The Kameyas: A Story of Faith and Family

California Faith for Equality volunteers Harold and Ellen Kameya share their story about faith and their family:

Twenty-two years ago, our then 20-year old daughter Valerie told us she was gay. As Sansei from Hawaii, raised in a socially conservative Japanese American culture, Valerie’s announcement devastated us. At that time, we were woefully ignorant on issues of sexual orientation, including that being gay is not a choice. As part of that ignorance, we were saddened that we would never see our daughter get married or have a family.
. . .
In 1990, we were asked to share our experiences with a group of gay Asian Americans. That meeting was a turning point for us. After we spoke, we were moved by the tears on the faces of the audience.

Read more at Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.

A Lesson from Faith: How to Sustain a Movement

Check out Interfaith Organizing Director Kerry Chaplin's post Wise Words from the Reverend featured on Calitics:

Faith traditions are powerful examples of movements surviving and persevering over time, sometimes in the face of persecution. They survive because they ask the big questions and because they know the sustaining value of gathering in community. Across denominations, the core value in faith communities is relationship - relationship with one another, with their particular tradition and with something greater than themselves. It has sustained faith communities for thousands of years.

Our Equality Movement must embrace this lesson of perseverance, sustenance and survival taught by faith communities in order to thrive beyond campaign politics.
As we mark the passage of Prop 8, we implement the core practice of this lesson by gathering in community and relationship:

On November 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, Keeping the Faith for Equality events throughout California give us this opportunity for relationship. One year later, CA Faith for Equality, Courage Campaign, Equality California, Marriage Equality USA, and many, many other organizations and faith communities are gathering not to dwell on our loss a year ago, but to embrace the lessons we learned from that loss. Visit www.keepingthefaithforequality.org to find an event in your area.

We hope to see you there.