the holder of the permit of the March for Life.
Ms. Gray obviously holds her own personal agenda above the welfare of unborn children. Her constant harassment of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians (PLAGAL) is unacceptable. This was exemplified at the January 22, 2002 March for Life in Washington DC when she had gays and lesbians who are Pro-Life attacked and arrested.
PLAGAL was formed solely because there exist gays and lesbians who are Pro-Life but have faced discrimination and hatred from some of the groups under the Pro-Life banner. There are "Catholics for Life", "Feminist for Life", and even "Atheist for Life". For some reason, Ms. Gray and the board of the March for Life have intolerance for 'gays and lesbians for Life'.
Gays who have approached various pro-life groups have been victims of discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Inside the gay community, members of PLAGAL have been spat at and harassed because some think they are siding with the traditional "haters" who are the stereotypical Pro-Life community.
The bottom line is that PLAGAL has not marched in the March for Life every year since 1992 because they want to make a mockery of the pro-life cause. They have no second agenda. They believe abortion is wrong, and they happen to be gay.
Nellie Gray is wrong to viciously harass this group especially when the vast majority of comments from the Pro-Life community are very welcoming to PLAGAL. Threatening, harassing and arresting those who fight on your side is self-defeating.
The Pro-Life movement is dying a slow death because of the hatred and bigotry of people like Nellie Gray. This must be stopped. All those who are Pro-Life should be welcomed to the movement regardless of their religious views, skin color, or sexual orientation. Once this happens, the pendulum of this battle of abortion will swing toward the Pro-Life movement.
I ask that the March for Life remove Ms. Gray from any position of leadership. The only way to win the war against abortion is to be more tolerant of all people and not just the Bible thumpers and family value bigots. I ask that you search deep in your hearts and think about the millions of deaths caused from abortion each year and then think of the best way to stop this atrocity. You will find that the more Americans that you welcome into the Pro-Life movement, the better the chances of overturning Roe vs. Wade.
Mary Guiney
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Thu. 24 Jan. 2002
I would like to express my condolances for the way your group was treated at the Right to Life March on Washington. The pro-life movement ought to be proud to have a group like yourselves which breaks the stereotype of pro-lifers. I find it utterly disgusting that there are 'pro-life' groups out there who would turn away ANY support for the pro-life cause, such as the way your group was turned away.
I consider myself to be 'straight, but not narrow' and I am very much pro-life. I am so proud of your group for their courage, and I just wanted to say DON'T GIVE UP!
Carole Jordan
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
I was horrified to read the news of PLAGAL members being arrested at the March for Life. I personally am heterosexual, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for your organization's courageous stance for human dignity and life. There is no excuse for this brutal treatment of PLAGAL. Nellie Gray has a right to her opinion about gays, but she has no right to treat the pro-life movement as if it were an exclusive club only for those she deems "righteous" enough. Some people consider divorce and remarriage to be immoral too. Perhaps next year we should arrest all the pro-life people who have the "audacity" to appear at the March with a second (or third, etc.) spouse?
Anyone who really cares about saving lives, rather than merely appearing morally superior, should be willing to put religious and political differences aside for the greater good. If a child was drowning in a lake and an openly gay person came running to help with the rescue, surely not even Nellie Gray would say, "Go away. I'd rather let this child die than allow a homosexual to help save him!" But, essentially, that is what she's saying by trying to ban openly gay people from the March. By refusing to encourage a broad base of support for the pro-life message, she is simply allowing more children to die.
PLAGAL's arguments against abortion make a lot of sense regardless of one's religion. Consequently, they have a great deal of potential for reaching pregnant women who would have reacted with scorn and derision to the "Abortion is wrong because God says so" line of arguments. Personally, I care about the lives of *all* unborn children, not just the unborn children of conservative Christians (the primary group who would be receptive to a religious argument against abortion), and therefore I hope PLAGAL continues its fight.
Mike Krempasky, Board Member of American Collegians for Life (ACL)
Reposted from his website, krempasky.com
gay pro-lifers not pro-life enough?
