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Local religious leaders plan protest

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published March 5, 2007

It wasn't chiseled into a stone tablet.

But there is an 11th commandment, say some local religious leaders, and the controversy over Largo City Manager Steve Stanton is a good time to remember it.

"Thou shalt not discriminate," said the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, pastor of Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.

He and other ministers say the Largo City Commission violated that unwritten directive when it moved to fire Stanton, 48, last week after he disclosed that he plans to have a sex-change operation.

Because of the commission's decision, an interfaith coalition of religious leaders from throughout the Tampa Bay area will gather at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the steps of Largo City Hall, 201 Highland Ave., in a peaceful protest against what they feel is a grave injustice. They hope other like-minded citizens will participate as well.

Through the demonstration, they hope to urge commissioners to change their minds and not fire Stanton.

A dozen members of the clergy have indicated they will attend, as well as at least 100 members of various churches and at least one temple who hope to change commissioners' minds. Attendees are expected to come from congregations countywide.

Helping to galvanize the effort was a remark made by Ron Sanders, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Largo, on the night Stanton was dismissed.

"If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he'd want him terminated," he told commissioners.

"The Jesus I know called us to love one another and taught us to stop judging by appearances, but judge justly," said the Rev. Leddy Hammock, pastor of Unity Church of Clearwater. "Have we acted in justice and love? In a system where hatred and prejudice holds sway, no one is safe."

Hammock said that for far too long "the religious right has been the voice of religion."

But, alluding to a survey done last week by the St. Petersburg Times, she said that faction does not represent the beliefs of the more liberal-thinking faith leaders, "which turns out to be the majority."

The survey of 601 adults in Largo and other Pinellas communities found a majority of respondents said the City Commission made the wrong decision and should have taken more time before making a decision. The poll also found strong majorities of residents who said they would accept working with someone who had a sex-change operation.

Organizers of the event originally thought of calling for a boycott of Largo businesses in protest of the decision. But they concluded that move would not keep the discussion of the issue going, which is their goal.

Janamanchi said every religion speaks of compassion, not selective compassion for the few, for whom it is easy to love, but compassion for all, including those we do not understand.

Fast Facts:

If you go

When: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Where: Steps of Largo City Hall, 201 Highland Ave.

[Last modified March 4, 2007, 21:25:29]