Iraq Letter

April 25, 2009

Dear President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Feinstein,

I am writing to you in my position as the Senior Minister of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco (MCCSF). MCCSF is a congregation of several hundred members, representing and serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and our allies. We are the second oldest church in the denomination of Metropolitan Community Churches, founded in 1970.

On Sunday, May 25th of 2008, the sermon I shared with my congregation was about the war in Iraq , and about the discriminatory policy of our country known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). I shared with them my convictions that we have a moral responsibility to take a stand against the war and the prevalent state of apathy in the U.S. toward the conflict, as well as to speak out against the suffering caused by DADT.

In my sermon I made a pledge to our church that I would fast on the 25th of every month until two things occur: first, that the vast majority of our troops are brought home from Iraq , and second, that DADT is brought to an end. I shared with them that each month I would fast in memory of one U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq, one Iraqi citizen killed in the senseless violence that is continuing, and in memory or in honor of those nameless gay and lesbian military personnel who are also losing their lives and their careers in service to their country that will not allow them to be honest about who they are.

Today, April 25th, I am fasting in memory and in honor of:

Staff Sergeant Jesse L. Williams, age 25, from Santa Rosa , CA , who died on April 8, 2007 (Easter Sunday) in Balad , Iraq . Jesse was known for being charming and humorous. He promised his wife on their wedding day that he would make her laugh every day for the rest of her life. Jesse was also the father of Amaya, whose first birthday was on May 22, 2007.

Ahmed Murad Shehab, a college professor, who was killed at Al-Nur, Mosul , on March 14, 2009.

Naval Commander Zoe Dunning, who admitted she was a lesbian and was subjected to immediate action by the Navy in its attempt to remove her from service. From 1993 to 1995 Zoe fought her discharge and won. Until her retirement, she was the only openly gay person serving in the military who was also retained throughout the military process to remove her. Dunning retired as a naval commander in the reserves. She was promoted twice after she came out, including one promotion that took place during her discharge fight with the Navy.

I am fasting today in memory and in honor of these individuals and in support of those who loved them, and I am fasting as an act of prayer, that both this unjust war and this unjust policy will be brought to an end as soon as possible. I applaud the Obama administration for the recent announcement that the majority of our troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by August of next year, as well as for President Obama’s stated desire to bring an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I urge you to do everything you can that is in your power to meet these goals completely and swiftly. Please know that you are in my prayers, that you will have the strength, courage, and moral will to lead our country during these very challenging times.

Sincerely,

Rev. Lea D. Brown
Senior Minister, MCCSF
(415) 336-6850