3021 State Route 213 East
Stone Ridge, NY 12484
www.ctkstoneridge.com
NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST WILL SPEAK
TO LOCAL COMMUNITY, EPISCOPALIANS & HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
On Friday evening, June 15th, Davis Mac-Iyalla, the founder and director of Changing Attitude-Nigeria, will visit Christ the King Episcopal Church in the Mid-Hudson Valley to speak out and tell his story of what it's like to be out and gay in his country and persecuted by his church. He'll be available to meet with local gay, lesbian and human rights groups. Changing Attitudes-Nigeria is a group working for basic human rights in Nigeria and the full inclusion of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgendered) people in the Anglican Church.
This program starts with a Choral Evensong Service at 6:30 pm. Mac-Iyalla speaks at 7:15 pm, and a Reception and Italian Spaghetti Supper immediately follows in the Parish Hall - everyone is invited. There is no charge for this event, but a free-will offering will be taken to raise funds for Mac-Iyalla's tour, offset the supper costs, and to support his efforts in Nigeria.
Peter Akinola, the Archbishop of Abuja, is leading efforts to schism the Episcopal Church, and who's also actively promoting the intimidation and imprisonment of LGBT people by proposing and actively supporting draconian legislation in Nigeria. The controversial bill, entitled the "Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act", would imprison anyone who speaks out or forms a group supporting lesbian and gay people's rights, and would silence virtually any public discussion or visibility around lesbian and gay lives in Nigeria.
Mac-Iyalla has been repeatedly denounced by the archbishop's staff, which claims "There are no gay Anglicans in Nigeria." He was fired from his job as school principal, suffered ostracism from friends and family, was arrested and imprisoned, and threatened with kidnapping and death, besides being libeled by Anglican Church officials and denied communion. Further, he was forced to flee his home and now lives in exile elsewhere in Africa.
Currently, May-Iyalla is traveling across the U.S. visiting local LGBT community leaders, students and churches. He'll attend LGBT Pride events in San Francisco with +Marc Andrus, Bishop of California; and in NY meet with +Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, the first openly gay man elected to the episcopate in Anglican history. His visit here with us will immediately follow his address to The Episcopal Church's highest governing body, the Executive Council.
Mac-Iyalla's local visit is being sponsored by Christ the King and "The Daily Office" an Episcopal prayer website (dailyoffice.org), and also with help from our friends at the "Justice for All" Speakers Forum (allforjustice.org).
Everyone is welcome! To help our planning, we're asking you please make a reservation at our website www.ctkstoneridge.org or by calling 845-687-9414.
Please join us to hear, give witness and support Davis and his active mission for basic human justice for LGBT people in Nigeria, and in the Anglican Church.
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