Ok, creative people, please help.

[Lisaben2619]

I'm trying to come up with new ideas for a forum on marriage equality for mostly straight church-goers. We invite congregants from area churches and discuss LGBT issues. Last year, we had a religious "history" professor talk about Biblical translations and a political science professor discuss recent court decisions, etc. We also broke into small groups for discussions. It was ok; lots of people learned just by meeting gay men and lesbians and hearing what our real agendas are. It was also very well-attended and we had it on two nights. But...a little slow.
Anyway, I'm asking for ideas about how to make this year's forum a little more exciting and interesting, especially since we'll probably get quite a few repeaters. It seems a little more urgent with our state trying to pass an anti-gay amendment and with the recent supposed "backlash". Any thoughts or suggestions? What's worked in your communities?

[tuvor]

1. Remind them what "traditional" marriage is:

Sorry, I only have this as a bitmap:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/tuvor/marriage.bmp

Might at least open some eyes.

[politicaholic]

2. Some suggestions:

LGBT poets and writers with specific pieces about their struggle and their thoughts.

A controlled group interview with a few of the children of LGBT individuals and couples. You make up the questions and have a trusted moderator ask them in a comfortable setting. Focus on their daily lives, school, and parent/child time.

LGBT community leaders from other communities that talk about their struggles and triumphs.

Collaborative community projects that allow the two communities to intermingle with one another in different settings.

Good Luck!

[Dark]

3. Strippers!

Seriously, get them to talk about their experiences. Also, get some religious gays to come in and talk about how God's love is what has gotten them through the fundamentalists' hate.