Couple, son arrested in Colorado protest - from the Star Tribune.
This is a couple of days old now, but I had to take time to mention it. Phil and Randy Reitan, from Eden Prairie, and their gay son Jacob, went to Colorado Springs for a peaceful, non-violent protest against Dr. James Dobson and his right wing hate group, Focus on the Family.
From the news article:
Phil and Randi Reitan and their son, Jacob, 23, who is gay, walked arm in arm past 150 supporters to the Focus on the Family facility in Colorado Springs about 10 a.m. As they approached its campus, police informed them that the grounds were closed to visitors. Randi Reitan carried a typed letter intended for the group's founder, Dr. James Dobson. The family was told that he was not there.
A Focus on the Family representative offered to deliver the letter on their behalf, but the family refused and walked onto the property, where they were arrested for trespassing.
"We wanted to say focus on our family for one day, Dr. Dobson," said Jacob Reitan. "See how we did it. We aren't just here to deliver a letter, we're here to deliver ourselves to him."
The Reitans belong to Soulforce, a faith-based organization aimed at ending anti-gay messages in churches. The group sang Amazing Grace as the trio was taken to the Police Department, where they were served a summons for trespassing and released a short time later. About 1,000 Soulforce members rallied outside Focus on the Family on Sunday. The Reitans said Focus on the Family and Dobson perpetuate "outrageous" teachings harmful to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
If only more parents had the courage to stand with their gay sons and lesbian daughters. It's not enough, in my eyes, to be accepting or tolerant or even welcoming. If love is to win out, then love must speak and take risks. As the Reitans say in their letter to Dr. Dobson, "People are taught to hate. People are taught to be intolerant. As Christians, we must teach God's love for all his beloved children by our love and our actions."
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