Drawing the Circle Wide

Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.
No one stand alone, we'll stand side by side.
Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.

– Gordon Light
"Draw the Circle" (2008)

On the eve of tomorrow's historic Minnesota House vote to grant the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage to same-sex couples, hundreds of people of faith gathered earlier this evening at Christ on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church to "pray a new reality into being" – the reality of marriage equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation. The gathering was organized by the Faith Organizing Roundtable.

As Executive Coordinator of Catholics for Marriage Equality MN, I was honored to stand with representatives from a number of faith traditions – Christian, Jewish and Wiccan. With me representing local Catholics supportive of marriage equality were Jim Smith of C4ME-MN and DignityUSA and Joan Howe Pullis of Pax Christi Catholic Community.

Above left: Standing at left with Robin Mavis and David Lohman. You may recall that David is the gifted songwriter and musician who worked with local Catholics this time last year in the making of a music video for his song "For All the Children." For a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this video, click here. To hear and view the finished video, click here.




Right: Rabbi Michael Latz and Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Program Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources.

Above: Javen Swanson, Faith Director at OutFront Minnesota, and Rev. Anita Hill, Regional Director of ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation.

Above: Javen Swanson, Robin Mavis and David Lohman.

Above: Javen Swanson, Faith Director at OutFront Minnesota, welcomes attendees to the May 8 Multi-Faith Rally for the Freedom to Marry.

As part of his welcoming remarks, Javen shared the following words of Rev. Anya Sammler:

We come together with different images of the holy, of what God is or what God is not. But the beauty of our diversity must not hinder us from coming together in service to a purpose that is greater than any one of our lives. It is in this spirit that I invite you into a space of prayer.

Above: Transgender activist Barbara Satin shares a reading from Mahatma Gandhi:

It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, it may not be in your time that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.

One of the most powerful parts of the vigil was when attendees where invited to "lift up the names and stories of those whose work and mentoring bring us here tonight . . . those who've shaped us and brought us thus far on our way." I named and honored Bill Kummer (1948-2006) and David McCaffrey (1947-2011), co-founders in 1980 of the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM). Catholics for Marriage Equality MN is the latest in a long line of CPCSM initiatives established to respond to justice issues of the day. Over the years these have included LGBT sensitivity training in parishes during the 1980s, our Safe Schools Initiative of the 1990s, and the issue of marriage equality since 2004 (see, for example, the Fall 2004 Rainbow Spirit article "CPCSM Offers a Progressive Catholic Voice at the Capitol," reprinted at the end of this Wild Reed post from 2007).

Above: Rabbi Michael Latz stands with others who are holding a Chuppah, a traditional Jewish marriage canopy.

Above: Jim Smith of Catholics for Marriage Equality MN and DignityUSA.

Along with Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs and all those assembled, Jim recited the following Litany of Strength and Commitment:

One: If you believe that the joining of two lives to sustain, comfort, uphold, care and bring joy to one another and to the world is a sacred and holy gift, then say with me . . .

All: I do.

One: If you see the divine in our diverse expressions of relationship and celebrate the multitude of ways that we are family with one another, then say with me . . .

All: I do.

One: If your faith calls you to build a nation where children are protected, dignity is guarded, families are embraced, freedom is honored and equality is the law of the land, then say with me . . .

All: I do.

One: If you have trust that love and justice will ultimately prevail over fear and prejudice, then say with me . . .

All: I do.

One: With the power of the prophets to embolden us; the dreams of the dreamers to inspire us; the prayers of the faithful to sustain us; and the love of lovers to awaken us . . .

All: We commit ourselves to this holy task of marriage equality. May God grant us the courage and strength to keep on loving . . . no matter what the legislature says! Amen and Amen.

Above: Sabrina Brys Mauritz of Minnesotans United invites vigil participants to join in a procession to the nearby State Capitol.

Above: On the Capitol steps people placed their prayers for marriage equality, written on heart-shaped pieces of paper.

I like how in the photo above the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul, seat of the anti-marriage equality Archbishop John Nienstedt, is pictured under our symbolic canopy of love. It reminds me of Edwin Markham's famous quote: "He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in."

Above and below: Participants in the May 8 Multi-Faith Vigil for the Freedom to Marry gather on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol.

For ev'ryone born a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be;
to work, to speak out,
to witness and worship.
For ev'ry one born, the right to be free.

For gay and for straight, a place at the table,
transgender and queer in one single tree,
engaging each gift and blessing each cov'nant.
For gay and straight, a new way to be.

God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
compassion and peace. Yes, God will delight
when we are creators of justice, justice and joy.

– Shirley Erena Murray and Anon.
"For Everyone Born"

Related Off-site Links:
Crowd Gathers in Advance of House Vote on Same-Sex Marriage – Matt Sepic (Minnesota Public Radio, May 8, 2013).
Minnesota Appears Poised to Legalize Gay Marriage – Patrick Condon (Associated Press via HuffPost Politics, May 7, 2013).
Minnesota Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Embrace 'Civil' Marriage Change – Baird Helgeson (Star Tribune, May 8, 2013).
The Rites and Rights of Marriage – Dale Carpenter (Pioneer Press, May 8, 2013).
The Real Heroes of the Gay Marriage Debate – Joe Loveland (MinnPost, May 9, 2013).
Minnesota Gay Marriage Vote Set in State Legislature – David Bailey (Reuters via HuffPost Politics, May 9, 2013).
Crowd Builds at Capitol as Gay Marriage Debate Begins – Rachel E. Stassen-Berger (Star Tribune, May 9, 2013).
Minnesota House Prepares to Vote on Gay Marriage – Patrick Condon and Brian Bakst (Associated Press via Yahoo! News, May 9, 2013).

UPDATES:
Minnesota House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill – Paul Tosto (Minnesota Public Radio, May 9, 2013).
In Historic Vote, Minnesota House Approves Marriage Equality Bill After Two-Hour Debate – Associated Press via the Star Tribune (May 9, 2013).
Minnesota House Approves Gay Marriage, 75-59 – Pat Kessler (CBS Minnesota, May 9, 2013).
Photos: Marriage Equality Bill House Debate at State Capitol – Minnesota Public Radio (May 9, 2013).
The Catholics, Other Faith Groups Behind Minnesota Marriage Victory – Terence Weldon (Queering the Church, May 9, 2013).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
"It'll Be Legal August 1st"
At the Minnesota State Capitol, Two Big Steps Forward for Marriage Equality
Acknowledging, Celebrating, and Learning from Marriage Equality's 'Triumphs of Faith'
Something to Celebrate
Both 'Marriage Amendment' AND 'Voter Photo ID Amendment' Rejected by Minnesota Voters
In the Struggle for Marriage Equality, MN Catholics are Making a Difference by Changing Hearts and Minds
The Minneapolis (and Online) Premiere of Catholics for Marriage Equality
Marriage: "Part of What is Best in Human Nature"
A Head and Heart Response to the Catholic Hierarchy's Opposition to Marriage Equality
In Minnesota, Catholics Sing Their Support for Marriage Equality
"A Thoughtful, Entertaining, and Inspiring Event"
Lisa Cressman's Concise, Reasonable Answers to Marriage Equality Questions

Opening image: Christopher Geller
Image 3: Javen Swanson.
All other images: Michael J. Bayly.

Photo of the Day

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
The End of a Very Long Winter
Waiting in Repose for Spring's Awakening Kiss
A Springtime Walk Along Minnehaha Creek
A Springtime Prayer
In the Footsteps of Spring
See the World!

Related Off-site Link:
Eostre: Goddess of New Life Beginnings – Swain Wodening (via The Leveret, April 8, 2012).

Image: Michael J. Bayly.

Quote of the Day

[T]he NFL doesn’t always respect reliable players who are role models off the field. Not when those players are smart and have opinions and dare to speak those opinions on places like the Internet. In the past year, [Minnesota Vikings punter Chris] Kluwe’s activism has gone from complaints about labor issues to the third rail to sports executives: gay rights. Suddenly the skilled punter who tees the ball perfectly for his field goal kickers is the great threat to the fabric of football.

Of course the Vikings, who drafted a punter in last month’s NFL draft, didn’t tell him this as they cut him Monday. Instead they gave the usual speech about wanting to go a different direction, thanking him for his service. Then he was dispatched from the Vikings’ facility without even a helmet clock to show for his eight years with the team.

Kluwe never asked if it was his activism that cost him his job. The Vikings never offered the thought even as the answer loomed obvious to everyone else. Two football players have spoken loud for gay rights issues in the last several months, specifically gay marriage: Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo. Both have been cut.

– Les Carpenter

"Chris Kluwe’s Release by Vikings Sends Message
that Gay-Marriage Talk is Not Tolerable in NFL"
Yahoo! Sports
May 6, 2013

For more of Chris Kluwe at The Wild Reed see:
• Chris Kluwe on His Support for Marriage Equality: "It’s All About the Golden Rule"
• Quote of the Day – September 27, 2012
• What a Man! – Chris Kluwe
• What a Man! – Brendon Ayanbadejo







Related Off-site Links:
LGBT Ally, Marriage Equality Advocate Chris Kluwe Cut by Minnesota Vikings – LGBTQ Nation (May 6, 2013).
Chris Kluwe Announces That He Has Been Dropped by His Team the Minnesota Vikings – Joseph Patrick McCormick (Pink News, May 6, 2013).
Did LGBT Advocacy Cost NFL Player His Job? – Amanda Terkel (The Huffington Post, May 6, 2013).
If Kluwe is Cut, the Loss Will Be Ours – Chip Scoggins (Star Tribune, May 5, 2013).


Updates:
Chris Kluwe: "I Wouldn’t Have Changed Anything" – Andy Mannix (City Pages, May 7, 2013).
New Vikings Punter Jeff Locke Gave Chris Kluwe Props for Helping Defeat Marriage Amendment – Aaron Rupar (City Pages, May 7, 2013).
Had Chris Kluwe Worked at the University of St. Thomas . . . – Mark Osler (Star Tribune, May 8, 2013).
Gov. Mark Dayton Says Vikings 'Ought to Be Honest' About Cutting Chris Kluwe – Jase Peeples (The Advocate, May 10, 2013).
Chris Kluwe Vows to Keep Speaking Out on Gay Rights Despite Being Cut From Team – Michael Signorile (HuffPost Gay Voices, May 10, 2023).
Chris Kluwe, Punter and Outspoken Gay Rights Advocate, Says He Signed with Oakland Raiders – Amanda Terkel (HuffPost Gay Voices, May 16, 2013).


January 2014 Updates:
I Was an NFL Player Until I Was Fired by Two Cowards and a Bigot – Chris Kluwe (Deadspin, January 2, 2014).
Former Viking Chris Kluwe Blasts Coaches Over Release – KARE 11 News (January 2, 2014).
Former Viking Kluwe: "I Was Fired by Mike Priefer, a Bigot" – CBS Minnesota (January 2, 2014).
Former NFL Player Chris Kluwe Says Vikings Fired Him For Championing Gay Rights – Huffington Post (January 2, 2013).
Vikings Deny Chris Kluwe Was Cut For Same-Sex Marriage Advocacy, Will "Thoroughly Review" Allegations – Chris Greenberg (Huffington Post, January 2, 2013).
The Five Most Dispiriting Revelations in Chris Kluwe’s Nuclear Deadspin Piece – Kevin Hoffman (City Pages, January 2, 2013).
Brendon Ayanbadejo – Chris Kluwe is 100% Right ... He Was Cut for Being Pro-Gay – TMZ Sports (January 3, 2014).
Dorien Bryant On Chris Kluwe’s Letter: Homophobia Halted My NFL Dreams – Josh Middleton (PhillyMag.com, January 3, 2014).
Questions for Chris Kluwe, NFL Player and LGBT Advocate – Versha Sharma (Vocativ.com, January 3, 2014).
Chris Kluwe Q&A: Punter Explains Claims Against Vikings – Tom Pelissero (USA Today, January 3, 2014).

Image 1: USA Today Sports.
Image 2: Facebook.
Image 3: Steve Sack (Star Tribune, May 8, 2013).

See the World!

Twine your work in harmonious union
with the work of this Beautiful World.
Find each other.
Feel your feet rooted to the ground.
Engage minds, hearts, hands.
Plant, water, thank the sun.
Eat together, sing together!

"See the World!" was the theme of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre's 39th Annual MayDay Parade in Minneapolis.

It's an event that never fails to embody story and ritual at their best. And because the MayDay Parade's themes are concerned with journeying, growth, transformation, and the seeking and embodying of the best qualities of the human condition, I have no hesitation in calling it a religious ritual. It feeds my spirit – and the spirits of the hundreds who participate in it and the thousands who line the streets of Bloomington Ave. in south Minneapolis to witness it.

This year's parade took place yesterday, Sunday, May 5, 2013, and enacted an honest, cautionary tale inspired by the Bread and Puppet Theater's street show Hallelujah. It's message is a simple but powerful one:

See the World! When you put fire to the world and when you poison it, the world will cry and the children will die. When you sow seeds on the world, and when you water it and let the sun shine on it, it will grow! And the birds will feed on it, and the children will eat it. And the grandmas and grandpas sing Hallelujah!

As in previous years, I spent time before the parade began walking around its staging area, capturing some wonderful images of people – young and old – as they prepared to be part of what's become a world-famous event. I hope you enjoy the following images as much as I enjoyed taking them, and that you find meaning, hope, and inspiration in both these images and in the snippets of text that I include from the parade program to accompany my photos of the parade!

Part 1: See the World!

We remember how precious our home is in the vast universe.

We see the Tree of Life joyfully carrying the small ball of Earth surrounded by Stars. The Woods, the Prairie, the Sky, and the River join in the celebration. Your Community Band brings its essential joy to the parade . . .

Part 2: When You Put Fire to the World and When You Poison It . . .

The labors of our time are pictured vividly. We see our continued complicity in war and violence on our streets; our overuse of fossil fuels with the result of global warming and environmental havoc.

Part 3: . . . the World Will Cry and the Children Will Die.

Quietly, in the midst of the joyous celebration of MayDay, we simultaneously hold our grief and the vision of a future of health and well-being for our neighborhoods and for the world.

We see the Tree of Life cradling the Wounded Earth. Spirit Beings carry Prayer Staffs that hold prayers for the life of the world offered by MayDay workshop participants. . . . The Tree of Life and all the Spirit Beings are white. White is often associated with purity and light, and in many traditions it is also the color worn in ceremonies to honor the dead, White carries a sense of an open window, of wind, of smoke, of transparent quietness.

Part 4: When You Sow Seeds on the World and When You Put Water on It . . .

Here we celebrate seeds, hope, and gritty yet nurturing labor required in tending to their growth. An incredible force, the seed: such potential inspires a true feeling of awe. But the seed alone doesn't become a tree. In Korea, there is a name for the forces that help the seed to grow. That word translates to wind, cloud, water and lightening.

Deep changes may be slow in coming, as the seed takes time to germinate, but with each planting springs forth the dream of a new beginning.

Part 5: . . . and Let the Sun Shine on It . . .

The children are our greatest joy and promise. Let the laughter come; let the happiness spread from one face to another to another as we celebrate MayDay together! . . .

Part 6: . . . It Will Grow!

Definitions of 'to grow': develop, thrive, change! This is a celebration of constant movement springing up to existence from a source, evolving gradually into being.

The simplest truth is that deep with each of us is a spark, a desire to grow and connect! This is so simple that we sometimes forget that for growth one must allow a thing be itself, to grow in its natural way. Bend to these living beings and whisper, 'grow, grow, grow.'

We are the breath, a wind at work in the world. We are the spinning and the rocking.

We desire connection. We reach up, grow up, grow together as a community. Can we be at one with wild nature? Our work on the planet is the earth's work.

Part 7: And the Birds Will Feed on It, and the Children Will Eat It.

Food is the most basic of our physical needs. The same grain that the birds feed on is transformed by humans into bread. In this way the grain, fruit of the earth, the water, and the sun, connect us to the circle of life and bring us into real community. We honor this community with gratitude, respect and generosity.

In the act of thanksgiving we are all creatures of the world, no matter what our species. Humans, animals, plants, even minerals – with all their inherent potential – are equal in this cycle, and all have a purpose.

Part 8: And the Grandmas and Grandpas Sing Hallelujah!

The grandmas and grandpas, both human and animal, sing hallelujah because they have the wisdom to know the value of joy and gratitude. Life is short. The best thing we can do is find moments of happiness and remember to take in the beauty that surrounds us.

Moose are disappearing from the Minnesota wilderness. The DNR reported a mysterious 35% decline in the moose population from 2012 to 2013. This is a great loss. The Great Great Great Grandpa Moose is a spirited giant of our forests, and a symbol of how we need to live more intentionally. We think of the moose as our ancestor, to remember how we are connected to this creature.

What is our work at this critical time? Are we hospice workers for a dying Earth, or midwives of a new chapter of life on Earth? The process of being with someone who's dying and the process of attending a birth have many features in common. We can only be grateful for this moment, this breath, this incredible capacity to direct our attention. . . . This can be a moment of unparalleled awakening. In this moment we can make a choice for loving life and taking care of each other. In this moment I can honor the ancestors, honor the future beings, honor you, and the beautiful work you are doing.

– Joanna Macy

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
The End of the World As We Know It . . . – MayDay Parade 2012.
"Uproar!" on the Streets of Minneapolis (Part 1) – MayDay Parade 2010.
"Uproar!" on the Streets of Minneapolis (Part 2) – MayDay Parade 2010.
Getting Started – MayDay Parade 2009 (Part 1).
Celebrating Our Common Treasury – MayDay Parade 2009 (Part 2).
May Day and a "New Bridge" – Mayday Parade 2008.
May Day 2007
The Time is Now . . . – MayDay Parade 2006.

Images: Michael J. Bayly.

Quote of the Day

It’s true: corporate America runs the LGBT movement, or at least the part of the LGBT movement that gets press time and donors. Their sponsorship keeps the LGBT movement from addressing the issues that matter most for the LGBT community and beyond.

. . . [M]any of the biggest donors to the Human Rights Campaign, the multi-million dollar nonprofit that receives the bulk of donations for LGBT issues, are drone manufacturers. These donors profit off of the United States’ use of drones to kill civilians, including children, with little oversight or accountability. Drone manufacturers are far from the only ethically dark gray to black donors to LGBT advocacy organizations: a brief perusal of any major LGBT organization’s list of donors reveals that corporate black hats like Bank of America, BP, Coke, and Nike all provide major cash to LGBT nonprofits.

And it must be acknowledged that these corporate dollars do some good: programs that encourage the leadership development and empowerment of LGBT young people, the election of LGBT public officials, and advocacy for greater research into LGBT issues would be practically impossible in the modern economy without significant corporate donations. Yet there is something antithetical about a movement for equality and justice funded by the forces in the world most responsible for widespread economic and social inequality.

When the LGBT community is not united with social movements that address the issues facing the most marginalized LGBT people, with racial justice proponents (proportionally more people of color identify as queer), with those fighting against systemic poverty, with pacifists, are we really making any progress? Or has the LGBT movement been kidnapped by power elites advocating for their own interests?

