September 16, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC – The world's largest gay church group was among participants in a joint meeting of U.S. congressional leaders and faith-based organizations invited to make recommendations for the evolving government response to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Reverend Dr. Cindi Love, Executive Director of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), represented MCC at the September 9 meeting convened by U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass).

In her remarks, Dr. Love described the plight of a lesbian couple with three children who lost their housing and all of their possessions in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. "As terrible as was the loss experienced by all families, gay and lesbian families have experienced added trauma due to inequalities in the law. In the midst of their catastrophic loss, officials asked that, because they are a gay family, they produce documents to prove the legal adoption of their children and questioned the legitimacy of the marriage of the couple. Gay families are not automatically eligible for the same benefits as other Katrina victims, due to our excluded status as couples and families under U.S. and state laws."

According to Dr. Love, "The justice of God is characterized by special regard for the poor and the marginalized. This is a moral standard by which the benefits and penalties of society should be distributed, so that basic needs are basic rights."

The meeting took place in the Senate Office Building on September 9. Senator Kennedy addressed the need for a deeply spiritual response to this tragedy that goes beyond the essential meeting of needs for shelter, food, transportation and jobs. Jim Wallace, author of "God's Politics" and founder of Sojourners, said, "Sometimes it takes a national disaster to reveal a social disaster," adding that Hurricane Katrina has washed away our national "denial" of the continuing poverty of African-Americans and the widening gap between "haves and have nots."

Dr. Love endorsed a "Katrina Bill of Rights" similar to the victim's compensation fund that was established within ten days of 9-11 tragedy. The bill would provide Disaster Unemployment Assistance, protect the voting rights of displaced persons and waive the medical match requirement at the state level for Medicaid, allowing states to disburse immediate benefits.

Among its relief efforts, Metropolitan Community Churches is providing support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom experience difficulty in obtaining disaster relief because of the government's narrow and restrictive definition of "family." MCC is providing special relief efforts for gay families with children and individuals with HIV/AIDS. In addition to providing food, water, clothing and other basic survival needs. MCC and its member churches are delivering supplies to those areas most impacted, including the greater New Orleans community, Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi, and the Texas relocation sites in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Worth/Arlington. MCC is working in partnership with other organizations, including the City of Los Angeles, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, Caravan of Hope, National Association of Packing and Shipping Stores, Baton Rouge Louisiana Vet Center and the Montrose Counseling Center.

MCC is also providing support to clergy and their families who serve the LGBT community to empower them for their on-going ministries to the thousands who have been impacted. Efforts are being made to provide for clergy in their work with the return and revitalization of their communities. Key leaders in this support effort include Rev. Dexter Brecht, senior pastor MCC of Greater New Orleans, and Rev. Lee Carlton, senior pastor of Cornerstone MCC in Mobile, Alabama. Both of these pastor's churches were devastated by Katrina. Dr. Love expressed appreciation to Harry Knox, Director of the Faith and Religion Program at the Human Rights Campaign, for facilitating MCC's participation in the congressional meeting.

Following her presentation at the congressional gathering, Dr. Love traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to mobilize a relief project that will provide beds for 100 families who have been relocated to apartments in the Fort Worth area.

Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Community Churches is the world's largest faith group providing spiritual support to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons. Each year, more than 225,000 persons attend programs and services of MCC's 250 local congregations in 23 countries. For additional information on Metropolitan Community Churches, visit http://www.MCCchurch.org/.

Participants In The September 9th Congressional Meeting Included: U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts); U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut); Congressperson Raul Grijalva, Arizona; Congressperson Grace Napolitano; Bruce Gordon, President, NAACP; Dr. Major Jemison, Progressive National Baptist Convention; Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Executive Director, Metropolitan Community Churches; Brenda Mitchell, National Council of Churches; Rev. Dr. James L. McDonald, Vice President of Bread for the World; Christin Driscoll, Senior Director of Public Development, Catholic Charities; USA; Yonce Shelton, National Coordinator and Policy Director, Call for Renewal; Douglas Greenaway, Executive Director, National WIC Association; Rev. W. Douglas Tanner, Jr., The Faith and Politics Institute; Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, Director of National Ministries, Presbyterian Church.

Metropolitan Community Churches