4357
(1 vote, average 4.00 out of 5)
Written by WiG
Feb 2, 2012
Gay civil rights activists planned to protest early Feb. 2 outside the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event often keynoted by the president and co-organized by members of Congress and a secretive, anti-gay religious group known as “The Family.”
Each year, the breakfast draws political leaders, business leaders and heads of state to Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama, the first lady, Vice President Joe Biden were expected to join about 3,500 guests for the event.
This year’s event is taking place at the Washington Hilton Hotel and members of GetEqual, an LGBT direct action group, plan to be outside to send a message to the diners. GetEqual, in a statement, challenged the notion that The Family co-organizes the National Prayer Breakfast to promote unity.
“The Family's role in the persecution of LGBT people worldwide must be exposed for the harm it continues to cause,” GetEqual stated, adding that demonstrators also will “point out that separation of church and state is a guiding principle of our nation, and requires that privately-held religious beliefs not be used as justification to impose discriminatory legislation and the denial of equality to others.”
Activists with the Occupy movement also planned to demonstrate outside the Hilton to call attention to disparities in income and quality of life. The Occupy Faith protesters were planning to offer a free people's prayer breakfast at a nearby church. The National Prayer Breakfast cost $650 per plate.
