Choral Reading for Pride Sunday

Choral Reading By Rev. Mike Quayle PRIDE Sunday Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; Growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1969 The Stonewall riots transform the gay rights movement. Patrons at the Stonewall Inn fight back during a police raid, sparking three days of riots and giving birth to a movement. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; Growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1973 The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders. Starting Quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; Growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1978 Harvey Milk is assassinated in San Francisco, California due to his support for GLBT persons and his advocacy for other minorities. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1982 Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1988 Rebecca Wright and her partner, Claudia Brenner, were shot while camping along the Appalachian Trail. The shooter was enraged because of their perceived lesbianism. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; Growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1993 “Don't Ask, Don't Tell, " becomes the official policy of the US military leading to the discharge of thousands of men and women serving proudly. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the Hearts of the oppressed; Growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universebends toward justice. 1995 Roxanne Ellis and Michelle Abdill, a lesbian couple in Oregon, were murdered by a man who said, “he had no compassion for bisexual or homosexual people." Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land. The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1998 Matthew Sephard, a gay student, was tortured, beaten, tied to a fence, and abandoned. He hung there for 18 hours before being found and died less than a week later. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 1999 U.S. Army Pfc. Barry Winchell, was murdered after rumors spread on base in Ft. Campbell Kentucky over his relationship with transgendered Calpernia Addams. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; spreading throughout the land; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 2000 Vermont becomes the first state to legalize civil unions. Ronald Gay enters a bar in Roanoke and opens fire on patrons. He claimed he had been told by God to find and kill lesbians and gay men. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; The arc of the uinverse bends toward justice. 2003 Nireah Johnson and Brandie Coleman were shot to death after Paul Moore found out that Nireah was transgender. He then burned the bodies of the victims. 2004 Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts 2005 Civil unions become legal in Connecticut and, in 2006, unions become legal in New Jersey. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 2007 Andrew Anthos, a 72 year old, disabled gay man, was beaten to death with a lead pipe by a man shouting anti-gay slurs. The US House of Representatives approves a bill ensuring equal rights for gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals. 2008 In May, the California Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples have the right to marry, in November, voters pass a ban that overturned the court's ruling. In October, the Supreme Court of Connecticut rules that same-sex couples have the right ot marry. Two persons were killed and several injured when during the worship service of Tennesseee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, a man began shooting and later said he disliked the congregations support of gays and liberal causes. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 2009 Iowa approves same- sex marriages. Vermont approves same-sex marriages. New Hampshire approves same-sex marriages. Seaman August Provost was shot and his body burned at his guard post on Camp Pendleton. Military leaders concluded that the “Don't ask-Don't Tell” policy prevented Provost from seeking help and protection. President Obama posthumously awards Harvey Milk the Presidential Medal of Honor. Starting quietly, stirring deep in the hearts of those oppressed; growing louder, catching fire; The arc of the universe bends toward justice. 2010 The U.S. Congress approves a law that allows same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker rules that California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. STARTING QUIETLY, STIRRING DEEP IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE OPPRESSED; GROWING LOUDER, CATCHING FIRE; THE ARC OF THE UNIVERSE BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE. 2011 The State of New York passes a law that allows same-sex couples to marry. New York is the largest state to pass such a law. Friday July 22, US president Obama signs Into law the official end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Allowing men and women to serve Openly in the US Military. Unitarian Universalists from all over gather in Charlotte, North Carolina to rally for GLBT equal rights and to “Stand on The Side of Love." Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalists Gather today for the 5^th annual “Pride in the Park Celebration. STARTING QUIETLY, STIRRING DEEP IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE OPPRESSED; GROWING LOUDER, CATCHING FIRE; THE ARC OF THE UNIVERSE BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE. STARTING QUIETLY, STIRRING DEEP IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE OPPRESSED; GROWING LOUDER, CATCHING FIRE; THE ARC OF THE UNIVERSE BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE.