First up there's an online petition aout challenging C of E homophobia running now...

See :  http://uk.gay.com/boards/read.php?f=5&i=64218&t=64218

and directly :  http://uk.gay.com/boards/redirect.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fleaningtowardsjustice.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F02%2F06%2Fsign-the-petition%2F This last you have to fill in and await conf from the person running it...

Now DEMO; (Weather permitting- long range says Friday wet and windy- depends if clears sufficiently for Sat morning- Bring coats etc, flags and waterproof banners! )

Will you please all read through and let me know if ok and if you want you group name confirmed or added to it. **Pls advise if able to come also.**

LGBT History Month 2007 event.

Canterbury- Longmarket. (In City centre pedestarian area near marks & Spencer.
It's about 6 mins from Bus and Ctby East Stations- 10 mins from West station.)

Sat: 17 February 1030- 1200 am END CHRISTIAN HOMOPHOBIA. Provisonal- PRESS RELEASE- FEB 2007)

Following the conference in Tanzania this week, see link below, the recent adoption row, and the current situation a Christchurch Univ.(See link)

1) Archbishop of Canterbury must stop appeasing Anglican homophobes in the UK and worldwide, such as Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria an hed Archbishop Desmond Tutu who recently re-iterated that the church should stop worrying about gays and deal with the world's real issues.

2) The Catholic Church,( including the Bishop of Dover & Canterbury), must similiarly end their historic antipathy to the gay community and embrace modernity now. They were wrong about Galileo and they are wrong about gays, but we will not wait another 400 years for an apology.

3) Canterbury Christchurch University must end its ban on gay civil partnerships, apologise for the existing and covert ban recently revealled, and henceforth openly welcome gay couples seeking partnership ceremonies in its chapels.

We support all those of good conscience, whether gay or straight, within the Christian Communion who accept the gay community and call on them to make their voices heard to help end homophobia where-ever it exists within it.

We also issue the same call to those within other religions and social groups to speak out against homophobia within their communities.

HISTORY BITE: REMEMBER, IT WAS A GAY KING OF ENGLAND, JAMES 1st, WHO FIRST TRANSLATED THE BIBLE INTO ENGLISH.

Issued on behalf of: Pride in Canterbury, Changing Attitudes, OutRage!, IDAHO-UK,-Kent HYWIC

Links...

Archbishop's conference in Tanzania:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,,2010600,00.html

Christchurch Uni already operates a covert ban :  http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-3671.html

Cameron to address homophobic Conservative Christian group-March :  http://observer.guardian.co.uk/7days/story/0,,2010421,00.html (see 1st item)

Ends............................