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Highlights from 2005 National Symposium
Watch speeches from the 2005 National Symposium

The 2005 Liberty Education Forum National Symposium attracted hundreds of fair-minded Americans to New Orleans on Friday April 1st. The Symposium highlighted key issues impacting gay and lesbian Americans. One panel discussion debated strategies to achieve equality for gay and lesbian families. Evan Wolfson from Freedom to Marry, Dartmouth Professor Steve Swayne, and gay conservative law professor Dale Carpenter discussed strategies for the road ahead. Another panel focused on the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. The Symposium also featured a discussion about congressional re-authorization of the Ryan White CARE Act.

Author Chandler Burr discussed his new LEF white paper which examines the question of whether someone chooses his or her sexual orientation. This is an important issue because those who believe that gay people do not choose their sexual orientation have much higher support for equality. Burr laid out a strategy for using this issue to achieve equality.

The Chairman of the Soulforce Board of Directors highlighted issues of faith and sexual orientation. Jimmy Creech is a former minister with the United Methodist Church. In 1999, Creech celebrated the holy union of two men in Chapel Hill, NC. Charges were brought against him, and a church trial was held in Nebraska. The jury declared Creech guilty of “disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The United Methodist Church” and withdrew his credentials of ordination. Creech shared his inspiring story of hope and faith.

The National Symposium wrapped up with a panel discussion about “Reaching the Heartland.” Grassroots activists and political strategists from across America discussed strategies for reaching new allies in the Middle American Heartland and South, especially among conservatives and people of faith. The 2006 National Symposium will be held in Washington, DC from April 27-30, 2006. For more information please e-mail info@libertyeducationforum.org.