On January 22, 2002, members of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians (yes, PLAGAL)
were arrested at the March for Life, allegedly at the behest of Nellie Gray, organizer
of the March. While it's fair to say that I disagree with the way these folks live their
personal lives - but it strikes me as abhorrent to attempt to exclude them from efforts
to overturn Roe v. Wade. After all, the only public policy issue they work on behalf of
is the right to life. Frankly, I find PLAGAL members courageous in working in a coalition
where they're rarely welcomed with open arms. Conversely, I find those responsible for
their arrest...cowardly and shameful. Still waiting on Miss Gray's version of the
story - but I suspect she won't share it.
Joseph E. McGrory, Ed.D., Department of Behavioral Science/Psychology,
Community College of Philadelphia
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Taking steps to prevent PLAGAL from participating in ANY pro-life
demonstration is inexcusable. Be informed that you will not silence ANY
voice that speaks for the unborn. Those who are responsible for
harrassing PLAGAL particpants in Washington on January 22, 2002 should
be ashamed and indeed must repent or be considered an abomination
themselves. I personally am affronted by the indecent acts of yesterday.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!!!
Joseph E. McGrory, Ed.D.
Counseling psychologist AND a proud, grateful, long time member of PLAGAL
Molly, Washington, DC
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Dear PLAGAL:
Just a quick note to let you know how very sorry I am
about how things went at yesterday's March for Life.
I am an FFL member and
both my husband and I welcome PLAGAL's participation
in the March for Life every year. This year was a
particularly important March for us as we were joined
by our very own "unplanned pregnancy" -- our 2-month
old son. Hopefully by the time he can
actually walk in the March everyone will be welcome.
Thank you for your courageous stand for women and for
life.
Mary Jean Mulherin, Minnesota
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Tue. 22 Jan. 2002
Keep us posted. This is too inane. Earth to Nellie:
"we are on your side." I've been having conversations
with lesbian friends here in Minnesota in recent days
and find more are "with" us when I explain our
position. Thanks to everyone who was at March and
hopefully the arrestees are out of jail.
Stephen M. O'Brien, Staten Island, NY
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org and copied to plagal@plagal.org, Priests for Life, and the Pro-Life Infonet, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Dear Ms. Gray:
I am shocked and saddened because you directed that leaders of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians (PLAGAL) be arrested at yesterday's March for Life. In doing so, you have caused serious harm to the pro-life movement and its efforts to save women and unborn children from abortionists.
As a Catholic, I am especially upset by what you have done because you have violated teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholicism teaches that there is a crucial ethical distinction between homosexual acts, which are sins, and a homosexual orientation, which is not a sin. This is simply an application of the distinction between sin and temptation.
Moreover, in section 87 of his 1995 encyclical on pro-life issues, Evangelium Vitae,
Pope John Paul II tells Catholics: "Where life is involved, the service of charity must
be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and discrimination, for human life
is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation; it is an indivisible good."
Under the heading "Chastity and homosexuality," section 2358 of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church says of persons who experience same-gender attraction: "They must be
accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in
their regard should be avoided."
I urge you to transfer the management of the March for Life to someone who will respect the teachings of the Catholic Church.
W. R., Washington, DC
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org, Wed. 23 Jan. 2002
Dear Ms. Gray,
I'm writing to protest the ordered arrest of PLAGAL members at the March for
Life yesterday. I am absolutely disgusted and outraged at this event. At a
time when all people should be pulling together to defend life, you have
chosen to tear people apart. In all honesty, I have to question your true
commitment to preserving and protecting life, when you can allow your own
prejudices to stand in the way. The gay community, as an overwhelming
whole, tends to stand in favor of legalized abortion, and for these people
(the members of PLAGAL) to stand out as a minority group within a minority
group is extremely courageous. Yet you've had them arrested on the basis of
who they are. You've taken the opportunity to share your message with a
politically vocal (and increasingly influential) community and not only
thrown it away, you've had them arrested. Does this mean that YOU value
some life over others? If so, that's absolutely disgusting, and in some
ways, makes you no better than the people whose decision to legalize
abortion you are protesting.
