Capitol Correspondent
LANSING – Pamela Zeller-Drake remembers when her then-14-year-old son came home from school with a smiley-face button and a rainbow ribbon on his shirt.
"I said to him, 'Honey is there anything you want to talk about?' He was like, 'Mom what are you talking about?'" Zeller-Drake told a candlelight vigil of about 60 people last Saturday night. "I asked him if he knew what the ribbon meant, and he said, 'Yeah mom: It's for gay rights.'"
What Zeller-Drake learned next made her a proud mother. Her son was wearing the ribbon because some students in Grand Ledge had said they wanted to find the gay students and beat them up. So her son and his friend skipped school, went to the store and made the ribbons to show support for the gay students.
Zeller-Drake was one of 200-plus people who came out to support "Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights," a joint national project of Atticus Circle, Soulforce and Michigan Equality.
One of the groups helping coordinate the evening was the Buttery family.
"As LGBT allies, my husband and I hope to model for our boys the values of tolerance, of equality and justice, and of standing up for one's beliefs," mom Amy Buttery said. "We hope and expect that some day , they will model these attitudes through their behavior among their peers – even when it might be uncomfortable to do so – and we'll inch forward to a more equitable society, where families are defined by the bonds of love."
She joins a growing number of straight Americans that are identifying support for equality for the LGBT community, according to people like 2007 Soulforce Equality Rider Brandon Rolph Kneefel, who lives in Royal Oak.
"The curious thing about a human rights movement is it never goes away because it is supported by a higher good to treat humans equally," Kneefel says. "From Maine to Hawaii, we are discovering an unprecedented support for LGBT folks by non-LGBT folks – and, not only are they supporting us, but they are moving into leadership positions to advocate for us.
"Michigan is in a delicate state, and with an LGBT-affirming governor and LGBT-affirming U.S. Senators, it is time we recognize all of our people as equal."
The evening featured the screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So," a powerful documentary which follows the real-life stories of several families struggling with their LBGT children's sexuality and their understanding of the Bible.
The film looked at Biblical passages used to condemn homosexuality within a historical context, and the families discussed how an expanding understanding of the scriptures helped them to come to terms with – and become supportive of – their children.
The screening of the film took place in the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lansing, and there were numerous tears at the end as the lights came up.
Following the film, a panel featuring Spring Arbor-based LGBT consultant Dr. Julie Nemecek and her partner Joanne Nemecek – along with Michigan Equality Board member Nathan Tripplett – discussed the film with about 60 people who remained.
During the discussion, Rev. Paul Downey told the audience that fundamentalism destroyed the mystery of God's creation and the scriptures. "The mystery is lost when you say this is the only answer," he said. "There is no exploration and no growth then."
Following the discussion, the audience gathered on the lawn of the church and held a quick and moving candlelight vigil which marked the end of the event.
"I want you each to look at the flame of the candle you hold, and find the light in yourselves," Rev. Kent Lederer told those gathered.
Atticus Circle is a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to achieving equality for all partners, parents and their children, regardless of sexual orientation. Soulforce is a national social justice group that seeks freedom for LGBTQ people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. Michigan Equality is a statewide organization dedicated to building and using political power to promote equality and eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
