It's time to get the bases covered.

At the advice of my wonderful friend Karma (I can't tell you how great it is to have you back in my life - you're the best!), I have contacted the ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia. Here is the e-mail I sent:

*****

Dear ACLUVA:

I am a member of the ACLU writing to seek advice regarding a situation at my job.

For one year now I have been the Director of Music at a Methodist church in @#$%, VA. Having won the respect and appreciation of church and community members alike, I decided to take a stand on the marriage amendment. Two weeks before the election, I mailed approximately 100 copies of a letter to members in the community. This letter was a personal plea for people to think hard about the impact of their vote. In it, I effectively outed myself as a gay person, asking people to consider that I, someone they have grown to love, would be hurt by a vote for the amendment.

To cover by bases, I used my own stamps, paper, envelopes, and time in sending the letter. Many of the recipients were church members - they are, of course, the people I have come to know since moving here - but I did not send the letter to all church members or use a newsletter mailing list. I was simply one United States citizen sending a letter to other United States citizens in my community. There was no reference to the church whatsoever in the letter or on the envelope.

A week before sending it, I met with the minister and the head of the Staff Parish Committee to show them the letter, explain what I was doing, and give them a chance to express their opinions. Neither of them asked me not to send the letter.

There has started to be a large backlash of upset people: church members, community members, and even ministers of other churches. People are asking what the church is going to do about it.

Today, the minister told me that, depending on upcoming meetings, my dismissal was a real possibility. None of the accusations have had anything to do with the quality of my work at the church.

Should the church decide to dismiss me, they would be doing so because I exercised one of my civil rights as a citizen of the United States. Is this a case that would interest you? Would you have any advice or suggested contacts?

Please understand, I have not been dismissed as of yet. Knowing that it sometimes takes you several weeks to consider cases, I felt it wiser to contact you sooner rather than later.

I have kept a blog of the reactions (http://brettmaguire.blogspot.com), including the full text of the letter, which I will also paste below.

If you are able to offer me any advice or assistance, I would be greatly appreciative.

Thank you,
Brett Maguire

*****

We'll see what happens. Should this get ugly, I am certainly not going to leave without one hell of a fight. I apologize if my previous entry made it seem that way.

I don't think they will fire me over this, but then again, I never thought some of my "friends" would become such vocal adversaries.

Thanks to all of you for your support.

-Brett