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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>From today’s (January 21, 2006) Spokesman Review –<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Gays with kids want role in egg roll <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Group organizing big turnout for annual White House event<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>David Crary<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Associated Press<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>January 21, 2006<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Three months before the annual Easter egg roll at the White
House, the usually festive event is already taking on a divisive edge because
of plans by gay- and lesbian-led families to turn out en masse in hopes of
raising their public profile.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Family Pride Coalition and other organizers envision the
April 17 action as a celebration that will earn goodwill and showcase their
families engaging in the annual tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"It's important for our families to be seen
participating in all aspects of American life," said Family Pride
executive director Jennifer Chrisler.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Yet some conservatives, alerted to the plans this week,
accuse gay activists of trying to "crash" an event for children and
turn it into forum for ideological politicking. Some groups are discussing ways
to respond.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"It's improper to use the egg roll for political
purposes," said Mark Tooley of the conservative Institute on Religion and
Democracy. Tooley wrote a critical article this week in the Weekly Standard
magazine about the planned event that has circulated widely on conservative Web
sites.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Since the article appeared Tuesday, Chrisler said Family
Pride has received "a flood of hate-filled, venomous messages telling us
that our families aren't welcome."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The issue was raised at a White House news briefing
Wednesday when spokesman Scott McClellan was asked if President Bush would seek
to prevent the gay families' action.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"This event is a time to celebrate Easter and to have a
good family celebration here at the White House," McClellan replied.
"In terms of any other details about it, I think it's still a few months
off, so we'll talk about it as we get closer."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>On conservative chat rooms, some critics of Family Pride
suggested the White House could make the egg roll an invitation-only event, as
it did in 2003 when attendance was limited to military families. Other critics
said conservatives should mobilize to outnumber gay families at the egg roll.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Susan Whitson, press secretary to first lady Laura Bush,
indicated the White House was unlikely to restrict admission to the egg roll.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Chrisler, who raises twin boys with a spouse she married in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:State> in 2004,
intends to bring her family to the egg roll. She said organizers were intent on
proceeding despite any criticism, but that plans might change if, closer to
Easter, confrontations seemed possible.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"I'm a parent first – I would never want to put
my child, or anyone else's child, in harm's way," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Family Pride has been recruiting participants for several
months. Chrisler said more than 100 families had signed up thus far and hopes
at least 400 eventually enlist.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Free tickets to the egg roll will be distributed first-come,
first-served starting at 7:30 a.m. on April 15 – two days before the
event. Family Pride has urged its supporters to be in line the night before so
their families can be among the first on the White House lawn.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Take care, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Moscow</span></font></st1:City><font
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"If not us, who?<br>
If not now, when?"<br>
<br>
- Unknown</span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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