. . . Queer activists around the country, from radical groups like Southerners on New Ground (SONG), and Queers for Economic Justice, are connecting the dots between queer liberation, pacifism, and economic and racial justice. Countless more groups and activists, with or without 501c3 status, are fighting to make sure that queer liberation – not LGBT equality – is tied up with justice for all oppressed groups around the world.

Progress for queer people means nothing if it comes at the expense of others also marginalized and fighting for justice. Gay advocacy paid for by companies that poison the land, treat their workers unfairly, and assist in the killing of children from other nations is worthless in the long run. If we truly want a world where LGBT people are equal, we have to recognize that such equality is contingent upon justice for all people. . . .

– Hannah Kapp-Klote
"Human Rights Campaign: Largest LGBT Donors Are Drone Manufacturers"
PolicyMic.com
May 1, 2013

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
A Lose/Lose Situation
Quote of the Day – March 29, 2013
Quote of the Day – April 2, 2012
John Pilger on Resisting Empire

Recommended Resource:
Selling Out: The Gay and Lesbian Movement Goes to Market by Alexandra Chasin (Palgrave Macmillan, 2001).

In Minnesota, the Final Push for Marriage Equality

.

A special request to my Minnesota readers:
Please call your legislators today and let them know
that you want them to vote for the freedom to marry
for all Minnesotans.

To find and/or contact your legislators, click here.

Related Off-site Links and Updates:
Minnesota Legislature Could Vote on Marriage Equality As Soon As Next Week – Nigel Campbell (Instinct, May 3, 2013).
Coming Soon: Love is (Truly) the Law – Jim Walsh (MinnPost, May 2, 2013).
MN House Considers Same-Sex Marriage – Kirsten Blake (Kanabec County Times, May 3, 2013).
Project 515 Show About Same-Sex Marriage Aims to Empower Faribault Audience – Rebecca Rodenborg (Faribault Daily News, May 1, 2013).
Handicapping Gay Marriage in the Senate – Andy Birkey (TheColu.mn, May 3, 2013).
Forget About Over-Reach; Legislators Should Do Now What We Know is Right – Rev. Mark Vinge (MinnPost, May 3, 2013).
Undecided Lawmakers Take Opposite Sides on Minnesota Marriage Equality Bill – LGBTQ Nation (May 3, 2013).
Gay Marriage: Former GOP Lawmaker Regrets Her Vote – Lori Sturdevant (Star Tribune, May 4, 2013).
Minnesota Legislature Should Back Gay Marriage – Editorial (Star Tribune, May 4, 2013).
Minnesota House Committee to Hear Marriage Equality Bill Monday, Bill Likely to Pass – TheColu.mn (May 5, 2013).
Another Previously Undecided Minnesota Lawmaker Says He’ll Support Marriage Equality Bill – Associated Press via LGBTQ Nation (May 6, 2013).
Minnesota Gay Marriage Bill Set for Thursday Vote in House – Megan Boldt (Pioneer Press, May 7, 2013).
Minnesota Appears Poised to Legalize Gay Marriage – Patrick Condon (Associated Press via HuffPost Politics, May 7, 2013).
Same-Sex Marriage Bill Heads to House Floor, Supporters Confident – Tom Scheck (Minnesota Public Radio, May 7, 2013).
As Same-Sex Marriage Nears Vote in Legislature, Minnesotans Weigh In – Sasha Aslanian and Molly Bloom (Minnesota Public Radio, May 7, 2013).


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
At the Minnesota State Capitol, Two Big Steps Forward for Marriage Equality
"It'll Be Legal August 1st"
In the Struggle for Marriage Equality, MN Catholics are Making a Difference by Changing Hearts and Minds
The Minneapolis (and Online) Premiere of Catholics for Marriage Equality
Marriage: "Part of What is Best in Human Nature"
A Head and Heart Response to the Catholic Hierarchy's Opposition to Marriage Equality
In Minnesota, Catholics Sing Their Support for Marriage Equality
Lisa Cressman's Concise, Reasonable Answers to Marriage Equality Questions