gayNEWS... National Cathedral & Same-Sex Weddings

Now that Gay Marriage has been legalized in Maryland, the Associated Press is reporting that the National Cathedral will begin performing same-sex weddings... 

To quote the article...

"Official Episcopal law still defines marriage as between a man an a woman, so the cathedral says it will be performing weddings that combine civil marriage ceremonies under local law with a blessing from the church. They will use the new language approved for same-sex couples instead of the marriage ceremony from the Book of Common Prayer."


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FAMOUS CHURCH'S BELLS TO RING FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES

I would imagine that this will cause Shirley Phelps-Roper and her friends from Westboro Baptist to return to the DC area for another protest. I captured great conversations for Stained Glass Rainbows with her and her colleagues at a previous protest at the National Cathedral outside of Washington, D.C.

Shirley Phelps-Roper protesting in front of the National Cathedral 

America is Doomed

You're Going To Hell

The Youth of America Speak Out

SOUNDbite... Brian Healy

Here's a SOUNDbite from the Stained Glass Rainbows interview with Brian Healy, the mind behind Dead Artist Syndrome...

 “Jesus came to heal the sick, not the healthy. Until your church is filled with ex-drug addicts, whores, abusive son-of-a-bitches, fags, whatever ‘insert hate group here’, unless your church is filled with those people you’re not doing the mission of Christ. He didn’t come to heal those us who are well. He came to heal the sick, the demented, the lost, the troubled, the broken. We are saved by grace, not by any stupid, fucking, brilliant, idea we’ve ever had, and the American church has got to get over that concept!” - Brian Healy

SOUNDbite... Ric Alba

Here's a SOUNDbite from the Stained Glass Rainbows interview with Ric Alba, bass player for the Altar Boys and Dead Artist Syndrome...

“People will say, ‘Well, I’m just loving the sinner, but hating the sin.’ You know, Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin. You never hear that when it comes to any other sin. I want to have a t-shirt that says, ‘Love the Sinner, Hate Your Own Damn Sin!’” - Ric Alba

filmUPDATE: Ric Alba, Sean Doty, & Brian Healy

Last week I was in California where I shot three new interviews for the film. All of these guys have amazing stories to tell and all were incredibly influential in the early formation of the Christian alternative music scene.

On Saturday October 15th, I sat down with Sean Doty, a college friend of mine, who (after being kicked out of Moody Bible Institute) went on to front the band Veil of Ashes. His journey through music and his wrestling match with his sexual identity will make for a fantastic contribution to the film.

On Sunday October 16th, I interviewed one of the heroes from my college years, Ric Alba, bass player for bands like Altar Boys, Undercover, Lifesavers, Dead Artist Syndrome, etc. As a bass player myself, I will never forget watching the Altar Boys play the Main Stage at Cornerstone in the late 80's. What a powerful, life shaping event that was. Ric has since fully embraced his gay identity and has some powerful words for the church to hear.

That same evening I had the privilege to sit down and talk with Brian Healy, who's been dubbed "the father of Christian goth". He's the mind behind Dead Artist Syndrome. He's straight, cuts to the chase, and has some insightful and witty commentary directed toward the church as it relates to the issues I'm addressing in the film.

These interviews will give a whole new flavor to the soup and the spices are starting to make the broth sing.

Speaking of singing, both Sean Doty and Ric Alba have contributed music for the film's soundtrack! 

Altogether around 350 songs were submitted during our music quest... now the fun begins of letting the cream begin to rise. We have great submissions from the U.K., Ireland and all across America. So far I've whittled it down to 217 songs... hopefully I'll get it down to under 20 for inclusion in the film.

Thanks to these three guys for the great interviews and to the bands from all over who have sent music for consideration on the soundtrack of Stained Glass Rainbows.