New Mt. Hope Infinity Defendant

Infoshop News Nov. 11, 2010

Lansing, Michigan -- On Nov 5, a visible radical queer organizer in
Chicago was added to the lengthy list of defendants in the Mt. Hope
Infinity lawsuit.

On November 9th, 2008 activists from the international queer liberation
group, Bash Back! protested the notoriously anti-queer mega-church Mount
Hope at its headquarters in Lansing, Michigan. The church preaches an
anti-queer stance and runs a coercive program designed to turn queer youth
straight.

While some of the protesters danced, chanted, and held signs out side of
the building, a small group proceeded into the church to conduct a
demonstration by hanging a banner that read “It’s OK to be GAY!”, and
handing out support leaflets directed towards the queer youth. As the
demonstration was legal, the police gave no citations.

In May 2009, the multi-million dollar right-wing non-profit Alliance
Defense Fund filed a federal law suit on behalf of Mt. Hope Church under
the Freedom of Access to Clinical Entrances Act. The lawsuit named 13
individuals, as well as Bash Back! as a whole, Bash Back! Lansing, and 20
“John” and “Jane Doe”s (who the ADF is in the process of identifying). ADF
and Mt. Hope Church seek, first, a broad injunction that could
dramatically hinder future activism that resists the institutionalization
of religious fundamentalism. Second, they asked for an unknown, but
assuredly large, sum of money in supposed “damages” and trial costs.

The injunction, if granted, would set legal precedent. Imagine it was
legally impossible to protest anti-choice organizations or “ex-gay”
conferences. With this lawsuit we may be making new law regarding these
types of demonstrations.

Last week the ADF identified one of the "Jesse" Does. There are still 19
more spots.

The Mt. Hope Infinity is in need of support in any form, especially
financial, media and kind words.

http://bashbackinfinity.wordpress.com/

If you'd like to join the (small) support team, or help out in any way,
email bashbackinfinity@hushmail.com.