Why am I marching as a member of the Uniting Church in the 1998 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras?

Amanda Thompson (student aged 24)
For too long the Church has excluded lesbian, gay and bisexual people. I am marching in Mardi Gras because it needs to stop doing so. I want people to see that there are these people in the Church, as well as people who support them. I believe the Bible is about loving everyone, not excluding people. It is easy to agree with something in silence, but it is important to make a stand for something you believe in.

Marian Chinnock (student aged 21)
I am marching firstly, to giver visible affirmation to the gay and lesbian community that there are people within the church who are not silent on the issue of sexuality and who are working towards creating a church where ALL people are welcome and are able to be honest about who they are - that not all churches are hostile and wanting people to change their sexuality before being part of their church.

Justin Whelan (computer consultant aged 23)
I am a heterosexual male marching in the 1998 Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade as part of the Uniting Church float. I am marching because I want justice and respect for my gay, lesbian and bisexual brothers and sisters. I am marching because the Church should be a witness of tolerance, acceptance and diversity. I am marching because my faith demands I stand alongside the oppressed. And I am marching because I want to celebrate the gift of sexuality and be a part of Sydneyıs biggest cultural event.

Elizabeth Pepper (medical doctor aged 25)
I am marching in Mardi Gras in solidarity with my gay and lesbian friends and to express my faith in the God who creates diversity and celebrates life with us.

Joy Bowles (Lecturer aged 30)
I am marching in Mardi Gras to affirm and support the gay and lesbian people in my church who I know, love and respect. I think it is an opportunity not to be missed and Iım looking forward to getting the dance routine happening - I believe in a God who can dance and does dance, with everyone.

Paul Somerville (journalist aged 26)
I am participating in the Uniting Church membersı Mardi Gras float because I want to show the Church, gay and lesbian people, and the broader community that I exist: a young gay man committed to Christianity. I am marching because I want to celebrate all the things I was not able to talk about in my teens and early twenties, and want to celebrate the fact that I have reconciled my faith and my sexuality. My faith requires me to stand up for justice, and so I am participating to call legislative changes to give gay and lesbian people full civil equality in Australia. I am marching with straight and lesbian and gay people from my church community to show our support for people the Church has denounced, excluded and damned. We believe God demands a Church that accepts the wonderful diversity present in humanity. We believe God wants reconciliation between straight and homosexual people.

Kerry Pattenden (Minister of Religion aged 46)
I am marching in the Mardi Gras because I need to tell the Church that an attitude of laissez-faire is not a statement about the good news of God's love for all people. The Church too often is safe and supports acceptable causes like being against racism. Whilst I am fully committed to anti-racism I affirm the truth that there is no hierarchy of oppression. The rights of gays and lesbians, transgender, bisexual people to feel safe and at peace in the Christian community is at the heart of the gospel of hope and liberation. If I do not endorse this then I am culpable in condemning my sisters and brothers to the living death of vilification and rejection.

Wednesday 18th February 1998

Further information
Rev Rod Pattenden or Liz Yeo
Ph 02 9331 2646 fax 02 9331 48464
eastside@tig.com.au