It also does NO favors for the right to life movement. As a Catholic and a
gay man, I'm well aware of the bias against religious beliefs and of the
perception of Christians as violent and prejudiced hatemongers. That
language may sound extreme, but that IS the perception. By not only
demonstrating your prejudice but acting on it, you, as the March for Life
Leader, have only further marginalized a pro-life movement that is already
tainted with the stain of abortion clinic bombers.
Life is life, whether you believe it was created by God, Allah, Jehovah,
Yahweh, Krishna, the Buddha, or billions of years of evolution. Those who
have the power to preserve it, have the obligation to preserve it. Slapping
your supporters in the face (either literally or figuratively) does not do
any favors for you or this movement. And in a society that increasingly
supports the abdication of responsibility, even to the point of taking away
life, this movement needs all the favors that it can get.
Ms. Gray, I hope that you reconsider your decision to have these people
arrested. I understand that this may have been based on your religious
beliefs, and I don't deny your right to have those beliefs. But if they're
based on Christianity (which I suspect that they are), may I remind you that
Jesus Christ walked with tax collectors and prostitutes, and welcomed all
who came to him. I hope that you don't think that you're too good to do the
same.
Laura Robinson, Pagan, Witch, Liberal Democrat, Feminist, PRO-LIFER,
Woodson, Texas
Originally sent to plagal@plagal.org, Tue. 22 Jan. 2002
PLAGAL has my full support. I have included the rant i just sent off to march for life. Though i dont speak as a gay or lesbian, i do speak as a pagan, another facet of the atypical pro-lifer. I hope you can agree with my sentiments.
*********************************************************************
Some days i am ASHAMED to call myself pro-life. This day is one of them. The arrest of the PLAGAL leaders at the march for life was one of the most unbelievable things i have ever read about!! Main stream pro-lifers better get to understanding QUICK that if they continue to push atypical prolifers out of their ranks for the sake of their so called "piety" they are going to loose the fight against abortion not because of being ineffective but because they are such JERKS!
I am an atypical pro-lifer. I am not g/l/b but rather a pagan. I am a witch! To even have a civil discussion with many of my fellow prolifers is next to impossible because they insist on either attacking me when they learn of my religion or because they insist on prostelesyzing. Pro-lifers themselves have done more to make me want to give up all together than any pro-choicer has ever done!
The pro-life movement should not be a religious movement but a LIFE movement. And the movement will really be using its brains when they discover that those pro-lifers who would normally be thought of as pro-choice because of religious, lifestyle or political reasons, are in a better position to change pro-choice minds because we are strong members of the communities most of these pro-choicers are in!!
If a pagan and a conservative christian walked into a group of pagans with the intent of trying to change their minds, who do you think would have the best luck?
It is sad that mainstream pro-lifers insist on forcing atypical pro-lifers to defend themselves when our energies could much better be spent defending the lives of unborn children. But we will continue to defend ourselves against other pro-lifers if we must because the pro-life movement IS THAT IMPORTANT to us. But by making us do so, you are just cutting off your noses to spite your faces.
Just think off all the signatures that could have been on petitions, all the demonstrators that could be active, if mainstream pro-lifers had something besides themselves on their minds and weren't pushing away so many pasionate pro-life people.
Lori A. Schwabenbauer, Bensalem, PA
Originally sent to info@marchforlife.org, Tue. 23 Jul. 2002
Dear March for Life,
I was so disappointed to hear that Miss Gray had the PLAGAL pro-lifers
arrested and barred from the March this year. What kind of message does
this send about our stand for life? You can stand up with us, only if
you don't openly espouse certain other views? Our common ground in this
March is about LIFE and has nothing to do with homosexuality. What
right do we have to ban any organization that stands for life? Let
everyone march with us who will - and let them identify themselves as
they will. It'll show the world that yes, pro-lifers are to be found
everywhere - even among gays and lesbians!
Sincerely,
Lori A. Schwabenbauer
Bensalem, PA