Community Vigil & Into the Light Walk

Tonight, Friday, September 9, 2011 an Into the Light Walk and fireside vigil will be held at Liberty Park, beginning in the northeast corner of the park at 8:00 p.m.

There have been four attacks (that I have read of) on young gay men in Utah within the past few months, and after one particularly brutal one on August 31, community and religious leaders have been galvanized to come together for this supportive event.

Please read more here about the Into the Light walks that have been taking place around the country since May 2011. I have heard people say that they are tired of feel-good events that don't address the horror and discrimination people of "different" sexual orientations and gender identities experience in our society on a day-to-day basis. I just want to respond with these remarks, which I've been asked to share at tonight's vigil and walk :


My name is Elaine Ball. I was recently certified by the American Humanist Association to be a Humanist Minister here in Utah. I want to thank the organizers of this event for bringing everyone together this evening, as well as for inviting me to speak briefly as a representative of those whose “faith” is not traditional, who may not believe there is a god, or who may not see the relevance of a god in their lives.


As a Humanist, I believe that morals arise from a common sense of human value. The attack on Dane Hall on August 31, as well as other recent attacks have been, in the words of the Utah Pride Center, “attack[s] on all of us.” This could have happened to you. This could have happened to one of our moms or dads, to one of our sisters, brothers, or children. This could still happen to any of us.


I am here to tell you, though, that as members of this human family, we do have the power to change our world for the better, and, more specifically, to change our selves, our families, and our neighborhoods for the better! Come out to your friends, family members, and neighbors, in rallying support against destructive behaviour such as these attacks. Please, begin the vital conversations with your peers that will turn hearts and minds toward love.


I would like to reach out to those of you who may not identify with a specific religion or faith tradition, and say, let us work together! Let us all work to build the bridges necessary to come together as one human family in support of love, for all of humanity!


I would like to finish by sharing these thoughts from local humanist leaders:


Florien Wineriter, Board Member and former President of the Humanists of Utah, says that:


“ As a Humanist, [he] define[s] Morality as those actions and thoughts that contribute to the growth and dignity of human life; immoral actions and thoughts denigrate and destroy life. The physical and verbal activities that injured Dane and others should not be tolerated by a civil society. ”


Lisa Miller, also a current Board Member of the Humanists of Utah, says:


“ [It is] extremely damaging when we have this idea that everyone has to be forced to be the same or [else] be shunned/beaten/ridiculed out of the group. We [all] have different likes and dreams and goals and abilities . . . [and] great pain comes as soon as we start trying to force everyone into the same box. The beauty of a humanistic philosophy is that we embrace and encourage the differences of individuals, rather than having the far opposite reaction of violence, enforcement, and fear. ”


And finally, Board Members Wayne Wilson & Jason Cooperrider share:


“ [Humanists] strongly oppose hate crime ~ humanism means understanding humanity's role on this earth, and striving to achieve its' potential for ourselves and our posterity – such that all humans are treated with an inherent dignity, equality, and respect! Society is most benefited when others are embraced for their differences, rather than persecuted for them. Life would be very boring if everyone were the same. ”


Thank you again, for coming here tonight in support of love and equality for all!